Ex-AC Milan and Chelsea forward Pato was capped 27 times by Brazil
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Football has long been a game of goals, trophies and glory, but for a growing number of former players, life after retirement now includes a seat in the boardroom.
With the huge sums involved in the modern game and English football continuing to attract investors from around the world, several former stars have moved into club ownership.
Some have taken controlling stakes, others are minority shareholders, while a few have become the public faces of wider investment groups.
Here are some of the former players who have made the move from the pitch to the boardroom, as reported by Planet Football on Sunday
Gary Neville – Salford City
Gary Neville is part of the famous Class of ’92 group that took over Salford City alongside fellow Manchester United legends including David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
The former England right-back has remained involved with the League Two club and has watched Salford rise through the English football pyramid since the takeover.
The club enjoyed four promotions in five seasons before reaching the EFL, although establishing themselves at that level has proved considerably more difficult.
David Beckham – Salford City
Beckham is perhaps better known for his ownership of Inter Miami, but his involvement with Salford also makes him one of the most recognisable former players with an interest in an English club.
He was part of the original Class of ’92 takeover and remains involved alongside Neville following changes to the club’s ownership structure.
Cesar Azpilicueta – Hashtag United
Former Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta became a shareholder in Hashtag United in 2018.
The club began life as a YouTube football team before developing into a conventional football club competing in the English pyramid. Azpilicueta said he was attracted by the club’s ambition, community and vision.
The men’s side has since experienced the realities of life in the lower divisions, while the women’s team has also established itself within the national pyramid.
Hector Bellerin – Forest Green Rovers
Hector Bellerin has long been associated with environmental causes, making his investment in Forest Green Rovers a natural fit.
The former Arsenal and Spain full-back became the club’s second-largest shareholder in 2020.
Forest Green have built a reputation around sustainability and veganism and have previously been recognised by FIFA for their environmental credentials.
Mark Palios – Tranmere Rovers
Mark Palios has a particularly strong connection to Tranmere Rovers.
The former midfielder made more than 200 appearances for the club during his playing career before eventually becoming its owner. After serving as chief executive of the Football Association, Palios and his wife, Nicola, took a controlling stake in Tranmere in 2014.
He has remained chairman as the club has competed in League Two.
Luka Modric – Swansea City
Luka Modric’s involvement in Swansea City represents one of the more unusual recent examples of a current or recently active player entering English club ownership.
The Croatian midfielder became part of an investment consortium that acquired a stake in Swansea in 2025. The group also includes a number of high-profile investors from outside football.
Modric’s role is primarily that of an investor rather than a day-to-day decision-maker, but his involvement demonstrates the growing appeal of English football to players looking beyond their playing careers.
Wilfried Zaha – AFC Croydon Athletic
For Wilfried Zaha, club ownership has a local connection.
The former Crystal Palace star joined forces with musician Stormzy and businessman Danny Young to invest in AFC Croydon Athletic in 2023.
The club, based in south London, competes in the lower reaches of the English football pyramid and represents a very different ownership challenge from the Premier League environment in which Zaha spent most of his career.
Eric Cantona – FC United of Manchester
Eric Cantona’s connection with FC United of Manchester is different from the conventional model of club ownership.
The former Manchester United forward became a co-owner of the fan-owned club, which was established in 2005 following the controversial takeover of Manchester United.
FC United is collectively owned by its members, meaning Cantona’s involvement sits within a much broader community ownership structure.
Andy Carroll – Dagenham & Redbridge
Andy Carroll has taken one of the more unusual routes into ownership by combining it with his playing career.
The former Newcastle United and England striker became a shareholder in Dagenham & Redbridge while still playing for the club.
That makes Carroll both an investor and, at least for a time, an active participant on the pitch — an unusual combination in modern professional football.
Alexandre Pato – Northampton Town
Alexandre Pato is another former international striker to enter English football ownership.
The Brazilian became the public face of a consortium that completed a takeover of Northampton Town in 2025, acquiring a majority stake in the League Two club.
The investment brought a high-profile name from Brazilian and European football into the English game and underlined the continued international interest in owning clubs across the country’s football pyramid.
Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.
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Source: Punch (Nigeria)
