The Japanese engine maker, Yanmar, has just signed an agreement to acquire Almere City FC, a professional football club in the Netherlands. The deal includes not just the team, but also the entire stadium, pending approval from Dutch football authorities.
Do you have a Yanmar engine in your yacht? Now they own a football club too!
If your yacht runs on a Yanmar engine, here’s something interesting. Yanmar is now stepping off the dock and onto the pitch.
The Japanese engine maker, Yanmar, has just signed an agreement to acquire Almere City FC, a professional football club in the Netherlands. The deal includes not just the team, but also the entire stadium, pending approval from Dutch football authorities.
This isn’t a sudden move. Yanmar has been part of the Almere community since 1989 and has been sponsoring the club’s stadium for over ten years. The company says this new step will help deepen their connection to the city, the region, and its people.
Yanmar is no stranger to football either, they’ve owned Cerezo Osaka in Japan since the 1950s. So, while their marine engines keep yachts moving, their football investments are now helping clubs grow on another kind of turf.
For yacht owners, this might just be an interesting side note, but it does reflect a broader picture. Yanmar isn’t only about precision mechanics; they’re also investing in long-term relationships, whether it’s with customers at sea or communities on land.
According to Yanmar Europe CEO Samir Laoukili, it’s about more than business:
“It’s our passion for the game and the community that drives us.”
With the Kroonenberg Groep staying on as the club’s main sponsor, it looks like Almere City FC is set to benefit from both local support and international experience.
So next time you hear that smooth “hum” from your Yanmar engine, remember, it now powers more than your boat. It’s also part of the game.
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