Who are the richest football club owners in the world?

Top 10 richest football club owners in the world

1) Sheikh  Mansour| Man City, Melbourne City, New York City | $20bn

Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also known as Sheikh Mansour, is best known in a football context for his ownership of Premier League club Manchester City, but he also owns a number of other clubs through the City Football Group.

As well as Man City, Major League Soccer side New York City and A-League outfit Melbourne City are among the clubs in the City Football Group owned by Sheikh Mansour. Others include Mumbai City in India and the Uruguayan team Montevideo City Torque.

2) Dietrich Mateschitz | Red Bull Salzburg, RB Leipzig, NY Red Bulls | $19.4bn

Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz has compiled an extensive portfolio of teams across a variety of sports, most of which have the name of his company emblazoned on them.

In football, his main concerns are Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg and MLS side New York Red Bulls.

3) Andrea Agnelli & family | Juventus | $13.5bn

The Agnelli family are the owners of Juventus, with Andrea Agnelli being the face of the family's football enterprise, serving as chairman of both the club and of the European Club Association (ECA).

Known as an industrialist family, the Agnelli family's business interests are varied, but they are mostly synonymous with the motor car industry, producing Fiat, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and other such brands.

4) Dietmar Hopp | Hoffenheim | $13bn

Bundesliga side Hoffenheim may not be global players, but their owner Dietmar Hopp is an influential businessman in the software and data processing sector having helped to found SAP SE.

Hopp, who is reported to have invested nearly €400 million into Hoffenheim, is heavily criticised by football fans in Germany, but was notably to the fore in the search for a coronavirus vaccine in 2020.

5) Roman Abramovic | Chelsea | $12.4bn

Russian businessman Roman Abramovic caused quite a stir in 2003 when he injected millions into Premier League club Chelsea to help propel them along the path to success in England and Europe.

He made his money in the oil industry, but has also invested in aluminium concerns among others.

6) Philip Anschutz | LA Galaxy | $10bn

A founding member of Major League Soccer, Philip Anschutz owns the popular team LA Galaxy, but in the past also owned a number of other franchises in the league, including MetroStars, Chicago Fire and others.

The American billionaire's main business interests are in the real estate, oil, rail and entertainment industries.

7) Stan Kroenke | Arsenal, Colorado Rapids | $9bn

Premier League club Arsenal are owned by American billionaire Stan Kroenke, through his Kroenke Sports and Entertainment company. 

Kroenke's company also owns MLS side Colorado Rapids, as well as a number of teams in other sports, including the Los Angeles Rams in NFL, Denver Nuggets in the NBA and Colorado Avalanche in NHL.

8) Nasser Al-Khelaifi | PSG | $8bn

Qatari businessman Nasser Al-Khelaifi is the head of Qatar Sports Investments, which owns and operates French team Paris Saint-Germain.

Al-Khelaifi is also the chairman of the beIN Media group, which broadcasts a variety of sports, and he was the mastermind behind the world record €222 million (£198m/$263m) transfer of Neymar from Barcelona to PSG. 

9) Zhang Jindong | Inter | $7.6bn

Zhang Jindong is a Chinese billionaire who, through his company the Suning Holdings Group, acquired a majority ownership stake in Serie A club Inter in 2016.

The Suning group is a retail business dealing in domestic appliances, but Jindong's other interests extend to the media and broadcasting sector, as well as sport.

10) Robert Kraft|New England Revolution|$6bn

Kraft Group CEO Robert Kraft is the owner of MLS side New England Revolution and also previously owned the San Jose Earthquakes. The American billionaire, whose business interests lie in sports, manufacturing and real estate, also owns the NFL team the New England Patriots.

Kraft was among those who considered making a bid to control Premier League side Liverpool in the mid-2000s and still finds England's top division an alluring investment prospect.

10) Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha & family | Leicester City, OH Leuven |$6bn

Thai businessman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha is the CEO of King Power and owner of Premier League club Leicester City. He is also the owner of Belgian team OH Leuven.

Srivaddhanaprabha took over the running of the business following the tragic death of his father Vichai in a helicopter crash in 2018. 

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Best La Liga Signings of the 2019/20 Season

La Liga clubs splashed the cash in 2019/20, with the likes of Joao Felix, Eden Hazard and Antoine Griezmann among others all making big money moves.

But it's fair to say that that some of them haven't quite worked out...so far. 

