Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady announced a major business decision on Thursday. The seven-time Super Bowl champion is trying his hand at the other kind of football by buying a minority ownership stake in Birmingham City Football Club.
“Maybe you’re asking, what do you know about English football, Tom?” Brady says in his announcement video. “Well, let’s just say, I’ve got a lot to learn. But I do know a few things about winning. I think they might translate pretty well.”
“I know success starts with the work put in when the world isn’t watching…I know that a team is nothing without the city that shows up and stands behind them. Most importantly, I know I like being the underdog.”
Birmingham City, founded in 1875, competes as a member of the EFL Championship, which is the second tier of English football. After several years under the ownership of a businessman from Hong Kong, Birmingham City F.C. Shelby Companies Ltd, fronted company co-founder Tom Wagner, purchased a controlling stake in the club and full ownership of the stadium just last month.
Investing in the English football club is one of Brady’s many, many post-retirement ventures. Since playing his game last season, the former Patriot has also purchased a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders.
Brady joins J.J. Watt in football club ventures
Tom Brady is just the latest former NFL star to get in on English football action.
In his post-playing career, NFL legend JJ Watt has found a way to stay active in the sports world. Along with his wife Kealia, Watt has become a minority owner of Burnley FC, an English soccer club currently atop the Championship League.
JJ Watt made the announcement on Twitter, joking that he is retiring from retiring and that he is investing in a new kind of football. At one point, an off-camera interviewer jokingly asks if Watt just wants to be Ryan Reynolds. To that, JJ said, “No,” but Kealia said, “Yes, please.”
“We don’t have buy an entire European football club kind of money,” Watt joked. “We’re more along the lines minority investment but massive emotional investment.”
Burnley is set to be promoted to the Premier League. So, the Watts are joining up at the right time. Alan Pace, the managing partner of ALK Capital, is the current chairman of Burnley.
“We have such great respect for what has been built here by Alan (Pace, Burnley chairman), Vincent and the entire organization and are looking forward to working with them,” Watt said.
“We believe that Burnley is a special club with incredible supporters and we want to help continue to elevate its global profile on its return to the Premier League.”
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