AC Milan Deepens Roots in Asia with Hong Kong Academy Launch

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Image Credit: AC Milan

AC Milan has officially launched its first youth academy in Hong Kong, demonstrating the club’s sustained dedication to the advancement of grassroots football in Asia.

The launch of the AC Milan Academy Hong Kong coincides with the confirmation of the club’s pre-season clash against Liverpool FC, set to take place at Kai Tak Stadium on 26 July 2025, as part of the Hong Kong Football Festival.

This marks a key milestone in AC Milan’s international growth strategy, combining football development, local engagement, and brand localisation in one of Asia’s most vibrant sporting hubs.

AC Milan Academy Hong Kong: Investing in the Next Generation

Designed for players aged 6 to 17, the AC Milan Academy Hong Kong will deliver structured programs that blend technical football training with a strong emphasis on personal development, teamwork, and values-based education. Based on the successful blueprint of Milan’s global academy network, the Hong Kong location will offer:

  • Year-round training delivered by both qualified local and visiting coaches

  • Access to the club’s official football curriculum and methodology

  • Events and tournaments that encourage inclusive participation and nurture talent

More than just a training centre, the academy is envisioned as a community hub to promote Milan’s football culture and values through education and future grassroots initiatives.

Establishing a Lasting Local Presence

AC Milan’s presence in Hong Kong is not a one-off event or short-term commercial activity. By creating a permanent development structure, the club is embedding itself into the fabric of the local football scene.

This long-term strategy supports a number of key business goals:

  • Strengthening engagement with younger fans and families

  • Enhancing year-round brand visibility on the ground

  • Fostering partnerships with schools, local bodies, and sporting institutions

  • Laying the groundwork for future CSR programs and sponsorship opportunities

The Hong Kong academy becomes part of AC Milan’s expanding international network, contributing to a wider global initiative to share the club’s training philosophy and community impact.

Aligned with Pre-Season Tour Goals

The academy launch is strategically aligned with AC Milan’s broader Asia-Pacific pre-season tour, highlighted by high-profile fixtures such as the upcoming Liverpool match. While the match offers a strong platform for short-term exposure, the academy represents a deeper, long-term commitment to the region and its communities.

The two announcements show how clubs like Milan are changing their global strategies to focus on actual market presence rather than just fan interaction, especially in high-growth regions like East Asia.

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A-League Reaches Historic Goal Milestone as Viewership Surges

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A-League reach scoring and viewership record
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Just this week the Isuzu UTE A-League has announced it has reached the 500-goal mark in record time this season in line with another recent report of another increase of viewership for the a-league.

Highlighting an exciting period of growth for the competition both on and off the pitch.

Western Sydney Wanderers defender Alex Gersbach’s strike against Western United on Sunday became the 500th goal of the 2024-25 campaign.

The milestone was achieved after just 150 matches, making it the fastest the league has ever reached this tally, surpassing last season’s record of 152 matches.

The current season’s goal-scoring rate dramatically outpaces historical comparisons.

During the 2000-01 National Soccer League season, it took 159 games to reach 150 goals, while the 1996-97 campaign required 161 matches. The 2022-23 season needed 163 games to hit similar numbers.

This scoring record was presented the same time as the encouraging news on the viewership front.

The A-Leagues reporting an 11% increase to last season in total viewership audience for 10+ and 10 Play according to recent data shared by the competition.

The league viewership currently sits at 3.96 million nationally and is expected to hit 4 million people at the end of the season.

This is a record increase of viewership and shows the popularity of the sport in a very saturated sporting market.

The twin developments of record-setting goal production and increased viewership point to a positive trajectory for Australian football and its ability to be an enjoyable an action-packed season for audiences.

The growth of the viewership should be built upon in coming seasons and proves that the league is continuing to grow traction.

One must point out if there is a connection between the number of goals and the rise in viewership.

The spread of goals however points towards not a league with huge differing quality of teams.

Another point to highlight, is that viewership is high is also being backed up by the active support at the grounds.

Big matches such as the Sydney Derby has brought in huge numbers, however, it will be at the end of the season if we see an all -round rise in ground attendance.

With this year also capping of the largest increase in transfer revenue and playing minutes for under 23 players.

These results points towards a wealth of quality players who can excite the league and develop its quality.

Also, with this comes the opportunity for increased transfer opportunities, revenue streams and sponsorship deals.

The potential for this league and its increasing popularity is something that needs to be supported and developed in the coming seasons.

AS Monaco Signs Five-Year Deal with Mizuno for 2025/26 Season

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Image Credit: AS Monaco website

AS Monaco has entered a new five-year partnership with Mizuno, a Japanese sportswear manufacturer, that will become the club’s official technical equipment partner across all teams beginning 1 July 2025.

The agreement marks Mizuno’s first entry into Ligue 1 as a technical sponsor, continuing its strategic push into European football markets, where it already has a presence in Germany’s Bundesliga and Italy’s Serie A.

Comprehensive Supply and Distribution for AS Monaco and Mizuno

As part of the deal, Mizuno will supply match kits, training gear, and off-field apparel for all levels of the club. The partnership will also see the launch of premium merchandise lines, including lifestyle pieces and exclusive collections that combine Mizuno’s design philosophy with AS Monaco’s visual identity.

The collections will be available through Mizuno’s global retail network, helping the club connect with its growing international fan base, now exceeding 26 million social media followers.

For Mizuno, this partnership reinforces its long-term aim to re-establish its football brand presence across Europe by collaborating with historic, performance-focused clubs. The AS Monaco deal expands its footprint in France and strengthens its presence across multiple leagues.

Executive Insights: Looking Ahead to the 2025/26 Season

Mizuno EMEA Head of Sports, Mark Kaiway, highlighted the importance of the collaboration for brand growth and long-term positioning.

“We are thrilled and deeply honoured to announce our partnership with AS Monaco. At Mizuno, we are committed to delivering high-performance gear that empowers athletes to reach their full potential,” he said via press release.

“This collaboration represents a shared passion for excellence and we look forward to supporting AS Monaco as they continue to inspire fans around the world.”

AS Monaco CEO, Thiago Scuro, referred to the agreement as a key step in the club’s commercial development.

“We are proud of this future collaboration with Mizuno, an extremely innovative and creative brand with a unique history in football,” he said via press release.

“This partnership marks a new stage in the development of AS Monaco, and we are convinced that Mizuno will be able to support our aspirations and ambition.”

Both executives emphasised the partnership’s potential to extend beyond kit supply, exploring co-branded storytelling, fan engagement, and long-term retail initiatives.

Mizuno will begin supplying match and training kits to AS Monaco for the 2025/26 season, with the official unveiling of the new designs scheduled for the summer of 2025.

This collaboration includes support for the club’s academy system and association-level teams, reflecting a full-service technical sponsorship.

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