FIFA President honours Manchester United

FIFA President honours Manchester United
(FIFA.com) Tuesday 10 March 2009
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FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter will honour Manchester United's victory at the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan with a presentation at Old Trafford ahead of the UEFA Champions League second-leg tie against Inter Milan on Wednesday 11 March.


The FIFA President will hand over the 'FIFA Club World Cup Champions Badge' to Manchester United Chief Executive David Gill, and defender Wes Brown, before watching the game between the reigning club champions of England and Italy.

The winning club may display the badge on their jerseys up until the final whistle of the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup. The badge features an image of the trophy and the text: FIFA World Champions 2008.

"Manchester United have won a multitude of honours during their illustrious history, but in Tokyo last December they added a new title, that of FIFA world club champions" said President Blatter. "This commemorative presentation recognises the achievement of Sir Alex Ferguson and his players and means that until late-December 2009, every time the team takes to the field, they will take that honour out with them on their shirts."

Manchester United now follow in the footsteps of previous winners who boast equally rich histories and traditions: AC Milan of Italy (2007) and Sport Club Internacional (2006), Sao Paulo FC (2005) and Corinthians (2000) all of Brazil.

Sir Alex Ferguson, Manager of Manchester United said: "It was an enormous honour to become the first British club to win the FIFA Club World Cup and this is a badge we will wear with great pride. I hope we are in a position to defend the trophy in Abu Dhabi in December!"

In association football, some national and club sides include one or more stars as part of (or beside) the crest on their shirt to represent important trophies that the team has previously won.

In national team football, Brazil currently display five stars, one for each FIFA World Cup victory in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. Italy did likewise in 1982 and today have four. All world champions have since followed suit.