ITC Travel Group is strengthening its family holiday and sports travel offerings through a new partnership with Football Escapes.

The latter provides world-class children’s football coaching by former professionals, including Rio Ferdinand, in luxury resorts around the world.

The partnership was promoted by Ferdinand, who said: “Delighted to announce our partnership with ITC Travel who will now be able to provide you with bespoke packages for your next Football Escapes holiday!”

Football Escapes specialises in coaching courses for five to 15-year-olds, led by former professional footballers and UEFA-licenced coaches.

We're delighted to announce our partnership with @ITCTravel who will now be able to provide you with bespoke packages for your next @footballescapes holiday! And all ATOL protected ✔Check out our 2019 dates and destinations here https://t.co/rpNcA8nmNp and join us in the ☀ #ad pic.twitter.com/Omv9NHPw8f

— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) January 9, 2019

Other household names who join the UEFA-licenced coaching team for courses include Eidur Gudjohnsen, Dimitar Berbatov and Teddy Sheringham.

Through the partnership, ITC Travel Group will arrange luxury family holidays built around the coaching courses – which take the form of two-hour daily sessions over a week, held at luxury hotels and resorts around the world.

Current destinations include Dubai, the Maldives, Portugal, Cyprus and Beijing.

“We are delighted to announce this latest string to our bow in providing a truly extraordinary portfolio to our clients and travel agent partners,” said ITC Travel Group chief executive, Mal Barritt.

“As a parent of three boys myself I know all too well the challenges of keeping the whole family happy when abroad and I genuinely believe that the combination of ITC’s bespoke, tailor-made service and Football Escapes’ unique access to a whole host of footballing household names will be a World Cup winning formula!”