ON Sunday, it was revealed 12 European giants had decided to form a money-spinning, breakaway European league to rival the Champions League.
The decision has been widely criticised by fans, pundits and players alike with many believing it’s just a get-richer-quicker scheme.
But who are the owners of each club involved?
We take a look at all 12 clubs and their mega-rich owners…
ENGLAND
ARSENAL
12
Owner(s): Stan Kroenke
Nationality: American
Net worth: £5.9bn
Club value: £2.1bn
KROENKE first go involved with Arsenal in 2007 when Granada Ventures sold its 9.9 per cent stake to the American’s company.
A year later, continuing to hoover up shares, Kroenke joined the Gunners board, before taking a majority share by 2011.
It was only in 2018 he gained complete control after buying out remaining shareholder Alisher Usmanov’s stake in the club.
Kroenke is something of a pantomime villain at the Emirates, with many fans frustrated at the club’s direction since his takeover.
The firing of 55 members of staff during the coronavirus pandemic did little to help his popularity.
Not only have results suffered on the pitch, but the club have struggled to compete with their ‘Big Six’ rivals financially in the transfer market.
CHELSEA
12
Owner(s): Roman Abramovich
Nationality: Russian
Net worth: £10.6bn
Club value: £2.3bn
ABRAMOVICH took control of the Blues in the summer of 2003 and immediately threw his financial clout at the club.
Chelsea went from a club chasing European spots to one of the continent’s biggest powerhouses.
Abramovich single-handedly made Chelsea a financial beast, investing in players on the pitch and forging commercial relationships off it.
Nearly 20 years later, Abramovich is still not shy in splashing the cash – with fans generally happy with his leadership.
LIVERPOOL
12
Owner(s): John W. Henry
Nationality: American
Net worth: £2bn
Club value: £2.96bn
FENWAY SPORTS GROUP took over from the wildly unpopular George Gillett and Tom Hicks in 2010.
Since then, Liverpool have been on a hugely upwards trajectory.
Around the time of the takeover, the Reds were dwindling around seventh or eight in the Premier League.
But with some canny investment, Liverpool are now reigning Premier League champions – with their 30-year title drought ended a year after they won their sixth Champions League crown.
FSG – headed up by Henry – are largely popular at Anfield for that reason.
NBA superstar LeBron James also increased his stake in Liverpool after investing in FSG.
MAN CITY
12
Owner(s): Sheikh Mansour
Nationality: Emirati
Net worth: £15.7bn
Club value: £2.9bn
SHEIKH MANSOUR took over at the Etihad in 2008 and, like Abramovich at Chelsea, enjoyed immediate success.
The statement signing of Robinho – then at the peak of his powers – laid the groundwork.
And by 2011-12 after hundreds of millions of pounds worth of investment, Man City won their first-ever Premier League.
City have gone on to win another three under the Emirati owner and are on track for their fifth overall in 202021.
Sheikh Mansour is a popular figure among the majority of City fans for helping the club enjoy its greatest-ever era.
MAN UTD
12
Owner(s): The Glazers
Nationality: American
Net worth: £3.2bn
Club value: £3.03bn
THE Glazer family first got involved with United in 2005 after Malcolm purchased a 28.7 per cent stake in the club before taking full control soon after.
The Americans have overseen a mixed bag of results and are often the focus of United fans’ frustration.
They enjoyed the last few seasons of Sir Alex Ferguson, but also oversaw the disastrous David Moyes and Louis van Gaal eras.
Jose Mourinho was also sacked by United – costing them £15m in compensation – with the club chasing its first league title in nearly a decade.
Only a Europa League and League Cup success – both in 2016-17 – have mildly pacified United fans in recent seasons.
United are started to show signs of life under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer if the Glazers are willing to stick with him.
But there remain concerns over the club’s astronomical debt – which has only worsened during the coronavirus pandemic.
TOTTENHAM
12
Owner(s): Joe Lewis
Nationality: British
Net worth: £3.5bn
Club value: £1.66bn
LEWIS took over from Lord Alan Sugar in 2001 and has been in charge ever since, alongside chairman Daniel Levy.
Tottenham are yet to break their now-13-year trophy drought, with their last piece of silverware coming in 2008 when they won the League Cup.
Spurs fans are often left frustrated by the club’s inability to challenge their rivals financially in the transfer market.
However, in recent season, the club have proven they’re willing to spend big when the right opportunity arises.
The board’s next job will be to find anew manager after Jose Mourinho was sacked on Monday.
ITALY
AC MILAN
12
Owner(s): Elliott Management Corporation
Nationality: American
Net worth: £32.2bn
Club value: £405m
THE American firm took over at the San Siro very recently, in 2018.
Milan have enjoyed a slight uptick in form this season – challenging Inter for the Serie A title.
The club even have a new stadium potentially on the horizon.
INTER MILAN
12
Owner(s): Suning Holdings Group
Nationality: Chinese
Net worth: £6.8bn
Club value: £537m
SUNING HOLDINGS GROUP took over in 2016, with the club initially burning through managers oversclashes over the club’s direction.
Roberto Mancini, Ronald De Boer, Stefano Pioli and Luciano Spalletti have all come and gone.
The club are now enjoying a purple patch under Antonio Conte and are almost certain to win the Serie A title this breaking, snapping Juventus’ nine-year streak.
However, the season hasn’t all been fun and games, with the owners’ financial worries surfacing in February.
Suning-owned Chinese Super League champions Jiangsu FC were even forced to ‘cease operations’.
JUVENTUS
12
Owner(s): The Agnelli family
Nationality: Italian
Net worth: £9.7bn
Club value: £1.45bn
THE Agnelli family – who own car giants Fiat – took control of Juventus way back in 1923.
Having owned the club for nearly a century it’s almost impossible for fans to consider a life after the family.
Their record as Italy’s most successful club speaks for itself though, with Juventus having won the last nine Serie A title.
Juve have won 69 major trophies, with AC Milan not a particularly close second with 48.
SPAIN
ATLETICO MADRID
12
Owner(s): Miguel Angel Gil Marin (51%), Idan Ofer, Enrique Cerezo
Nationality: Spanish/Israeli
Net worth (combined): £5bn
Club value: £720m
GIL MARIN – who made his money in horse and bull breeding – first became chief executive in 1993 after investment from his father, Jesus Gil.
Israeli billionaire Ofer – who accounts for £4.6bn of the Atleti owners’ £5bn net worth – owns around a third of the club having bought out Dalian Wanda Group in 2018.
Cerezo, meanwhile, has been president since 2002.
Atletico Madrid have enjoyed increasing success in recent years and are pushing for only their 11th league title this season.
BARCELONA
12
Owner(s): Club members
Nationality: N/A
Net worth: N/A
Club value: £3.44bn
BARCELONA are one of four member-owned LaLiga teams.
Each year, 144,000 people pay membership fees and hold shareholder votes on key decisions.
REAL MADRID
12
Owner(s): Club members
Nationality: N/A
Net worth: N/A
Club value: £3.43bn
LIKE Barcelona, Real Madrid are run by their club members.
Los Blancos boast around 90,000 paying members – who control the club and vote on major decisions.
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