Soccerex host most Global Convention yet'

Last week saw the third edition of the Soccerex Global Convention take place in Rio de Janeiro, bringing together the world of football for five days of exclusive networking, learning and business. The event was seen around the globe with extensive media coverage online, in print and through broadcast and delegate numbers exceeded 4,000 for the third year running.

The event was the ‘most global yet’ with attendees from over 100 countries and a conference programme that featured thought leaders from 20 different nations sharing their knowledge, including the likes of Jérôme Valcke, General Secretary, FIFA, Sergio Cabral, Governor, Rio de Janeiro, Aldo Rebelo, Brazil’s minister of Sport, José Maria Marin, CBF President and 2014 LOC Chairman, Jeffrey Webb, President, CONCACAF, Football Agent Pini Zahavi, Michael Brown, CEO 2015 AsiaCup LOC, Domingos Soares de Oliveira, CEO, S.L Benfica, Adrian Bevington, Club England Managing Director and Director of Communications, Maurício Assumpção, President, Botafogo, Ricardo Fort, Global Head of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, Visa, David Dein, Former vice-chairman Arsenal and the Football Association, Gérard Houllier, Former Technical Director, French Football Federation & current Head of Red Bull Soccer, Alex Horne, General Secretary, English Football Association and many more.

As always football was at the core of the event with over 60 past and present international players and managers taking part over the five days – including 10 World Cup winners and 5 Champions League winners including the likes of; Carlos Alberto Torres, Ronaldo, Mário Zagallo, Roy Hodgson, Bebeto , Zico, Aldair, Juliano Belletti, Djalminha, Ruud Gullit, Carlos Alberto Parreira, Ricardo Tavarelli, Roberto Ayala, Paulo Montero, Ronald de Boer, Chelsea’s new signing, Wallace, Deco, Wagner Love, Botafogo players Doria and Jefferson, Denilson, Caniggia, Jay Jay Okocha, Caju, Paul Breitner and Gaizka Mendieta to name just a few.

Recent Paris Saint-Germain signing Lucas Moura was also in attendance and was announced as a Soccerex ambassador, joining the likes of Brazilian superstar Neymar, 1970 FIFA World Cup winner Carlos Alberto Torres, England and Manchester United legend Bryan Robson, 1978 World Cup winner Osvaldo Ardiles, Portuguese football legend Eusébio and three time European champion Phil Thompson.

Soccerex is an event with a focus on business and whilst it is impossible to calculate the amount of business done at this early stage, previous editions of the event have seen estimates in excess of £250 million. With an expanded sold out exhibition area and growing delegate numbers this figure is expected to increase once again this year.

Duncan Revie, Soccerex CEO commented: ‘Once again, Rio de Janeiro welcomed us with open arms and initial feedback shows that our delegates embraced the opportunity and found the event to be a huge success. The Football Festival was amazing, the exhibition was packed and we had all of the biggest names in football setting the agenda. No other event can pull together this level and number of big business and football names and we are proud that Soccerex has once again shown itself to be the leading football business event in the world.’

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