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In recent years, a noticeable trend has emerged in English soccer: an influx of American celebrities investing in clubs across the country. From Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s highly publicized ownership of Wrexham to NFL star Tom Brady’s stake in Birmingham City; the list of American figures putting their money into the sport continues to grow. One of the latest to join the ranks is Hollywood actor Will Ferrell. He has recently purchased a share in Leeds United, a Championship side with ambitions to return to the Premier League.
Ferrell, best known for various comedic roles, attended his first match at Leeds’ historic Elland Road stadium in September 2024. The actor was present to watch the Whites take on Burnley in what was a tough 1-0 loss for his team. Despite the defeat, he seemed upbeat and enthusiastic about his new venture into English soccer.
How Ferrell got involved with Leeds
The decision to invest in Leeds United came about somewhat serendipitously for Ferrell. He explained that a former co-star Pete Cornell, approached him about the opportunity to become part of an investor group.
“It came about through a friend of mine who is part of the investor group”, Ferrell revealed in an interview with Leeds United TV. “We were also in a movie together, Semi-Pro, in which I played Jackie Moon. It was a movie about the American Basketball Association (ABA), which is a defunct basketball league, and Pete was part of the cast. He emailed me saying that he was going to possibly invest, and they asked if I would be interested. I spoke with the chairman Paraag [Marathe], and the next thing you know, I was like, ‘Please, sign me up.’”
For Ferrell, this isn’t his first foray into sports ownership. He is also a part-owner of Major League Soccer‘s LAFC. They have seen significant success since their inception, winning multiple trophies and attracting a passionate fanbase. His love for sports extends beyond soccer, though,…
Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/will-ferrell-why-us-investors-pour-money-into-english-clubs/
Author : Martina Alcheva
Publish date : 2024-09-15 20:34:51
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