Moreso, did you know the Red Devils saw fit to strike 14 separate 'integrated communications' partnerships across a complex network of worldwide locations?
Here is the full list. Some are well-known, others are just plain barmy. Use it as a quiz of sorts, to see just how well-versed you are in the corporate side of 'the beautiful game'. No cheating:
So before you continue, write down as many of United's sponsors as you can, and then check to see how many you got. We'll mark this 'test' of sorts as follows...
0-3 right: And you say you know football? Stick to irrelevant topics such as zonal marking and how to nurture homegrown talent...
4-9 right: More manure than Man U. Banned from press conferences...
10-19 right: Mid-table mediocrity. Enough to get you fired at Old Trafford...
20-29 right: Champions League spot. Just pray Cuneyt Cakir isn't the referee...
30-33 right: Are you SURE you did not cheat!?
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1) AON – Principal sponsor
2) NIKE – Kit manufacturers
3) DHL – Official logistics partner
4) CHEVROLET – Official automotive partner
5) BWIN – Official online gaming and betting partner
6) THOMAS COOK – Official travel partner
7) HUBLOT – Official timekeeper (and crafters of some swanky 'bling')
8) TURKISH AIRLINES – Official airline partner
9) SMIRNOFF – Official responsible drinking partner (is 'Bros icing Bros' responsible?)
10) SINGHA – Official beer (were Singha not responsible enough to land #9…?)
11) CASILLERO DEL DIABLO – Official wine (See #10)
12) EPSON – Official office equipment partner (those press releases do not print themselves...)
13) TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS – Official medical systems partner
14) MISTER POTATO – Official savoury snack partner (and one of the best sporting billboards you'll ever see)
15) STC – Official integrated telecommunications partner… for Saudi Arabia
16) PCCW – Official integrated telecommunications partner… for Hong Kong
17) TM - Official integrated telecommunications partner… for Malaysia
18) BEELINE - Official integrated telecommunications partner… for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
19) BAKCELL - Official integrated telecommunications partner… for Azerbaijan
20) GLOBACOM - Official integrated telecommunications partner… for Nigeria, Ghana and Benin
21) VIVA - Official integrated telecommunications partner… for Bahrain
22) VIVA KUWAIT - Official integrated telecommunications partner… for – yes, you guessed it – Kuwait
23) TURK TELECOM - Official integrated telecommunications partner… for Turkey
24) GLOBUL - Official integrated telecommunications partner… for Bulgaria
25) MTN - Official integrated telecommunications partner… for South Africa, Zambia, Rwanda, Uganda, Swaziland and Botswana
26) ZONG – Official integrated telecommunications partner… for Pakistan
27) AIRTEL - Official integrated telecommunications partner… for India, Sri Lanka, Seychelles and Bangladesh
28) AIRTEL AFRICA - Official integrated telecommunications partner… for Burkina Faso, Chad, DR Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Congo Brazzaville (and breathe…)
29) YANMAR – Official global moving partner (in fairness, they do get around a bit)
30) KANSAI PAINT – Official paint partner
31) AP HONDA – Official motorcycle partner in Thailand
32) KAGOME – Official partner for Japan (yes, that’s right: not just integrated telecommunications… the WHOLE of Japan!)
33) MAMEE – Official noodles partner (wait, what?)
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Is it fair to say United have a few too many 'official' sponsors? Or perhaps they don't have enough! What do you think should be next: official toaster partner? Official board game? Official integrated telecommunications partner for Western Samoa?
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