!NEW! Wales football boss Chris Coleman gets New Vauxhall wheels

Wales manager Chris Coleman is the latest footballing addition to the Vauxhall driving family.

Chris Coleman poses with his new Vauxhall Insignia

Coleman was presented with a brand new Vauxhall Insignia at Evans Halshaw in Cardiff last week where he announced his squad for Wales’ UEFA European Championship campaign opener against Andorra.

The former Wales international will be hoping to lead his team, that includes Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale and Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey, to their first major finals since 1958.

Coleman, who took part in a Google+ Hangout with the four Home Nations Managers and Vauxhall recently, said: "I am delighted to be driving the Vauxhall Insignia.

"I am very grateful for the support that Vauxhall has given me and the national team since I became Wales manager in 2012 and look forward to working with them in the future."

Peter Hope, Vauxhall’s Marketing Director added: “We are thrilled that Chris has decided to drive a Vauxhall Insignia.

"We're three years into our partnership with the Wales team and the relationship continues to grow.

"We are looking forward to Euro 2016 and giving our support as Wales begin their journey on the road to France.

"We would also like to thank Chris for his excellent support, as well as his players, coaching staff and everyone connected with the Wales Team."

Chris Coleman is presented with the keys to his brand new Vauxhall Insignia

Coleman’s new Vauxhall wheels are an Insignia Sports Tourer 2.0 CDTi (163PS) in Tech Line trim.  This extremely well-equipped model gets lots of handy kit as standard, including a Navi 900 IntelliLink sat nav system with touch-screen and touch-pad control, 17-inch 7-spoke alloy wheels, an automatic lighting control with tunnel detection and rain-sensitive windscreen wipers.

Vauxhall is proud sponsor of the England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales national football associations.

!NEW! Opel now also Galatasaray Istanbul Partner

Top Turkish club latest highlight in automaker’s soccer sponsorship activities

On Tuesday evening, the Turkish top club Galatasaray Istanbul will rise the probably most major challenge in the club’s history. In the quarter-final of the UEFA Cup Champions League the club will meet Real Madrid for the second leg. With reaching the quarter-final the club lives up to a successful tradition. With 18 national championships and 14 cup victories, Galatasaray is the most popular and successful soccer club in Turkey. Reason enough for Opel to formalize a partnership with the top European club.

General Manager of Opel Turkey Özcan Keklik with new Opel Cascada

Club president Ünal Aysal and the General Manager of Opel Turkey, Özcan Keklik, signed an agreement making the Turkish club – Champions League veterans – an Opel team. In addition to being their automotive partner, Opel can also realize a host of advertising activities with Galatasaray. With that Opel is keeping a spotlight on soccer with its brand communications and expanding its international presence in this arena. The partnership with Galatasaray Istanbul, following the agreement with Feyenoord Rotterdam as one of the leading Dutch teams, has been formalized as the next building block in the brand’s strategy.

Dr. Thomas Sedran, Opel Vice President Operations, Business Development and Strategies says, “Opel and soccer – a perfect fit. The connection stands for brand values like dynamics, performance and passion. 

Galatasaray Istanbul is an important part of this, particularly in light of the growing markets in Eastern Europe. This won’t be the last step we take to further reinforce the connection between Opel and soccer.” Club president Ünal Aysal adds, “Galatasaray and Opel share many common values and both have a rich heritage. We are happy to be part of this professional collaboration and look forward to many shared successes.”

Prior to the contract with Galatasaray, Opel’s British sister brand Vauxhall already established partnerships with the national teams of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In the German National League, Opel is partner to Borussia Dortmund, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, SC Freiburg and FSV Mainz 05.

!NEW! Opel goes back to the future with Feyenoord Rotterdam

Opel Company today announced a new partnership with one of the leading Dutch football clubs

From left: Karl Howkins, Managing Director, Opel Netherlands and Feyenoord Head coach Ronald Koeman with the new Opel Cascada convertible

A four year agreement has been reached for the Opel logo to be carried on Feyenoord shirts from 2013-17. The partnership signals an extension of a long running relationship which dates back almost 30 years to when Opel was main club sponsor from 1984-89.

 From left to right: Karl Howkins CEO Opel Netherlands, Ben Wijnstekers, Jordy Clasie, Mark Koevermans Feyenoord Commercial Director and Feyenoord Head Coach Ronald Koeman with the Opel Kadett E GSi convertible and Opel Cascada convertible

Speaking at the official launch of the partnership at the De Kuip Stadium on Monday, Feyenoord commercial director Mark Koevermans said: “We are very excited to welcome Opel as our new Club sponsor. Opel has an extremely impressive pedigree and enjoys a long-serving and very successful partnership with our club. This is a partnership which is not simply about the Opel name being carried on our shirt. Opel will be extremely supportive and active in helping us develop our highly successful social, grass roots and community activities.”

Karl Howkins, Managing Director, Opel Netherlands, said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Feyenoord. Our organizations have a proud history of co-operation and friendship for almost 30 years. “Our strong relationship and cultural similarities will enable us to deliver highly exciting and innovative joint initiatives during the term of our sponsorship. Both of us have exciting and ambitious plans – Feyenoord in the development of exciting young footballing talent, and Opel with plans for a market launch of 23 new car models and 13 new powertrains by 2016.”

Duncan Aldred, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Aftersales for Opel/Vauxhall Europe, said: “Feyenoord and Opel share many powerful common brand values and philosophies. We are both established and major players in the Dutch market and both organizations are planning exciting major new initiatives.”

As part of the sponsorship, Feyenoord executives, coaching staff and players will drive a fleet of Opel vehicles.

Head coach Ronald Koeman and coaches Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Jean-Paul van Gastel already drive Opel’s revolutionary electric, extended range Ampera.

Opel were club sponsors of Feyenoord from 1984-89, and official automotive suppliers to the club from 1984-2002 and 2010 onwards.

In 1970, Feyenoord was the first Dutch football club to win the European Cup and followed this in the same year with victory in the Intercontinental Cup to claim the world club crown.  Following their UEFA Cup victories in 1974 and 2002, the club remains the last Dutch club to earn European honours.  Formed in July 1908, the club has the distinction of being one of only four clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division and has won 14 national titles, 11 Dutch Cups and 2 Dutch Supercups. 

Feyenoord joins an Opel/Vauxhall European football portfolio which also includes partnerships with Borussia Dortmund, Fortuna Dusseldorf, Bayer Leverkusen, SC Freiburg and FSV Mainz (Germany) as well as all four Home Nations national teams in the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales).