After retirement, footballers usually work as coaches. However, some of these famous footballers actually have clubs. Well, here are five world footballers who have their own club:
5. Didier Drogba – Phoenix Rising
Phoenix Rising is a club that currently competes in the second tier of United States (US) football. The club was founded in 2014 under the name Arizona United Soccer Club. However, in 2016, the club changed ownership and was renamed Phoenix Rising FC
History was recorded on 12 April 2017 when the club signed Didier Drogba. The man from the Ivory Coast then bought the club’s ownership shares. The Chelsea legend was then listed as a player and owner of the first club in world football.
4. 6 Manchester United Legends – Salford City
Manchester United was once famous for the 1992 Force. The title was pinned to the best generation of Red Devils academy graduates consisting of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, and David Beckham. Well, the six names became the owners of the Salford City club.
3. Paolo Maldini – Miami FC
Italian football legend, Paolo Maldini, is currently listed as AC Milan’s Director of Sport Development and Strategy. However, he also owns a 50% stake in the second tier United States football club, Miami FC. The remaining shares of Miami FC are controlled by Italian businessman, Riccardo Silva, who is also president of the club.
The son of Cesare Maldini admitted that the state of Miami had been his home for the last 15 years. Therefore, Maldini did not hesitate to invest money and own the Miami FC club. One of Maldini’s partners at AC Milan, Nesta, played for Miami FC in 2016.
2. Ronaldo Nazario de Lima – Real Valladolid
(Ronaldo Nazario de Lima buys Real Valladolid, photo: By courtesy) Real Valladolid has just won promotion status in the 2018-2019 Spanish League. However, that did not prevent Ronaldo Nazario de Lima from acquiring the ownership of Real Valladolid on September 3, 2018. The Brazilian legend bought a 51% stake in Valladolid so that he is legally called the owner.
1. David Beckham – Inter Miami
David Beckham formed a new club in Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2018. The club is now known as Inter Miami. Beckham’s club began competing in MLS in 2020. Since its establishment until now, Beckham has always tried to bring the best players to Inter Miami. Beckham even has ambitions to bring Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to Inter Miami.
