Littleton, Colorado- Rush Soccer is very excited to announce its partnership with AJ Auxerre of the French Ligue 1. Housed approximately 100 miles Southeast of Paris, AJ Auxerre is one of French football’s top clubs. AJ Auxerre played its way into Ligue 1 in 1979 and has been there ever since. The club has captured the French Cup four times and have a highly respected academy program known for producing some of the top talent in Europe. Jerome De Bontin, a well known figure in French football and a member on the Rush Board of Directors, arranged the partnership with the French giant.

President and C.E.O of Rush Soccer Tim Schulz is absolutely thrilled to be partnered with such a respected club as AJ Auxerre. “The partnership with AJ Auxerre could not be a better fit for the Rush. Auxerre has embraced the Rush and its membership. The Rush leaders are looking for a long-term relationship with an emphasis on providing an opportunity for that special Rush player to someday wear the Auxerre jersey. Rush Soccer has a history of developing MLS and National Team players. Can we place one on the AJ Auxerre first team? Both clubs feel it is only a matter of time,” Schulz stated of the new partnership. AJ Auxerre is well known to be one of the top clubs in France, if not all of Europe, at producing players. The hope, and expectation, is that somewhere in the Rush family, there are players with the talent to play in the top flight in France. While Auxerre is partnered with all of Rush Soccer, their primary focus will be on the three US Developmental Academy programs in Colorado, Texas and Virginia.

In addition to player development, the partnership also aims to provide coaching education and exchange for Rush coaches in order to better prepare them for developing top caliber players. Rush also hopes that this partnership can serve as a blueprint to US Soccer on the advantages of partnering members of the US Youth Development Academy with a world renown Youth Academy like Auxerre. By strengthening our Academy programs, we in turn also help to strengthen all of US Soccer.

Rush will experience the atmosphere at AJ Auxerre first hand when Tim Schulz visits the French club October 17-22.

This is truly a great partnership for all involved. AJ Auxerre gains access to the entire talent pool of Rush Soccer, over 35,000 strong, while the American club now has the backing of one of Europe’s top clubs!