Hazard has played 15 just games in all competitions for Real Madrid in 2019/20, and in this time, he has managed to find the net just once. However, there have also been a number of signings this term which have turned out to be excellent pieces of business. 

Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid) 

Trippier's move to ​Atletico Madrid came as a shock, but he's settled very quickly to life in Madrid. Few expected the move to happen, and there were similar reservations about how much game time he'd actually get. However, he's shone, making the right back slot his own. The Englishman has also been a vital part of his side's attacking play, providing the width on the right to support those ahead of him. 

Diego Carlos (Sevilla)

Carlos' stock has risen rapidly this season. Joining Sevilla from Nantes just last summer, Carlos' stellar displays at the back have already seen him linked with a big money move away. The 27-year-old has been key to improving Sevilla's defensive record this season, with his tough tackling and no-nonsense defending. Equally capable with the ball at his feet, Carlos has proven to be a very shrewd piece of business, but this could see ​Sevilla part ways with him when the transfer window opens as Europe's elite come calling. 

Felipe (Atletico Madrid) 

It was always going to be near-impossible to replace Diego Godin at Atletico, but Felipe has proven to be a valuable addition. The 30-year-old's reading of the game and aerial presence has allowed him to take control and marshal his backline in his first season with the club. Felipe's performances have helped Atletico and Diego Simeone maintain their status as the division's finest defensive unit, with Los Rojiblancos conceding the joint-fewest goals in 2019/20. 

Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid)

While the likes of Hazard and Luka Jovic have struggled to settle at ​Real Madrid this season, this hasn't been the case for Ferland Mendy. The left-back started the season on the bench but soon forced his way into the starting lineup, displacing Marcelo. The Frenchman has continued to rotate with Marcelo, but with the Brazilian now 31 and possibly on his way out of the club, Real have a long-term replacement who has already proven his worth this season. 

Nabil Fekir (Real Betis) 

Ah, the curious case of the should-have-been ​Liverpool player. Since securing a switch to Real Betis for roughly £17.2m, with the fee potentially rising, Fekir has shone in La Liga. His desire to constantly get on the ball and his creativity allows him to dictate his side's play. Fekir's managed an impressive seven goals and six assists in just 22 league games this term. It appears only a matter of time before another transfer saga commences revolving around Fekir. 

Chimy Avila (Osasuna)

When speaking on his serious knee injury that he suffered this season, Avila told ​Marca: "It had to come sometime considering the intensity I always play with. I play every game as if it's my last." This is the kind of player Avila is. Prior to his injury, the 26-year-old was enjoying a fine season since making the switch from San Lorenzo, grabbing nine goals and three assists in 20 league games for Osasuna. His form didn't go unnoticed either, with Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and other Spanish giants all said to be interested in the Argentine. 

Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad) 

Borussia Dortmund let Alexander Isak go for just £5.8m.  Sweden's new Zlatan Ibrahimovic' has proven exactly why Dortmund shouldn't have sold him at all, starring for Real Sociedad in 2019/20 as they pursue Champions League football for next season. 14 goals and three assists this season is already an excellent return, but it's made all the more impressive when considering the fact that he's only started 14 games in all competitions. ​Dortmund's loss is most definitely La Liga's gain.  

Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla)

Lucas Ocampos was once regarded as 'the next big thing', but things haven't exactly turned out that way. However, Sevilla brought him in during the summer from Marseille for roughly £13m, and the 25-year-old's proven to be a valuable first team member for his side, operating on either the left or right wing. This season, he has managed 12 goals and three assists in all competitions, underlining his impact. Ocampos' fine form has also helped Sevilla to third place in ​La Liga. 

Lucas Perez (Alaves)

Lucas Perez struggled during his time in England, barely featuring for West Ham before returning to Spain with Deportivo Alaves. The La Liga outfit paid all of £2.1m for his services, and Perez has more than paid this back with his contribution in front of goal this season. He is the joint-third top goalscorer in the league, netting 11 times. However, he has also acted as a provider, setting up five goals for his teammates this campaign. A healthy return from a player that cost so little. 

Martin Odegaard (Real Sociedad on loan from Real Madrid)

Well, where else could we start? Odegaard has been breathtaking for Sociedad this season, dictating games with his vision and passing. Equally, however, he has matured as a player, the talent was always there but considering the pressure that was placed on him at such a young age, it wasn't clear whether he'd be able to live up to expectations. He most certainly has, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Real Madrid call him back early. 

