Football clubs are owned by different classes of wealthy individuals and sometimes corporations. The world sport, which is closely followed by billions of fans globally, has attracted tons of club ownership investments. Royals, business moguls, and recently football superstars all meet at the melting pot of purchasing clubs.

Last season, the French super striker Kylian Mbappe made waves by acquiring 80% of Ligue 2 side Caen. Hence, the success stories of club ownership continue to dazzle fans and punters worldwide. However, throughout the history of football, there have been failures with regards to owning clubs. Understanding the dynamics of such trends in football could spice up your betting experience. You can go through the available Betinireland choice of betting sites and find your preferred sportsbooks on which to bet.

In this article, we are going to explore the success stories and failures of football club ownership. We will also get to understand the role of club ownership in football club success.



The Impact of club ownership on football success

Acquiring a football club entails a lot of accountability and effort. Club owners are usually keen on making strategic financial and operational decisions. Gone are the days when football was simply a kick-and-run ball sport. Nowadays the game entails fan engagement, ticketing and marketing, brand awareness and media coverage. The performance of football players on the field is only one of many conditions to ensure a club’s success. Football club owners must worry about everything that involves the success of their teams. The management involved in team ownership is crucial to the success of the club.

Football club owners are in the business of rebranding, refurbishing, and renovating. They are at the helm of talent acquisition as well as setting long-term strategies to materialize their club’s vision.

The bony theory is fleshed by Sheikh Mansour’s iconic acquisition of Premiere League giants Manchester City in 2008. At the time Mansour purchased full rights of ownership for the club through the Abu Dhabi United Group, the Citizens were suffocating. Their abysmal performance got them stuck in the middle tier of the league table. The Sky Blues had not won any major trophy in years. Fans had blamed the team’s poor performance on a lack of potential players, and overall poor coaching tactics.

Mansour undertook a bulldozing effort to transform the entire club. Top players like Sergio Kun Aguero and De Bruyne were signed in fresh to redeem the Citizens. The club owner also renovated the Etihad Stadium, brought in Pep Guardiola, and built the club’s training academy. Through Mansour’s efforts, City has won the league title nine times, claiming their first UEFA Champions League title in 2023.

Iconic success stories in football club ownership

Owning football clubs come with huge responsibilities, but the glories are consoling. The stories of team ownership that recount success leave a lasting imprint on the history of the game. Some club owners have made notable achievements in transforming teams from the ‘zero to hero’ mark. Three examples of iconic football club ownership success stories are presented below:

Roman Abramovich – Chelsea

The Russian business tycoon is no stranger to mega success in the world of football. Roman Abramovich took over Chelsea in the summer of 2003. From the time he took over the control board of the West London side, the club has recorded major success on and off the pitch. Abramovich spent over €118 million to purchase the finest footballers including Joe Cole, Damien Duff, and Glen Johnson. Under his wings, The Blues have won five FA Cups and Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues and more. Chelsea is now able to compete with titans like Real Madrid and Manchester United thanks to Abramovich’s efforts.

Fenway Sports Group – Liverpool

Major stakes of Liverpool FC were bought over in 2010 by the Fenway Sports Group. At the hem of the Boston-based consortium, John W. Henry set out to improve the club’s fortunes and overall, on-field performance. Henry made the revolutionary decision of appointing Jurgen Klopp as the new head coach of Liverpool FC. Three years down the line, the Reds would go on to play in their second Champions League Final, beating Tottenham 2-0. Liverpool has since been a global powerhouse of footballing genius, and the club’s fortunes only keep soaring high.

Notorious failures and mismanagement

As all coins have two sides, the ownership of some football clubs has not brought in any significant impact on the teams. On the contrary, football history has recorded major stories of financial collapse from once major contending teams. Let’s explore the case of Leeds United for context.

Leeds United’s financial collapse

In the early 2000s, the club was managed by the chairman of Leeds Sporting PLC, Peter Ridsdale. The management had invested large sums in buying top players hoping to claim and win a considerable spot in the Champions League. Things went down south when Leeds United continued to struggle for form. Their best performance in the 2001/2002 season was finishing fifth place in the league. The struggling side also accrued financial debts of over €97 million over successive seasons of failing in the Champions League. This resulted in a domino effect as the club’s ownership board resorted to mass sale of player staff.

The financial meltdown was followed by fan disengagement, a lack of sponsorship deals and an overall disinterest from stakeholders. Over €58.5 million had been lost in 2003, the worst in British football history.

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Credit: fcbusiness.co.uk.