06 Mar 2014 07:00
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has welcomed international football star Patrick Vieira as the latest high-profile addition to its Guest Ambassador program.
One of the most
accomplished sportsmen of his generation, Vieira has won nine league titles and
five national cups during his 17-year career as midfielder with some of the
world’s leading football teams, including Manchester City, Arsenal, Inter Milan
and Juventus.
He was also part
of France’s national football team during its 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000
victories, and currently serves as Head of the Elite Development Squad at
Manchester City Football Club, which is also sponsored by Etihad Airways.
In his new role as
Etihad Guest Ambassador, Vieira will work on a number of initiatives to promote
Etihad Airways in the UK and other key markets around the world. The agreement
builds uponthe success of several grass roots sporting initiatives run by
Etihad Airways and Patrick Vieira in the past two years, focused on the
athletic development of youngsters in key markets around the world.
Peter Baumgartner,
Chief Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, said: “When we look for Etihad
Guest Ambassadors, we look for remarkable men and women who follow their
aspirations, excel in their chosen fields, and also reflect the brand values of
Etihad Airways. Patrick Vieira, who is one of the football world’s biggest
success stories, fits the description perfectly.
“Etihad Airways
already has a long-standing relationship with Patrick, as he’s a regular guest
on our flights across the globe, andwe have also run a series of collaborative
projects that aim to develop the skills of aspiring footballers worldwide. We
are delighted to extend thisrelationship even further by welcoming Patrick as
our latest Etihad Guest Ambassador.”
The Etihad Guest
Ambassador program was launched in October 2013 and features some of the
biggest names from the global entertainment, art and sporting industries.
Current
ambassadors include Australian celebrity Dannii Minogue, Indian actress Katrina
Kaif, German golfer Martin Kaymer, Vietnamese Australian chef Luke Nguyen, and
Australian cricketer Shane Warne.
Commenting on his
appointment as Etihad Guest Ambassador, Patrick Vieira said: “I have been a
regular traveller on Etihad Airways flights since the airline was first established
a decade ago and really admire the superior service that is consistently
delivered to guests.
“Aside from this, I’ve
also had the pleasure of working with Etihad Airways on a number of projects,
such as hosting community sporting events for youngsters in the UAE, Seychelles
and China. In my official capacity as Etihad Guest Ambassador, I look forward
to even more collaboration, with a number of exciting promotionalinitiatives
planned for the future.”