Marc Cucurella (Getafe on loan from Barcelona)

Marc Cucurella has made a real name for himself this season on loan at Getafe from ​Barça. The La Liga outfit are expected to make his loan move permanent, but with a number of European giants keeping a close eye on him, the Spanish youngster could still move elsewhere when the transfer window opens. Operating as a left-back and a left-winger, Cucurella has been a vital member in this Getafe side. 

Sergio Reguilon (Sevilla on loan from Real Madrid)

It's not just Odegaard from Real that has been blossoming away from the club this season, as Reguilon has quietly been going about his business with Sevilla in 2019/20. A crucial first team member for them, the 23-year-old has been astute in defence and bright in attack, picking up four assists from left back. Another player who could make the cut when he returns.

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How Rodri has grown as a press-resistant midfielder at Manchester City

In his lone season with Atletico Madrid, Rodrigo Hernandez shined in essentially every aspect of play that any coach would like to see out of a base midfielder, from passing to dropping back to defend. One component of his play that made him stand out with the Rojiblancos was his press-resistant play — a component that frustrated a multitude of La Liga midfielders. A season later, Rodri has successfully translated his efficient press-resistant style over to his current run with Manchester City.

Whether it has been as a base or defensive midfielder, Rodri works relentlessly to control and maintain possession amidst pressure from an opponent. He simply possesses the ability to thwart away any pressure while keeping the ball moving upfield. This has been far from an effortless task for him, especially for a midfielder in the Premier League. Still, his early success as a press-resistant talent in the team’s 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations earned him the trust of manager Pep Guardiola.

Rodri’s success this season over in this department of play has him above the rest when compared to other Premier League midfielders.

Rodri ranks first amongst qualified Premier League midfielders in passes completed with 1,813; this should be far from a surprise considering his heavy on-ball responsibilities. However, he also ranks first in passes made while under pressure from an opponent with 410, which is 21 more than second-place Jorginho. Overall, 22.6 percent of his overall passes completed have come under an opponent’s press — a rate that ranks amongst the best in Europe. This illustrates that while Rodri is a high-volume passer and often recycles possession, he is keen on resisting pressure from an opponent at a top percentile rate.  

It is worth noting that Rodri is at a significant advantage because he plays for Guardiola’s high-octane attacking system. Opposing managers all have their different tactics in setting up to face City, but they all share one common approach: resisting from triggering an aggressive high press. City rank at the top of the league in lowest opponent passes allowed per defensive action in the opposition half at a 23.23 rate. Teams simply do not attack Manchester City by pressing their array of potent on-ball talents. If teams were to take on such an audacious approach to press more against Guardiola’s side, they would expose themselves to a multitude of open space on the pitch for City to exploit.

Still, it should not discredit how well Rodri manages to keep possession against teams applying heavy pressure. As mentioned, he is extremely efficient in this component of play, but he is also a top-rate midfielder in overall ball control with a mere 15 dispossessions across 2,152 total touches this season, according to Football Reference.

The reason for why Rodri is highly skilled in fending off pressure while in possession comes down to his overall play style as a midfielder.

Over the course of this season, the Spanish international has shown how versatile of a midfielder he is with escaping away from an opponent's press. He has a few tricks up his sleeve on just how to combat any kind of pressing setups from the opponent.  

For one, Rodri is prolific at distributing quick relay passes in tight space. When faced with an on-field dilemma where he is receiving a pass in tight space, the 23-year-old attacks the situation on a step-by-step basis. He often collects the ball and immediately keeps his head up to survey the space surrounding him along with his possible passing options. He concludes by reacting accordingly, whether it is by precisely distributing a quick pass off to counter a press or patiently wait in finding the best possible passing option.  

Much of Rodri’s success as a press-resistant midfielder also stems from his ability to shield the ball. This technique — when mastered — can be extremely beneficial to any holding midfielder. From Sergio Busquets to Wilfred Ndidi, these midfielders are among the best press-resistant midfielders in Europe thanks to their keen play in protecting the ball by any means.

For Rodri, he is continually growing in his ability to shield the ball away from any incoming pressers. He is a player who strives on using his frame to physically keep away oncoming pressure; he also keeps a steady touch on the ball in order to not lose control of it.

For instance, see this sequence below from Manchester City’s early-season fixture against Norwich. As Rodri receives the ball, his goal centers on pushing the ball up into the final third. However, he is met with immediate pressure from an opponent. He responds by corralling the ball, angling his body away from the opponent, and creating just enough separation to give him enough time to pass the ball upfield.

