One of the most curious questions in sport comes when a player calls it a day. What do they do with their free time? Punditry? Coaching? Sail the sunset to sit on their millions?
It seems that there is a new craze: ownership. More and more we see former stars in the world of the football business car, and the latest name can be added to what is a long list.
That name is from a Welshman who became one of the best players of his generation. It is from Gareth Bale.
According to athletics, Bale was drawn up by a private equity group based in the US to supplement a takeover bid from Cardiff City. The group would be in conversation about taking ownership of the League One -outfit and want to collaborate with Bale while they want to close a deal.
Bale, who ventured into Punditry since last year, could be set to become the new face of the Bluebirds.
But what other sports stars have ventured into the world of football ownership? And why? Mail Sport takes it further …
Tom Brady – Birmingham City
NFL legend Tom Brady is a stakeholder of minorities in Birmingham City, who can be seen regularly during competitions last season, in particular the EFL Trophy Final defeat by Peterborough in Wembley.
Tom Wagner from Knightthead Capital was behind the £ 35 million deal to take over the club in 2023 before Brady jumped on board.
When Brady jumped on board in 2023, Birmingham fought for their championship status, but it was too much of a question under, for part of the run, the leadership of Wayne Rooney.
Brady and Co are from John Eustace to get rid of when he challenged the club for the play-offs, rented Rooney and spiral to relegation. Tony Mowbray and Gary Rowett tried to save them, but it was too little, too late.
In the summer they appointed Chris Davies to send the ship and they stormed the third layer. That cannot be spent more than 30 times more than any other team in the competition – including Wrexham – with Jay Stansfield the biggest purchase for £ 15 million.
Wagner, who is a financier of Handel, spoke about his ambition to make a globally recognized brand on his side, squirt: 'You go to New York City, you go to La (Los Angeles), you will see people who wear Birmingham City Kit on the street.
'I don't really think they know what they are wearing, but they will do that. We don't want to attract too much attention, but they will find out. '
Luka Modric – Swansea City
A balloon d'Or winner and the most decorated star of Real Madrid with 28 large trophies and a veteran of 186 Croatia caps, Luka Modric became a member of Swansea as an investor and co-owner.
“This is an exciting chance, Swansea has a strong identity, an incredible fan base and the ambition to compete at the highest level,” he said at the announcement, holding a football in Swansea brand.
The new owners of Swansea have discussed the need for the Welsh outfit to increase sales and reduce costs after the club had a loss before taxes of £ 15.2 million in the past financial year and £ 17.9 million the year before.
They were looking for a world -class player to participate as an investor to increase the worldwide profile of the club, where chairman Coleman said that Swansea “should be a champion club that does not do a championship things.”
Feelers were postponed and Modric's long -term agent, Borja Couce, revealed that his client wanted to grab the opportunity. The conversations that emerged at the end of last year, but the move was held in Wraps – Postsport understands that a large number of club staff did not even know that something was brewing until a deal was almost completed.
Several meetings were held between Modric, Couce and Swansea's owned by video call, and members of the club's hierarchy visited the Croatian in Spain.
Ronaldo – Real Valladolid
Ronaldo – The Brazilian, was generally considered one of the greatest strikers in the history of football.
O Femomeno was the majority shareholder in the Spanish Second Division Club Real Valladolid, who ended the bottom of Laliga last season to relegate again to the second level.
The forward Maestro took over the club in 2018 and promised to make it ahead – and quickly. He accepted 51 percent of the shares for a reported reimbursement of approximately £ 22.3 million, Ans took on the role of chairman of the board.
His four years the leadership was certainly not boring. His side reached two promotions, but also suffered two relegations – ending on `6 points last year, which was half of the amount of the next worst team and 25 shortage of safety.
On the back of the disastrous campaign, the Brazilian icon sold its interest in the club. His relationship with the fan base was damaged and he had only visited a competition in the season.
Fans put on banners and read 'Ronaldo Go Home', and they now have their wish. There are now new investors who are in charge and the hope for a better future.
The class of 92 – Salford City
Salford City offers 'a Wrexham' under Manchester United -icon David Beckham and Gary Neville after the duo was announced as the spearheads of a new property group.
It meant that the rest of their former class of 92 stars would step. The former stars of Manchester United had held a 60 percent share in the League Two Club together with Paul Scholes, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs.
However, that quartet has now handed their shares, while Beckham and Neville have introduced new partners and investments of £ 11-15 million because they focus on championship football within five years.
Butt is no longer at the club, although Scholes will continue to advise on the actions of players and Giggs will also do about football matters. Peter Lim, the Singaporean businessman whose financial muscle De Ammies saw the power through Non League with four promotions in five years, left last year.
Beckham – who will also be Fronts Inter Miami in the MLS – and Neville will be accompanied by Declan Kelly, founder of the American consultancy firm Consello, and Lord Mervyn Davies, chairman of the Lawn Tennis Association.
The group was first involved in 2014 and supervised the promotion to League Two. Since then, however, they have made an effort and have only reached the play-offs once.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, known for his character of the field as much as his capacities on it, finally mentioned time on his career in the summer of 2023.
It was a career that saw him stand out for Barcelona, ​​Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, and came to AC Milan.
However, the 43-year-old could not stay away. He prepared for life after football for his retirement and bought a 23.5 percent interest in Hammarby IF – a Swedish top flight club based in Stockholm.
The current season is underway, with the side of Ibra – which he once connected to a training session – second in the table with eight victories of their 13 games so far. They also finished second last season, after the seventh the year before and third year before.
Good progress of Ibrahimovic and a relatively deducted company. That was apart from then Malmo fans his statue faded, since they were unhappy with his move.
Paolo Maldini
One of the greatest players of all time also makes the list, with Italy icon Paolo Maldini who moves to the ownership world when he hung up his boots.
Maldini forged an unforgettable gaming career at AC Milan and Italy and won three Champions League titles, seven Italian titles and one Italian cup. But it was America where he ventured too much after retirement.
He had the opportunity to join Chelsea's coaching staff to the coaching staff in his career after playing, but he rejected the chance and said he didn't want to follow that route. And in 2015 he became co-owner of the North American Soccer League Club Miami FC.
The hope was that the club could reach the MLS in the future. That still has to happen, no longer entered with Maldini.
Alessandro Nesta was the first manager of the club, but there are still many ambitions to realize. Maldini left in 2018 when he accepted the role of sports director at Milan – which he has now left behind. Time will learn whether he will return to ownership.
More…
Jamie Vardy – Rochester New York FC: The most famous face in the best of the rest is former England attacker Jamie Vardy. Vardy, who recently left Leicester City, was co-owner of the American football club Rochester New York FC.
He invested in a minority interest in 2021 and sees his side competing in the third layer of American football – the MLS Next Pro. In March 2023, however, the party decided to limit the activities after an agreement with new investors came through.
Didier Drogba – Phoenix Rising: Didier Drogba co -owner of PhoeX Rising in the second level of the United States. He played for the club when the investment continued before he retired in 2018.
Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry – Como: former Arsenal Duo Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry are minority shareholders in Como in Italy. Fabregas also played for the club before he retired and is now manager of the Serie A -side.
Kylian Mbappe – Stade Malherbe Caen: France Captain owns French Ligue 2 Club Caen, after he has acquired 80 percent ownership via Coalition Capital in Investment Fund. He knew part of the club's fault with the move.