Manchester can expect a huge boom in football tourism as Jose Mourinho prepares to join United , experts have predicted.
With the Portuguese manager tipped take over at Old Trafford and the arrival of Pep Guardiola across town at the Etihad, the eyes of the footballing world will again be on the city.
Marketing experts say the appointment of two of global football’s best managers will encourage a flood of visitors to the city - particularly from the Far East - and push Manchester ’s profile around the globe.
It could be worth tens of millions to the club and economy, particularly if Mourinho can get the Reds back in the Champions League.
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The club have estimated that slipping into the Europa League and missing out on a place in next season’s elite competition will cost United up to £50m.
However a football finance expert says Mourinho’s arrival will likely see a surge in season ticket renewals and a significant uptake on merchandise such as shirts.
Jose Mourinho
Rob Wilson, from Sheffield Hallam University: “It will definitely cement Manchester’s position, alongside Madrid, as the footballing powerhouse of Europe.
“Missing out on Champions League will cost them around £50 million.
“So at this stage it’s less about money coming.
“But the arrival of Jose brings the expectation of getting back in and player recruitment should be a bit easier in that regard.
“And you would imagine they will want to make some marquee signings.
“But ultimately it just ramps up the interest of everyone in the club.
“An advantage Mourinho has over Louis van Gaal is that he is in a way much more marketable, he already has deals with companies such as Adidas and United will likely look to exploit those.
“Renewing that rivalry with Guardiola that he had in La Liga could see both clubs try generate even more interest, particularly in the Chinese market where there is still huge potential.”
The Guardiola lowdown
Fellow expert David Bick, from Square 1 Consulting, said: “Both clubs are already incredibly popular and sell out each week.
“It’s hard to quantify but Manchester is likely to see a bit more tourism and media interest, with the name receiving a big boost globally.”
Managing Director of Marketing Manchester, Sheona Southern, said: “Manchester is a globally-recognised sporting destination and we are incredibly proud to be home to two of the world’s greatest football clubs.
“Manchester United and more recently Manchester City have contributed a huge to amount to the city’s tourism industry; with visitors travelling from far and wide to watch a match or take a tour of a stadium.
“The arrival of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and the anticipated arrival of Jose Mourinho at Manchester United will bestow the city with two managers who are widely regarded as the best in the world.
“The footballing spotlight will be shining on Manchester once again and we expect that the already massive numbers of football related visitors will amplify during the upcoming season.
“Especially with the launch of Hainan Airlines direct flight route from Manchester to Beijing in June, as Chinese visitors are well known for their infatuation with the English Premier League, particularly Manchester United”.