Dribbling is also part of his repertoire as a pass-resistant midfielder. The Spaniard is not one to continually rely on steering away from pressure by dribbling away into open space, unlike many of his league counterparts. Nonetheless, Rodri uses this on-ball technique as a last resort. He is averaging 1.0 dribbles per game in Premier League play this season, which ranks ninth on the team. However, he should look to rely on this method more often because of his relatively high 93 percent successful dribbles rate. This is all credited to his advanced ball control technique and sheer ability to maintain possession against the most aggressive pressing systems in the league.

In short, the Spaniard may have very well spent a good amount of time studying the likes of central defensive midfielders Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso because he aims to equate their play style. To his credit, he may very well be on his way to becoming the next top Spanish central defensive midfielder. Only time will tell on this.   

Overall, Rodri’s skill in withstanding pressure from an opponent fits the profile for a prototypical midfielder in Guardiola’s possession-based setup. His play this season exemplifies just that. Not only is he a proficient passer and ball progressor, but he has adapted extremely well in combating an opponent’s press. He is a wizard at simply veering away from oncoming pressure and keeping the team’s possessional structure.

Since Manchester City maintains a high amount of possessional time per game coupled with his heavy on-ball responsibilities, he knows he can not afford to lose the ball and provide opposing attackers with a free counter-attacking opportunity. Yet, he has not been on the wrong side of this thanks to his well-composed on-ball play.   

Rodri surely has what it takes to be the team’s long-term central defensive midfielder.

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Manchester United have five players who can help Bruno Fernandes

The return of the Premier League is on the horizon as football prepares to return behind closed doors following the coronavirus-enforced suspension of fixtures.

It was announced last week that the Premier League is due to return on June 17, with Manchester United penciled in to play their first game back the following weekend.

United will face Tottenham in what could be a crucial match in the race for Champions League football next season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men were in excellent form prior to the season's suspension having not lost in 11 games. A big part of the improvement was down to the January arrival of Bruno Fernandes, who has already established himself as a fans' favorite at Old Trafford, scoring two and assisting three in his five Premier League games for the club.

His instant impact means that he is one of the first names on the team sheet, but Solskjaer has some important decisions to make as to who lines up alongside Fernandes in United’s midfield.

We have taken a look at the main options available to United who can help Fernandes continue his fine form when the campaign resumes.

Paul Pogba

Pogba has missed most of the season due to ankle problems. The Frenchman’s last league appearance for United was a 45-minute cameo against Newcastle on Boxing Day.

However, the extended break due to the coronavirus pandemic has given Pogba time to step up his recovery, with the World Cup winner in contention for selection against Spurs.

Pogba arrived at Old Trafford in 2016 with big expectations on his shoulders and has shown glimpses of what he is capable of during the past four seasons.

The 27-year-old’s long-term future at Old Trafford remains up in the air but the prospect of playing alongside Fernandes could just convince him to extend his stay at the club.

United's fans are desperate to see their two genuine world-class midfielders link up.

Andreas Pereira

Since the arrival of Fernandes, Pereira has found game time hard to come by, falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford after a largely difficult season.

Pereira’s last start in the Premier League came in the 0-0 draw against Wolves February. The Brazilian failed to make United's matchday squad for two of their three Premier League games before the suspension.

It is likely that the midfielder will find himself used mostly as a back-up option to Fernandes once the season restarts.

Scott McTominay

McTominay struggled to kick on in the two years after his first-team debut in 2017 but has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign this term.

After recovering from a knee injury that kept him out for seven games between December and February, the 23-year-old made his comeback in both the Europa League and Premier League before the suspension kicked in. United fans need no reminder of his exploits in their last domestic fixture.

The youngster is competing with the more experienced Nemanja Matic in a deeper midfield role.

Fred

Another midfielder who has largely operated in a deeper role this season is Fred, one of United's most-improved players under Solskjaer.

His consistent performances in the middle of the park have seen him cement himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.

The 27-year-old has started every Premier League game since October and is also beginning to make an impact at the other end of the pitch, scoring a brace in the Europa League match against Club Brugge and providing two assists in the round-of-16 first-leg victory over LASK before the suspension.

Nemanja Matic

An option was taken up earlier in the season to extend the Serb’s contract at Old Trafford by a further year.

The 31-year-old found his game time limited during the first half of the season but benefited from injuries to Pogba and McTominay at the start of the year.

