America’s leading soccer media brand will showcase these clubs through important live matches that carry domestic league title implications as well as archived, classic matches that highlight European soccer’s most storied, successful clubs and most intense rivalries. The aforementioned clubs have combined to win 166 domestic, top-flight league titles and 32 European Cups (UEFA Champions League titles).

“Clash of the Giants” week will also feature ten of the world’s 12 most valuable soccer clubs, totaling a combined net worth of over $9 billion and generating over $3.7 billion in revenue through the 2009-10 season.

Three of soccer’s grandest club rivalries take center stage during “Clash of the Giants” week as Chelsea hosts Manchester United on Tuesday, March 1, Juventus hosts AC Milan in the Serie A on Saturday, March 5, and Liverpool hosts Manchester United on Sunday, March 6. FOX Soccer’s Super Sunday + will preview and recap Liverpool-Manchester United on Sunday at 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET.

Manchester United-Liverpool is the most storied rivalry in English soccer as both clubs have won an English record 18 top-flight, domestic titles. Liverpool’s five European Championships are most among English teams, with Manchester United having won three. Premier League leader Manchester United, which has won 11 of the first 18 Premier League titles since it was created in 1992, has remarkably lost only twice over all competitions in the 2010-11 campaign.

Earlier in “Clash of the Giants” week, Manchester United travels to reigning Premier League champion Chelsea on Tuesday, March 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET in the latest edition of their burgeoning rivalry that has seen the clubs split the past six Premier League titles. A special edition of FOX Soccer Match Day will preview and analyze this titanic clash at 2 p.m. ET.

Arsenal, currently second in the Premier League, also features prominently on FOX Soccer Channel’s live schedule. It hosts a fifth-round FA Cup replay against Leyton Orient – which kept this tie alive with a thrilling 89th-minute goal last weekend – on Wednesday, March 2, with a view towards creating another tantalizing clash with Manchester United in the FA Cup quarterfinals. Arsenal then faces Sunderland to kick off a Premier League doubleheader on Saturday, March 5.

Serie A leader AC Milan begins “Clash of the Giants” week on FOX Soccer Channel by hosting Napoli, second place in Serie A, at the San Siro.

Archived Manchester United matches to air during this week include its 2001 Charity Shield meeting with Liverpool, its decisive Champions League Round-of-16 showdown with AC Milan from March 10, 2010, its 2004 Community Shield grudge match against Arsenal, and a 1996 fifth-round FA Cup derby with Manchester City. Other archived matches featuring England’s big four clubs includes Liverpool vs. Arsenal from Aug. 15, Chelsea vs. Arsenal from Oct. 3, and the 2002 FA Cup final between Chelsea and Arsenal.

Barcelona, the consensus best club in the world at present, and Real Madrid, considered the best club of all-time, will be showcased through FOX Soccer’s UEFA Champions League archives in March’s first week. FOX Soccer Channel will air Barcelona’s 2010 Champions League semifinal with Inter Milan and a 2009 group stage match between Real Madrid and AC Milan.

Not only did Inter Milan beat Barcelona in last year’s Champions League semifinal on the way to capturing last year’s European Cup, but it also won Serie A in 2010. Its derby match with AC Milan from Jan. 24, 2010 is a featured, classic match that revives the thrill behind its title run.

In an exciting twist, FOX Soccer will also empower soccer fans at home to direct its “Clash of the Giants” week programming through the “Clash of the Giants: Viewer’s Choice Match” poll at www.foxsoccer.com. Beginning Sunday, Feb. 27, fans can go online and vote to watch one of the following matches on FOX Soccer Channel on Friday, March 4 at 8 p.m. ET – the Chelsea-Liverpool Premier League match from Feb. 6, 2011, the 1971 FA Cup final between Arsenal and Liverpool, and the 1994 FA Cup final between Manchester United and Chelsea.

For a complete list of FOX Soccer’s match programming during “Clash of the Giants” week (Feb. 28-March 6), please see below or visit www.foxsoccer.com.

