"I know for a fact" - Claim made on Tom Brady's true involvement at Birmingham City | OneFootball

NFL star Tom Brady became a minority owner at Birmingham City in 2023

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Back in 2023, Birmingham City caught attention when NFL legend Tom Brady bought shares in the club.

He became a minority owner through the Blues’ owners, Knighthead Capital, and has since been seen at Birmingham games.

With the Blues now safely back in the Championship, it remains to be seen whether Brady becomes even more visible at the club, with greater media interest in the second tier.

We asked our Birmingham Fan Pundit, Aaron, whether he expects to see more of Brady, and what he thinks of the minority owner’s involvement.

Tom Brady is good for Birmingham City

Speaking to Football League World, Aaron said: “In terms of Brady, it's a weird one, because he has more involvement than fans outside of Blues would ever understand.

“So, I know for a fact the manager speaks to him regularly, a lot of the players speak to him because his right-hand man, Alex Guerrero, who is his fitness guru who kept Brady fit and healthy until he was playing in his 40s, he's really heavily involved. I'm pretty sure he's spent at least six months of the season in Birmingham.

“In and around the training ground, it’s all Tom Brady's equipment everywhere, it's all Tom Brady's business branded. He speaks to the players regularly about how to maintain their bodies.

“I know, for a fact, the players are having massages before and after everything, because that's what Brady's told them to do. So, he has more involvement than just, you know, ‘big name, money involved’.

“In terms of going there more, I don't think he’ll go more, because he's got a contract with CBS or Peacock or one of the big American sports channels. So, he does American football on Sundays, so every week he's committed, regardless, to being in America for that.

“So, he can't risk too much time being over here. That's probably why we saw him at the Wrexham game, because it was midweek and he could effectively get away with being over here.

“In terms of his involvement, I think it's great. A: because it brings American fans, and B: because he's not just involved as a name. He is actually contributing.

“You hear some teams will have like Russell Westbrook involved in Leeds, for example. You just know he's a name, money involved, no actual involvement in the day-to-day.

“Whereas Brady is regularly in contact with the team, he has a bigger part to play than people realise.

“So much so, I know, for a fact, as I said before, his right-hand man, Alex Guerrero, he's actually bought some shares in the club as well, so the fact that his best friend and his right-hand man has also bought shares, which shows how heavily involved they both are.”

It’s tough to see a downside to Brady’s involvement

Even if Brady was a distant investor, with little regular contact to club, it’s difficult to see a negative in having his name connected to the Blues.

As Aaron outlines, as one of the most famous sports stars ever in the United States, it will naturally increase attraction across the Atlantic, which can only be a positive for the Blues’ bottom line and, consequently, investment on the pitch.

But as our Fan Pundit states, Brady’s involvement goes deeper than that.

Not only does the club profit from Brady’s investment and the attachment to his name, they are also getting access to some of the best sports and conditioning minds the world has to offer.

So long as Brady keeps a distance from actual footballing decisions, which he likely will, it’s difficult to see how increased Brady's involvement could bring anything other than positives for the Blues.