Why Are Footballers Investing In Football Clubs?
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Why Are Footballers Investing In Football Clubs?

Why Are Footballers Investing In Football Clubs?

A trend that has become more common over recent years. Footballers investing in football clubs. From hanging up their boots to putting on a suit and tie, former players are making the transition from being on the pitch to in the boardroom. And it’s not just ex-players either, with current players also venturing down the route of club ownership.

Why Are Players Buying Clubs?

With the majority of footballers purchasing clubs being ex-players, it shows that this abundance of newfound time has been filled with club ownership. Their knowledge and experience of the game are invaluable qualities which are a massive addition to the running of a club. Some players have spoken out about why they prefer to own a team rather than go into management.

Cristiano Ronaldo has shared his opinion on the matter, saying that being a club owner in the future is an ambition of his.

“If I can be a club owner, why would I be a manager, sporting director or CEO? That is a dream of mine and I am sure I’ll be a club owner. I hope to have not just one club, but several clubs.” said Ronaldo.

The Portuguese icon has well over 900 career goals, and if his ownership of a club was anywhere near as successful as his playing career, then he would be in for a very prosperous ride. To remind yourself of his milestone career goals, visit our article to relive the most memorable moments.

A route into club ownership provides many benefits for footballers, be that current or former players. The chance to continue their footballing journey presents a convincing argument to do so, alongside contributing to the growth and development of football around the world.

David Beckham is one of the most famous names to help broaden the horizons of the footballing world, as he is co-owner of both Inter Miami and Salford City. His influence within Inter Miami has led to the club being a globally recognised brand, elevating the progression of football in North America. His stake in Salford City can be seen as a way the former Manchester United player has given back to the game, as he spent in his youth in Salford and therefore has a deep personal connection with the city.

What Clubs Are Being Purchased?

Buying a football club isn’t cheap, not even for footballers who have millions to spend. That’s where players have had to look lower down the football leagues to find a club they can help rise to the top. There is often a personal connection between the player and the club they chose to invest, with Beckham’s investment in Salford City being a prime example.

Wilfried Zaha is another player who has brought a stake of a club he has personal ties to, as he is part of a consortium who purchased AFC Croydon Athletic. The Ivory Coast international was brought up in Croydon, with the club’s Mayfield Stadium being a stone's throw away. Rapper Stormzy and former Crystal Palace head of player care Danny Young are also part of the consortium.

With Gareth Bale having already submitted a bid to buy boyhood club Cardiff City, it looks like another ex-player could be set to return to their roots. The Real Madrid legend is part of a consortium, including a United States investment group, which has sent a letter to current Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan regarding a possible takeover of the club. The bid has been rejected by Tan, but it is expected Bale is going to return with a second attempt.

For a full breakdown of Bale’s potential purchase of Cardiff City, make sure to read our article to discover everything about the possible deal.

Are Current Players Investing In Football Clubs?

In short, the answer is yes. Although it’s not as common as former players taking an interest in a team, some high-profile names have made their mark whilst still playing themselves.

Kylian Mbappé is the standout name in this list, with the Real Madrid star having brought 80% of French side SM Caen in July 2024. The 25-year-old has broken the mould buy investing in a club at such a young age, showing his awareness to couple his love for football with a business opportunity. It could also be argued that he has the money to do what he likes, as there’s no doubting that the Frenchman has enough money for such an endeavour.

This isn’t Mbappé’s first rodeo, as he launched his own company called Zebra Valley in 2022. He collaborated with WME Sports agency to create content which covers a whole range of genres from football, music, gaming and many more topics. It shows that the former PSG man has a killer instinct both on and off the pitch.

However despite his success off the field, the same can’t be said for on the pitch this season. To understand what went wrong for Real Madrid this campaign, check out our article which takes a look at what went wrong for Los Blancos.

Mbappé isn’t the only current Frenchman who owns a football club, as N’Golo Kante is the owner of Belgian side Royal Excelsior Virton. The Al-Ittihad player took over as chairman from Flavio Becca in July 2023. When Kante was announced as chairman, a statement was put out by the club saying they wanted to consolidate their foundations and reconnect with the tradition of uniting with the youth system.

Why Is There An Increase In Players Buying Clubs?

Footballers have had an increasing influence over club ownership in recent years, which can be put down to several factors. The first one to highlight is the high wages of players, which lays down the foundations for potential ownership to be possible in the first place. The significant increase in payouts footballers receive has only been prominent in the last 10 years or so, which is reflected in the number of current and former players attaining control of a club. These higher wages have made it more viable for players to have minority ownership of a team, explaining why we can see an influx in players have some sort of stake in club ownership.

Tied in with high wages is the willingness to stay involved in football in some capacity. Club ownership provides ex-players with a chance to stay connected with the sport despite no longer participating on the pitch. As I discussed earlier, some players chose clubs that they have a personal connection to, which is exactly what David Stockdale did.

The former Fulham goalkeeper is the manager of non-league side Farsley Celtic and recently purchased 100% of the club. Financial difficulties coupled with uncertainty over the future of the club led to Stockdale buying complete ownership. His takeover secures the future of the club, with an underpinning message of giving back to the community.

It's moments like these where you can see just how much football brings people together, and explains why players are increasingly keen on purchasing clubs.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
Charlie Stevens

Content Writer

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