Matic played the full 90 minutes in United's four Premier League games before the season was put on hold.

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Net Worth of Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona won a World Cup in 1986 and was the poster boy for Coca Cola at one point in time, but how much is the Argentine icon worth?

Diego Maradona is without doubt one of the greatest footballers of all time, revered the world over for his phenomenal skills and feisty personality.

His wondrous talent inspired Argentina to a World Cup triumph and brought him across the world to clubs such Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Sevilla and Napoli.

After hanging up his boots in the mid 1990s, Maradona transitioned into the world of coaching and has steered the fortunes of his country as well as clubs in the United Arab Emirates and Mexico.

Such a glittering career would have brought all sorts of financial rewards, but how much exactly is Diego Maradona worth? Goal takes a look.

What is Diego Maradona's net worth

How much does Diego Maradona earn?

What sponsorships does Diego Maradona have?

How many social media followers does Diego Maradona have?

What charity work does Diego Maradona do?

Net worth: $100,000 Source of wealth: Football contracts, endorsement deals, investments Date of Birth: October 30, 1960 Country of birth: Argentina

Maradona's net worth is estimated at $100,000 (£75,000), despite enjoying a playing career which spanned two decades and saw him ply his trade with the likes of Barcelona, Napoli and Boca Juniors.

The World Cup winner may have inspired Napoli to two Serie A titles and a UEFA Cup in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but he has been in a long-running dispute with the Italian government over taxes.

Maradona told Corriere della Serra in 2016 that the outstanding tax bill had been paid, a claim that is at odds with the comments of Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis, who said in 2017 that the Argentine would be a club ambassador as soon as the dispute is settled.

With a reported €37 million (£33m/$42m) left to pay the Italian authorities, Maradona's net worth has been estimated at $100,000 (£75,000) by the website Celebrity Net Worth.

It is unclear how much Maradona is earning in his role as manager of Gimnasia de La Plata, which is a short-term deal until the end of the 2019-20 season.

However, it is likely that he is being handsomely remunerated for his services.

In his previous job as head coach of Dorados, Record reported that the former Argentina boss was paid $150,000 (£118k) a month, which would have worked out at $1.6m (£1.25m) for the duration of the 11-month contract.

Taking that figure as a Maradona's going rate, you can see a breakdown of that wage per week, day and so on in the table below.

Timeframe Earnings Per second $0.05 Per minute $3.40 Per hour $205 Per day $4,931 Per week $34,615 Per month $150,000 Per year $1.8m

Prior to becoming Dorados boss he worked as a FIFA ambassador at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and had put pen to paper on a three-year contract to serve as chairman of Belarusian side Dinamo Brest. However, his venture in Belarus was brief as he made the switch to Mexico.

As well as his coach's salary, Maradona also earns income through endorsement deals with different brands.

Maradona has long been a partner of German sportswear giant Puma, who first began working with him during his playing days in the 1980s.

He famously wore Puma football boots at three World Cup tournaments, including Argentina's 1986 triumph in Mexico, and he wore blackout boots at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Maradona had a dalliance with Japanese brand Mizuno in the mid 90s, but returned to Puma shortly afterwards and has been with them since, with Puma even releasing a range of boots in tribute to the star.

As well as Puma, Maradona has had endorsement deals with Coca Cola, Hublot and Konami (as part of their Pro Evolution Soccer series).

Though it may be difficult to picture Maradona checking out social media on his phone, the 58-year-old is quite active on two platforms, namely Facebook and Instagram.

Of the two, he seems to be a bit more active on his Facebook page, which boasts - at the time of writing - 8.8 million followers. Maradona's Instagram page lags behind, but with 5.6 million followers on that platform, he still has a considerable cyber fan-base.

Despite being one of the best footballers of all time, Maradona's online appeal pales in comparison to his modern-day counterparts. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, have hundreds of millions of followers on Instagram alone. Maradona's following is comparable to that of Brazil great Pele, whose numbers are in the low millions.

He generally uses his social media pages to share photos from the training ground, but it is also a platform he uses to pay tribute to footballers past and present, as well as indulging in the occasional bout of nostalgia for his own playing days. As well as that he sometimes shares advertisements for the products he endorses.

Maradona is not particularly known for his charity work, but he has participated in a number of charity football matches in aid of causes such as UNICEF.

In 2010, he helped raise $500,000 for a children's charity at an event organised by one of his sponsorship partners, Hublot, doing so by taking part in a penalty shootout game.

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