Stuttgart sees China as its "market A" as the club is striving to strengthen ties with the country through youth development, talent exchange, and cultural collaboration, according to board member Rouven Kasper.
BERLIN, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart is strengthening its ties with China, according to Rouven Kasper, the club's board member and chief marketing and sales officer, in a recent interview with Xinhua.
"Together with our partners, international ties and business have become an overwhelmingly important issue. The club's actions go beyond the one of a regional hub. China is our market A," the 42-year-old said.
Stuttgart is focused on building new bridges with China in the sporting, economic, and cultural sectors.
The 2007 Bundesliga champion signed 17-year-old Chinese midfielder Xie Chujun (Alexander Xie in English) this summer for its under-19 team.
"We have reactivated ties and collaboration with China and will set up new youth development cooperation with Chinese associations and partners, potentially including friendly matches of our first team," the official announced.
Kasper emphasized that China holds a special place in his heart and for his family. "In the last autumn vacations, we visited China, as the entire family was missing a lot of our time and friends there."
Since 2016, Kasper and his family lived in China for nearly six years while he worked as Bayern Munich's President Asia.
Now back in Germany, Kasper has taken up a role at his hometown club VfB Stuttgart, and his family still has a Chinese nanny "to keep the children in Chinese." His daughter was born in Shanghai.
"We have a strong understanding for China in our club," Kasper said after the club's under-17 squad paid a visit to China last summer to participate in the Shanghai Future Cup "with our talents being fascinated about China."
"As China's football is having a hard time currently, it's now even more important to intensify collaborations as we are convinced of the country's huge source of talent."
Maintaining dialogue and exchange in both directions is crucial, Kasper emphasized.
The club hosted China's national U16 squad in March this year and organized training sessions with Stuttgart's youth team under the joint project "Bundesliga Dream" by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) and the German Football League (DFL).
"We will increase efforts in the Bundesliga Dream project," Kasper said. "It's a long-term project to bring more Chinese talents to visit professional clubs in Germany."
VfB Stuttgart, together with the Bundesliga, has relaunched its ties with the CFA to help China's football and talent benefit from cooperative projects.
Stuttgart is planning to increase its presence in China after signing Matthias Brosamer from Bayern Munich, a proven China expert who speaks Chinese fluently.
"China must rely on a football developing pattern in a Chinese way, considering the Chinese culture and complementing its own philosophy with external excellence. Patience and sustainability are required," he added.
From Kasper's perspective, China has immense potential to develop its football to an advanced international level.
The official mentioned a period of six to ten years to develop talents and move to an advanced international level. "Therefore, you have to stick to a system that the country's entire football structure is following."
After qualifying for the Champions League with a second-place finish in the Bundesliga last season, Stuttgart is going through a transition period this season.
Youth development has been Stuttgart's DNA for decades, as the club currently provides the most players to the German national team.
"Success in football is about players' development, not about quick money," Kasper added.
Kasper expressed his happiness at seeing an increasing number of spectators at both league games and national team games in China.
"That shows the potential of Chinese football. It's important to continue based on an economically healthy way," he said. ■
留言 0