The Player-Owner: Exploring A Trend | OneFootball

It used to be when a young player hit it big, got the fat contract and all the fame, they’d go splash some cash on a fancy car, or some ugly bling. If they were civic-minded, maybe they’d buy their family a house, or fund some community initiatives back home. But today’s athletes are investment-minded, and the new must-have accessory isn’t a bejeweled chain, or an expensive watch. It’s a soccer club.

The Newest Member of the Player-Owner Club

Yep, the globe is all a-flutter at the latest addition into the player-owner cabal: Vinícius Jr. Apparently, buying a second-division club in the Portuguese league (FC Alverca) is a great way to lick your ego after losing the Ballon d’Or, even if it does set you back €8M.

Mbappé & Caen

Vinícius isn’t even the only Real Madrid player under 30 in this select group! Kylian Mbappé took over an 80% stake in the Ligue 2 club Stade Malherbe Caen back in 2024. It’s funny, ’cause there were rumors Caen made a serious push to try and lure the superstar from Monaco prior to his 2017 move to PSG. Now the shoe’s on the other foot, and apparently it’s a tight fit.

Fame + Money != Success

Investment in a club is a VERY risky proposition. There’s an old joke: “How do you become a millionaire in shipping? Start with a billion.” This is kinda the same.

Vardy & The Rhinos

Just ask Jamie Vardy, who got into the club ownership game back in 2021 when he invested in the Rochester Raging Rhinos. The Rhinos have the distinction of being the only club outside of the MLS to win the U.S. Open Cup, defeating the Colorado Rapids back in 1999. After rebranding to the boring Rochester New York FC, they played a single season in the MLS Next Pro league before dissolving in 2023. Sad trombone.

Drogba Rising

Or Didier Drogba, who back in 2017 became the very first player-owner when he joined 2nd division Phoenix Rising. And he really was a true player-owner, putting in 9 goals that season as well as minutes in the boardroom. At that time, Phoenix were in consideration for a MLS expansion slot as the league was growing from 24 to 28 clubs. Producer Diplo and Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz were also in the consortium. Alas, Phoenix did not get the expansion, are still languishing in the USL Championship, and Drogba’s ownership stake in the club is currently unknown.

Miami FC & Maldini

It’s one thing to buy an extant club, it’s quite another to start one from scratch. That’s what Paolo Maldini did with his associate Riccardo Silva back in 2015, creating Miami FC. You’d be forgiven not knowing about this, as three years later ANOTHER player came along and ALSO started a club in the SAME city. Yeah, talking about you Becks. Miami FC play in the USL Championship (2nd tier of American soccer). And they’re bad. Really, really bad. Only got 11 points last season and had -63 goal differential.

Salford City and the Red Devil Boys

Manchester United’s legendary Class of 1992 (Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary & Phil Neville and Paul Scholes – later joined by I-have-way-too-much-$$-David Beckham) purchased NPL Division One North side Salford City back in 2014. In the 10+ years since the club has climbed from the 8th tier of English football and the way into 4th tier EFL League Two. This year they faced Machester City in an EFL Open Cup match, which they lost 4-0. That kinda stung, but overall the story has been a successful one, and we had to end on a high note.