HISTORY scores access to Football’s top talent for History of Football TV event
March 20, 2018
HISTORY has officially secured many of the biggest names in football for its upcoming mega television event – HISTORY OF FOOTBALL: THE GREATEST STORY EVER PLAYED, it was announced today by Patrick Vien, Executive Managing Director, International, A+E Networks. This unprecedented event will run on HISTORY in over 160 territories outside of the United States, 24/7 for 14 days, from May 28 to June 10 and will present a selection of original, globally and locally focused premium series and documentaries, carefully curated films and short form specials.
“We are thrilled with the overwhelming support we have received from these and other renowned football icons,” said Vien. “Their incredible skill and celebrated accomplishments are the very fabric of HISTORY®’s ambitious storytelling effort and we are proud to have each of them on board as we launch HISTORY OF FOOTBALL as a global television event.”
Many renowned football players, managers, coaches and sports broadcasters will be featured in the highly anticipated HISTORY programming slate. HISTORY around the world will also broadcast locally sourced television series and documentaries that will offer a unique lens into each country’s particular passions for football and capture the global anticipation and excitement leading into the 2018 World Cup.
Highlights of the talent lineup for HISTORY OF FOOTBALL include: Pelé, the only player to win three World Cups; Ryan Giggs, the most decorated player in British history and current manager of the Wales national team; Gary Lineker, England’s record holder for goals scored in World Cup finals; internationally renowned sports broadcaster, Louis Van Gaal, former manager of Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Ajax Amsterdam and Holland; Philipp Lahm, captain of Germany during the 2014 World Cup and current Bayern Munich player; Claudio Ranieri, former manager of Leicester City, during their 2016 English Premier League win and current head coach of Nantes; Roy Hodgson, current manager of Crystal Palace in the English Premier League and former manager of England; and Michael Owen, former striker for Manchester United and the England national team; together with a number of players from the FIFA World Cup winning teams of 1970, 1978, 1990, 1998 and 2014, including the likes of Rivellino, Mario Kempes, Lothar Matthaus, Paul Breitner, Toto Schillaci, Emanuel Petit, Christian Karembeu, Manuel and Philip Lahm.
The weeks-long television event also takes a look at the sporting events that made such football luminaries and players as Pelé, Maradona, Messi, Ronaldo, Zidane, Villa, Rummenigge, Matthäus and Müller, household names around the world.
David Villa, World Cup Winner and one of the most decorated players in the world, will continue to represent HISTORY OF FOOTBALL as its global press spokesperson.
Over 160 territories around the world will be airing HISTORY OF FOOTBALL including in Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom; as well as across Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia (in Southeast Asia the event will run for one week not two). Every major territory will present over 40 hours of content which will be a blend of global and local programming.