Holstein Kiel to begin partnership with the San Francisco Glens

Bundesliga 2 side Holstein Kiel and the San Francisco Glens of the USL League Two have announced that they will be entering into a partnership, with a delegation from the German club travelling stateside on 23 June.

Wolfgang Schwenke, Kiel’s Commercial Director, will be joined during his two-week trip to the Pacific Coast by, among others, youth coaches Dominik Glawogger and Christian Riecks, who will be training young stars from the Glens’ team as part of a summer camp.

"We’ve been contemplating for quite some time about what path to take internationally, and how to spread out our feelers out to a very interesting American market," says Schwenke.

"And with the Glens, we’ve found a club that wants to live out this partnership in the same way as us, and who has the same values as us when it comes to youth development and training."

Holstein Kiel finished sixth last season in only their second season in the Bundesliga 2. - 2018 Getty Images

Kiel’s trip to San Francisco will be the beginning of a cooperation that includes multiple visits between youth players and coaches, exchanges of ideas, training and further education.

The program to travel to San Francisco will also include company visits to Silicon Valley, exchanges with players, coaches and officials from various Californian clubs, as well as making new contacts in the world's largest sports market.

"We're excited to enter this partnership with Holstein Kiel," said Mike McNeill, Executive Director of the San Francisco Glens.

"With over 70 teams and 1,300 players, we look forward to hosting our sister city club. We believe this will be a beneficial relationship for both clubs and cities – on the field and off of it. We’re honoured that a great club with so much history such as Holstein Kiel wants to build a relationship with us."

About the clubs

Holstein Kiel

Holstein-Stadion