Footballers and ex-players who own football clubs

In an era of celebrity football owners, it is not unusual to see A-list stars patrolling the terraces of stadiums as they bask in the romance of their new investment.

This is a venture which has also proved popular with footballers and ex-players themselves, with a number of high-profile names in the game electing to invest large sums of money in clubs all over the world.

We take a look at some of the most famous players past and present who are now part-owners of professional football clubs.

Footballers who own football clubs

• David Beckham

Inter Miami and Salford City

Arguably the most high-profile ex-player who is now a football club owner, David Beckham's contract when signing for LA Galaxy in 2007 included an option to buy his own MLS franchise for a discounted price of $25m following his retirement.

After hanging up his boots in 2013, Beckham set the wheels in motion for the 2018 launch of Inter Miami, with the Englishman's star power and business acumen prompting the club's value to soar to over $1bn under his guidance.

Key to the club's growth was the signing of global megastar Lionel Messi in 2023, with the Argentine World Cup winner inspiring Inter Miami to the MLS Cup play-offs in 2024.

Ex-England captain Beckham is also a part-owner of Salford City, buying a 10% stake in the club in January 2019 to join forces with his former Manchester United teammates Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt who also own shares in the team, who currently compete in League Two in English football.

• Didier Drogba

Phoenix Rising

One of the best African footballers of all time, famously playing a starring role as Chelsea won their first ever UEFA Champions League title with a victory over Bayern Munich on penalties in the final in the Bavarians' Allianz Arena backyard in 2012, Didier Drogba now owns a football club of his own in the form of Arizona-based Phoenix Rising.

Ivorian Drogba finished his playing career at Phoenix Rising in the USL Championship in the 2017/18 season, becoming the first ever player-owner in football history after acquiring a minority stake in the club.

• Cesc Fabregas

Como

Winner of an astounding 17 major trophies during his playing career, including the 2010 World Cup and two Euros crowns with Spain, Cesc Fabregas became a shareholder in Italian outfit Como when agreeing a two-year deal with the club in 2022.

The central midfielder spent one season as a Como player in Serie B before retiring and being appointed as the head coach of the club's under-19s and B team.

After helping guide Como to promotion to Serie A in the 2023/24 season as assistant manager to caretaker boss Osian Roberts, Fabregas was appointed as the club's manager ahead of their first top flight campaign in 21 years.

• Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Hammarby IF

Widely regarded as Sweden's finest footballer ever, earning 122 international caps for his country between 2001 and 2023, Zlatan Ibrahimovic acquired a 23.5% stake in Stockholm-based Hammarby IF in 2019.

This decision caused controversy amongst supporters of Ibrahimovic's hometown club and first ever team Malmo FF who have since vandalised their former striker's statue outside of their stadium on multiple occasions.

• Paolo Maldini

Miami FC

David Beckham is not the only legend of the sport to own a football club in Miami, with Paolo Maldini a co-owner of Miami FC.

Recognised as one of the best defenders in football history, Italian Paolo Maldini launched Miami FC alongside his entrepreneur business partner Riccardo Silva in May 2015.

Miami FC now compete in the USL Championship, the second tier of American soccer below the MLS.

• Kylian Mbappe

Caen

Although it has become commonplace for footballers to acquire stakes in clubs following retirement, it is far more unusual to see active players investing in clubs.

Kylian Mbappe took this surprise step in July 2024 when completing a takeover of Ligue 2 side Caen.

French World Cup winner Mbappe reportedly invested around €15m of his own money to acquire the club, who were relegated from Ligue 1 in 2019.

• Ronaldo Nazario

Real Valladolid

One of the best strikers football has ever seen, Brazilian Ronaldo Nazario became the owner of Spanish side Real Valladolid in September 2018.

Former Real Madrid icon Ronaldo has overseen a turbulent period at Real Valladolid, with the club twice relegated from La Liga under his ownership in 2021 and 2024.

Ronaldo's future with Real Valladolid is uncertain with the Brazilian having publicly stated his desire to sell the club and been involved in talks with potential new owners.

• Gary Neville

Salford City

Not only becoming one of the most distinguished TV pundits in British football following his retirement as a player, Manchester United legend Gary Neville is also a co-owner of Salford City.

Developing a penchant for business, with a vast portfolio of companies, Neville opted to buy Salford City in alongside his old Man Utd teammates Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt in 2014.

In 2019, another of Neville's former Man Utd teammates and personal close friend David Beckham joined the ownership group at Salford City alongside his control of MLS team Inter Miami.

• Gerard Pique

FC Andorra

Another high-profile ex-footballer to have publicly ventured into the business world upon calling time on his playing days is Barcelona and Spain legend Gerard Pique.

Also involved with the International Tennis Federation to help rebrand the Davis Cup and the active president of the popular Kings League which sees ex-players and influencers partake in seven-a-side football matches, Pique bought his own football club in the form of FC Andorra in 2018.

Then playing in the fifth tier of Spanish football, Pique has overseen FC Andorra's rise to the third tier of the Primera Federacion during his tenure at the club.