Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) will mark the start of the New Year by welcoming Germany’s most successful club, Bayern Munich, for a winter training camp from January 2-7, 2018.
Bundesliga defending champions arrive to make the most of AZF’s world-class facilities shortly after the departure of Paris Saint-Germain, the most successful club in French history in terms of trophies won. PSG departed Doha on December 23 after concluding yet another successful winter training camp at AZF.
Bayern Munich are returning to AZF this year for their eighth consecutive annual training camp. Led by coach Jupp Heynckes, the team features several of Germany’s best players and international stars including Manuel Neuer, Jérôme Boateng, Thomas Müller, Robert Lewandowski, Franck Ribéry, Arjen Robben, Arturo Vidal, Thiago Alcântara, and David Alaba amongst others.
The Bavarians are looking to secure their 28th Bundesliga title this season, and stand in good stead at the top of the table with 41 points, 11 points ahead of second place FC Schalke 04, and 13 points ahead of rivals Borussia Dortmund in third.
The winter training camp in Qatar has become a key feature of the team’s season and provides the perfect opportunity for the players to take a breather from the pressures of local and international competition.
Commenting on Bayern Munich’s imminent arrival, Ibrahim Hilal, head of Federations and Clubs Events at AZF, said, “After saying goodbye to Paris Saint-Germain last week, we’re gearing up to welcome yet another of the world’s biggest clubs to Aspire Zone. The German champions are returning to Doha for their eighth consecutive year, irrespective of the ongoing diplomatic situation. The club is determined to draw on the best of what AZF has to offer, which reflects the confidence they have in the country and its sporting institutions. It also provides further proof of how AZF and its affiliated organisations are perfectly placed to provide an integrated set of world-class sporting and medical services available to players all in one place. This makes Aspire the ideal environment for training, particularly during the winter months, and helps explain why we see some of the world’s biggest clubs retuning year after year.”
He added: “The confidence placed in AZF is due in large part to the efforts of our employees and member organisations who work tirelessly towards achieving the organisation’s goal of becoming the reference in sports excellence worldwide by 2020.”
AZF expects large numbers of football enthusiasts in Qatar to visit Bayern’s winter training camp, particularly amongst the club’s many fans who have consistently demonstrated their keenness to attend and watch the team’s open training sessions. Last year, fans had a chance to see the players in action, take autographs and have their picture taken with their favourite stars.
In addition to FC Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, AZF’s facilities have attracted visits from many other major clubs including Manchester United, Schalke, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC, KAS Eupen and Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa.
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