Manchester United star Ryan Giggs handed a lucrative boost

18 November 2009 | Posted in Personal Endorsement, Soccer | By Adam Fraser

Ryan Giggs, the most decorated player in the Premier League, has signed a lucrative endorsement deal with Swiss luxury watch brand CYMA.

Giggs, who has played for Manchester United for his whole professional career and won a string of honours - including 11 Premier League titles, two Uefa Champions League medals, four FA Cups and the Fifa Club World Cup - was named PFA Player of the Year last season at the age of 35. He will endorse CYMA watches across its key Asian markets into 2010. The deal covers the territories of Greater China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand - four areas in which United have millions of fans - and is believed to be worth around US$300,000 to the player.

Giggs has scored seven goals so far in the current Premier League season as well as a goal against German Champion Wolfsburg in the Uefa Champions League and has recently been short-listed for the European Player of the Year Award.

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"Ryan Giggs provides a perfect match for CYMA Watches. With his role model attitude towards loyalty, fair play and discipline as well as excellent match play he showcases CYMA's brand values built upon a passion for impeccable craftsmanship and dedication to Swiss watchmaking tradition," said James Law, general manager of City Chain Company Ltd. "It is amazing to see that at the age of 35 Giggs is amongst the best BPL (Barclays Premier League) players."

James White, of the Total Sports Asia agency which arranged the deal, added:  "We are proud to work with the best in the market – with CYMA, one of the leading manufacturers of luxury watches as well as Ryan Giggs, one of the best midfielders English league football has seen to date. This deal shows that TSA's relationships and knowledge of the market can be integral to brands across Asia."