FOX Soccer’s “Clash of the Giants” Week Live Television Schedule (Feb. 28-March 6):

Home team listed first; all times Eastern (subject to change).

• Monday, February 28
  • Italian Serie A – AC Milan vs. Napoli, 2:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 1
  • English Premier League – Chelsea vs. Manchester United, 2:30 p.m.
  • CONCACAF Champions League (Quarterfinal, 2nd leg) – Real Salt Lake vs. Columbus Crew, 10 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 2
  • FA Cup (fifth round replay) – Arsenal vs. Leyton Orient, 2:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 5
  • English Premier League – Arsenal vs. Sunderland, 10:00 a.m.
  • English Premier League – Manchester City vs. Wigan, 12:30 p.m.
  • Italian Serie A – Juventus vs. AC Milan, 2:30 p.m.
• Sunday, March 6
  • English Premier League – Liverpool vs. Manchester United, 8:30 a.m.
  • English Premier League – Wolverhampton vs. Tottenham, 11:00 a.m.
  • Italian Serie A – Lazio vs. Palermo, 2:30 p.m.
  • Italian Serie A – Inter Milan vs. Genoa, 5:00 p.m. (same day delay)

“Clash of the Giants” week archived matches from the FOX Soccer library:

• English Premier League
  • Thursday, March 3 – Tottenham vs. Chelsea (April 17, 2010), 3:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, March 3 – Chelsea vs. Arsenal (Oct. 3, 2010), 8:00 p.m.
  • Friday, March 4 – Liverpool vs. Arsenal (Aug. 15, 2010), 3:00 p.m.
• Italian Serie A
  • Thursday, March 3 – Inter Milan vs. AC Milan (Jan. 24, 2010), 1:00 p.m.
  • Friday, March 4 – Roma vs. Inter Milan (Sept. 25, 2010), 1:00 p.m.
• UEFA Champions League
  • Monday, Feb. 28 – Lyon vs. Bordeaux (March 30, 2010), 5:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, March 1 – Real Madrid vs. AC Milan (Oct. 21, 2009), 5:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 2 – Manchester United vs. AC Milan (March 10, 2010), 5:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, March 3 – FC Barcelona vs. Inter Milan (April 28, 2010), 5:00 p.m.
• FA Archives
  • Wednesday, March 2 – Manchester United vs. Manchester City (FA Cup 5th Round; Feb. 18, 1996), 11:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, March 3 – Arsenal vs. Manchester United (Community Shield; Aug. 8, 2004), 11:00 p.m.
  • Friday, March 4 – Arsenal vs. Chelsea (FA Cup final; May 4, 2002), 11:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 5 – Liverpool vs. Manchester United (Charity Shield; Aug. 12, 2001), 11:00 p.m.
• “Clash of the Giants: Viewer’s Choice Match”
  • Friday, March 4 – Match TBD (by poll participants on Foxsoccer.com), 8 p.m.

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About FOX Soccer

FOX Soccer, part of the FOX Sports Media Group, offers the most comprehensive multi-media coverage of world-class soccer available in the United States. Encompassing FOX Soccer Channel, FOX Soccer Plus, FOXsoccer.com and FOXsoccer.tv, the network serves as the primary television and online destination in the U.S. for elite club competitions including England’s Barclays Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. Matches from Italy’s Serie A, Women’s Professional Soccer, and the Australian Hyundai A-League are also featured prominently, in addition to such global tournaments as the English FA Cup, CONCACAF Champions League™ and CONCACAF Gold Cup. Flagship FOX Soccer Channel is Nielsen-rated and available to service providers in high-definition, reaching more than 38 million cable and satellite households nationwide. FOX Soccer Plus is a premium network complementing FOX Soccer Channel by providing the best international sports experience in high-definition. In addition to live, exclusive soccer matches from the best leagues in the world, FOX Soccer Plus also delivers premium rugby from the Magners League, Aviva Premiership and Heineken Cup among other competitions. Live match coverage is also available online via premium broadband service FOXsoccer.tv, and for fans on-the-go, via the new FOX Soccer iPhone app. For more information – as well as news, features, analysis stats and more – visit one of America’s most-trafficked online soccer destinations at FOXsoccer.com, and the network’s Facebook page and Twitter feed (@FOXSoccer).

