Gazidis returns to football after Milan exit with president role at Ligue 1 club | OneFootball

Ivan Gazidis has stepped into his first footballing role since he departed AC Milan, becoming the president of Saint-Etienne under their new ownership group.

Gazidis joined Milan from Arsenal in September 2018 and he instantly set about trying to bring the club into the new era with regards to commercialisation and growing revenues, an area Serie A has struggled with in general.

It was announced that he would step down from his role as CEO in December 2022 after an over four-year stay with the Rossoneri. He overcame throat cancer during his time, while the club won the Scudetto the season prior to his exit.

Now, he is back in the game. Canadian investment group Kilmer Sports Ventures (KSV) have become the latest foreign owner of a Ligue 1 club after completing its takeover of AS Saint-Étienne, and they instilled Gazidis as the president of the club.

Kilmer are investors in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) which are one of North America’s leading sports and entertainment companies, and the parent company of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, MLS’ Toronto FC and others.

MLSE owns or operates all of the venues its teams play and train in, including Scotiabank Arena, BMO Field, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Ford Performance Centre, BMO Training Ground, and The OVO Athletic Centre.

It comes almost immediately after Saint-Etienne drew 2-2 at 10-man Metz to win promotion back to Ligue 1 on Sunday, with substitute Ibrahima Wadji scoring the decisive goal deep into extra-time to secure a 4-3 aggregate win.