Marc Keller
Marc Keller, President of the club, details this partnership and its benefits
Hager Group: in a league of its own
Hager Group is also building bridges to the community, particularly through its involvement with the Racing Club Strasbourg Alsace, now in Ligue 1. Marc Keller, President of the club, details this partnership and its benefits.
Now in Ligue 1, the Racing Club Strasbourg Alsace (RCSA) has forged a partnership with Hager Group. What interested you in this partnership?
50 years old and from Balgau, Marc Keller started his football career in Colmar before going professional. The current President of RC Strasbourg Alsace and previously its Director and that of AS Monaco, he has played for clubs such as Mulhouse, Strasbourg, Karlsruhe and West Ham. He made six appearances for the French national team, scoring once. Marc Keller is also part of the Executive Committee of the Fédération Française de Football.
Hager Group has shown a lot of interest in our Racing Club Strasbourg Alsace project and together we have built an ambitious partnership. This is a very important commitment towards the club and for this I thank them.
The RCSA has deep regional roots and over 350 partners ranging from very small to large companies. Our strength lies in the close ties we have with our region. All of Alsace is rooting for us when we play, and the same goes for our partners.
You played for a range of clubs during your time as a professional footballer. How would you describe RC Strasbourg Alsace?
In Germany, you would refer to us as being a Traditionsverein, meaning a traditional club. The crowds at the Meinau stadium are known for their spirit and camaraderie; supporters come to the stadium two hours before kick-off. With nearly 24,000 spectators on average in a stadium that can hold 26,000, we have the second best home match participation rate just behind the Paris Saint-Germain team.
How familiar were you with Hager Group before the partnership?
I also do some work in the property business, and not a week goes by when I don’t see Hager products on-site. Hager is a successful, worldwide, family-run business that has strong local roots in Alsace. A big player with whom we share the same vision and values.
How would you describe these shared values?
I spoke about proximity, grassroots, team spirit, being authentic whilst striving for excellence. The strong bond we share particularly hit home for us recently when our players visited in the site in Obernai last December – they received a fabulous welcome! With the photo-taking and the autographing, in no time at all, a strong authentic bond developed between our players and Hager Group employees.
How do you use the sponsorship money you receive from sponsors like Hager Group?
At RCSA, we take our social responsibility very seriously. In addition to our match day activities, we are involved in a range of other initiatives for our region throughout the season. For example, we invest in training for young people from Alsace so that they can one day become top players themselves. This involves working closely with individual districts of the city, as well as with the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg and the city itself. People come to us, but more often than not, we go to them. Hager Group’s is a great help.
50 years old and from Balgau, Marc Keller started his football career in Colmar before going professional. The current President of RC Strasbourg Alsace and previously its Director and that of AS Monaco, he has played for clubs such as Mulhouse, Strasbourg, Karlsruhe and West Ham. He made six appearances for the French national team, scoring once. Marc Keller is also part of the Executive Committee of the Fédération Française de Football.
