MANCHESTER, UK - Manchester United (NYSE:MANU) is delighted to announce that gloops, its social gaming partner in Japan, have extended their partnership with the Club.
The market-leading Japanese social gaming company has seen nearly 1.4 million downloads of its Manchester United titled game 'European Club Team Soccer Best Eleven Plus' since the partnership started just over a year ago.
The celebrated football-themed game allows users to assume the role of team manager, recruiting and creating the best squad possible and battling against other gamers to win the league.
Since the company's foundation nine years ago, gloops has produced more than 40 different games and now boasts over 30 million users.
Manchester United has almost four million followers in Japan and the retention of gloops in the Club's family of sponsors follows on from the addition of a number of partnerships with some of the country's most successful brands.
Manchester United's Group Managing Director, Richard Arnold said:
"We are delighted that gloops have decided to extend their relationship with us for another year, and demonstrates that having a partnership with Manchester United yields impressive returns.
"gloops have produced an extremely popular product, with almost half of our four million followers in Japan downloading its Manchester United branded game, which is impressive given the short period in which it has been available.
"They are at the forefront of the development of social gaming in Japan and we believe they can continue to help the Club deepen our engagement with our fans there."
gloops, Inc. CEO, Hideyuki Ikeda commented:
"As the Official Social Gaming Partner of Manchester United, we are honoured to support the Club's activities in Japan.
Through our social game 'European Club Team Soccer Best Eleven Plus', we at gloops hope to increase the number of football and Manchester United fans, as well as providing entertainment to more people with our various games.
Alongside with the world class football club Manchester United, gloops wants to continue giving full support to people who play active roles in the global scene. "
As part of the partnership, gloops have also undertaken a Manchester United Soccer Schools programme and have worked with the Manchester United Foundation over the course of the last 12 months.
