After hanging up his boots, there are footballers who continue to the managerial field. Become a coach, manager, head coach, or whatever the term is. There are also those who take other paths, becoming commentators or pundits for their cool language.
However, there are also footballers who choose to become part of a club by buying their shares, becoming one of the owners of the club. For this route, even those who are still active can do it. As long as they have money. Here are some footballers, both retired and active, who became owners of a club thanks to the shares they bought.
Cesc Fabregas – Como
This Spanish player has had a brilliant career with Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona. And, of course also with the Spanish national team. After playing with Monaco since 2019, the 35-year-old player chose to “retreat” at an Italian Serie B club, Como. Starting this season, he will play at a club that employs Chelsea legend, Dennis Wise, as CEO. The Indonesian-owned club emerged from bankruptcy in 2017 and returned to pro football in 2019. For two seasons, Fabregas will play at Como.
Apart from being a player, Fabregas also agreed to buy a portion of Como’s shares. Fabregas was also prepared to stay in Lombardy for a long time. So, after retiring, Fabregas will enjoy the beautiful Lake Como, while keeping an eye on his club. Is it forever? I don’t know, maybe until Fabregas sells his share.
Gerard Pique – FC Andorra
Pique bought Andorra in December 2018 through its Kosmos Holding Group, according to GiveMeSport. Andorra has played in the Spanish League since 1948, although the club originates from Andorra, a small country located on the border of France and Spain. When bought by Pique, Andorra were in Division Four. Since being bought by Barcelona and Spain defenders, Andorra’s position in the Spanish League has skyrocketed. At the end of the 2021-22 season, Andorra was officially promoted to the Segunda Division, aka Division Two, for the first time. It could be, when Pique was still playing for Barcelona, he also had to face the club he owned in the Primera Liga. It’s possible, right?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Hammarby
On 27 November 2019, Zlatan bought a 23.5 percent stake in Hammarby, a Swedish club based in Stockholm. According to the Hammarby Fotboll website, Zlatan bought it from Anschutz Entertainment Group, also the owner of the LA Galaxy where Zlatan played. Funnily enough, Zlatan never had a history with Hammarby. The player, who will turn 41 on October 3, was born in Malmoe. His junior careers all took place in Malmoe. In fact, his first pro club was Malmoe FF. His decision to buy Hammarby’s shares had angered Malmoe supporters, who often damaged the statue of Zlatan in Malmoe.
David Beckham – Inter Miami
Beckham owns Inter Miami, which he started since he first joined LA Galaxy in 2007. At that time, he was negotiating with MLS to be able to own the Inter Miami franchise for 25 million US dollars, whenever Beckham stopped playing at Galaxy. FC Cincinnati and Nashville SC each had to spend 150 million US dollars to join MLS in 2019 and 2020. Meanwhile, Beckham only spent 25 million dollars. A brilliant decision he did in 2007.
Didier Drogba – Phoenix Rising FC
Beckham became the inspiration for several world-class players to try out American football, one of which was former Chelsea player, Didier Drogba. After playing in MLS, the Ivory Coast player joined a club under MLS, USL Championship, namely Phoenix Rising FC, in 2017. At that club, Drogba also became a minority owner. Drogba became the first person to become a player and owner in world football. Phoenix has yet to break into MLS, while Drogba has hung up his boots in 2018.
Jamie Vardy – Rochester New York FC
Vardy has an investment in a small club in North America? Strange. It was even said that Rochester New York was currently on hiatus, from 2017 to 2023, when Vardy was bought. Since changing their name from Rochester Rhinos in 2021, after the club failed to join USL League One, they have had the funds come from the Leicester City striker. With Vardy’s investment secured, the club bounced back. RNYFC now competes in the MLS Next Pro League, a brand new league. The first season, 2022, starts on March 25 and ends on September 25, 2022, followed by 21 clubs.
Paolo Maldini – Miami FC
One more figure in football that invests in US football. Paolo Maldini spent his career at AC Milan, but he has a stake in Miami FC. The club has nothing to do with David Beckham’s Inter Miami. Miami FC was founded in 2015 and plays in the USL Championship. As the top US leagues are growing and expensive, investing in lower divisions seems to make more sense.
Ronaldo Nazario – Real Valladolid and Cruzeiro
From 5 to 8 June 2022, Ronaldo Nazario cycled 450 km, from Valladolid to Santiago de Compostela. The 45-year-old former footballer fulfilled a vow he would cycle that far if Real Valladolid were promoted to the Spanish Primera Liga. Valladolid returns to La Liga after being in the Segunda Liga throughout the 2021-22 season. Valladolid was the first club that Ronaldo bought. He became a major shareholder for the club. Ronaldo paid 30 million euros for a 51 percent stake in Valladolid in September 2018, according to the BBC and ESPN. Not only Valladolid. Ronaldo also bought a majority stake in his first club, Cruzeiro, for around $70 million in December 2021. According to Reuters, Ronaldo wants to return Cruzeiro to its rightful place. Currently, Cruzeiro plays in the Brazilian League Serie B.
Hector Bellerin – Forest Green Rovers
Bellerin has adhered to a vegan lifestyle since 2017, which she says makes her body healthy. The Spaniard who grew up with Arsenal is also an environmentalist. It is not surprising that the 27-year-old player then became the second largest shareholder in English League Two club, Forest Green Rovers, in September 2021. Headquartered in Gloucestershire, Forest Green Rovers, as the name suggests, are also very environmentally conscious and are the world’s first vegan club, according to BBC Sport.
Cesar Azpilicueta – Hashtag United
The football club that the Spanish defender owns is a unique club. Hashtag United was founded by YouTuber Spencer Carmichael-Brown. Initially, Hashtag was a team that only played on YouTube channels, but now it has changed a lot. Hashtag United is now a semi-pro club, playing in the Isthmian League North Division, which is the 7th tier of the English Premier League. The Essex-based club has also appeared in the FA Cup. Azpilicueta, who is currently still listed as a Chelsea player, has been one of the owners of this club since 2018.
Class of ’92 – Salford City
Since becoming the owner of Salford City in 2014, several Manchester United dropouts who are members of the Class of ’92 have watched the club become a professional club, competing in the Football League. Salford City are now in League Two. The members of the Class of ’92 are Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Nicky Butt, and Ryan Giggs.
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