ABU DHABI, 7 March 2006 — Liverpool and Everton football legends, Ian Rush, Peter Reid and Dave Watson comprise the latest football stars who are set to visit Abu Dhabi on an invitation from Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates.
“The airline’s commitment to football and sport is unquestionably growing. After welcoming the Brazilian national team as guests of Etihad last year, we are delighted to be bringing more of the world’s true legends of football this month,” said Ian Ferguson-Brown, Head of Brand Management and Communications, Etihad Airways.
The airline also sponsored the Abu Dhabi Open Golf Championship that attracted some of the world’s best golfers, among them, Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia and John Daly, he said . Among the recent events supported by Etihad Airways were the Zayed First International Handball Championship, and the international exhibition ice hockey match in Canada between the UAE national team and all-stars from the prestigious NHL (National Hockey League).
Rush’s goal-scoring exploits during his two stints at Liverpool in the 1980’s and early 1990’s are still unmatchable . Rush remains Liverpool’s all-time scoring king, the Welshman having scored 346 goals in 660 senior matches for the Reds.
Many will remember Reid’s playing career as a tough midfielder who took Manchester City to fifth in the league in his first of two years at the club. As a player, Reid won every domestic trophy on offer with Everton, and also tasted European success in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1985 while also being voted the PFA player of the year in the same year.
Watson’s career started with his boyhood heroes Liverpool but, without a senior-level outing for the Reds, eventually proved himself at Norwich City before being returning to Merseyside in August 1986 — displacing his old club Liverpool as champions with winning the league.