Emirates, the award-winning international airline, and Arsenal Football Club have joined forces to open an Arsenal Soccer School, where children of all nationalities and backgrounds will have the opportunity to learn how to ‘Play the Arsenal Way’.

The Arsenal Soccer School will be permanently based at 7he Sevens, Emirates’ own sporting venue, and will offer fantastic training opportunities with Arsenal’s UEFA Licensed Soccer Schools Coaches. The school, which is the first joint-venture of its kind for Arsenal, is open to boys and girls, with classes available in both Arabic and English.

No matter which team students support, or whether they live in Dubai or are visiting, the aim is to get active and have fun while learning to play football the Arsenal way. The emphasis will be on playing as a team to produce imaginative and skilful football, similar to the style created by club manager Arsène Wenger, who is globally renowned for his ability to nurture young talent.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline & Group, said: “When we first joined forces with Arsenal in 2004, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President Prime Minister UAE and Ruler of Dubai, talked of how sport crosses language barriers and brings different cultures together.

“The Arsenal Soccer School is in the spirit of his vision, forging community spirit, as well as pride in our nation as we watch graduates of the school go on to become our sporting heroes.

“It is our goal that the Arsenal Soccer School in Dubai will host an academy, which will become a centre of excellence for the Middle East where the very best players come to hone their skills in preparation for a career in the game.”

Ivan Gazidis, Chief Executive Officer for Arsenal Football Club, is focused on building the club’s global brand. He said: “There is already a great appetite for football within the Middle East and we are pleased to be partnering Emirates in this venture to bring the Arsenal Soccer Schools experience to another key destination.”

Wenger is also firmly behind the new school. “We invest heavily in developing and nurturing our younger players to ensure that they reach their full potential and the same applies to our Arsenal Soccer Schools,” said the Frenchman.

“The training program in our Arsenal Soccer Schools has been developed based on the same principles we teach our first-team players: developing young players’ technical skills and passion for the game to ensure they become the best players they possibly can.

“We also put a great emphasis on enjoyment and learning the right spirit of football, regardless of ability or background of the youngsters.”

In addition to the children based in the UAE, Emirates will be opening up the opportunity to youngsters from around the world. With non-stop flights to Dubai with Emirates from six continents, learning from world-class Arsenal coaches at a magnificent training facility could not be easier.

More than 1000 children – aged between five and 18 – will be trained each year at 7he Sevens, with the first 10-week term kicking off on October 5th. Each
10-week term will cost AED 1,500 (approximately US $408) for one session per week, with fees of AED 2,500 (approximately US $680) for two sessions a week. Each session will be between 60 to 75 minutes in duration.

In 2004, Emirates and Arsenal signed the biggest club sponsorship in English football history. In addition to the Fly Emirates logo on the players’ shirts, Emirates also has naming rights of Arsenal’s home, Emirates Stadium. Elsewhere, the airline sponsors Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, Hamburger SV, AC Milan and Olympiacos FC. It is also the Official Sponsor and Airline of BEC Tero Sasana from Thailand.

Emirates’ affinity with football continues as it is an Official Partner of the FIFA World Cup™ and Official Airline and Partner of the Asian Football Confederation. The airline is also heavily involved in rugby, cricket, golf, horseracing, sailing and tennis.

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About Emirates

Emirates currently serves 99 cities around the globe with a young and technologically advanced fleet of wide-body aircraft that are equipped with industry-leading comforts in the air. Additionally, Emirates has purchased 60 new wide-bodied aircraft to support the expansion of its international route network. The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) recently named Emirates to its exclusive “2009 Global Challenger” list, while Fast Company Magazine picked the airline as one of the 50 “Most Innovative Companies” in the world. Operations on Emirates from New York, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco connect America to the world through the airline’s route network with extensive connections from Dubai to the Far East, Australia and Africa. For more information, visit www.emirates.com/usa.