John Terry Colchester takeover: What’s in it for him?
Some of the most high-profile players of the 21st century have opted to buy shares in clubs rather than coach full-time, in a marked difference from previous generations.
Perhaps Terry could aim to follow in the footsteps of another former teammate, Cesc Fabregas, by taking on a dual role.
The Spanish player bought a share from Serie A team Como in 2022 before becoming a coach in 2023.
Terry’s former England team-mate David Beckham co-owns MLS side Inter Miami and negotiated club formation rights as part of the contract he signed when he joined Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.
Beckham is also part owner of Colchester’s League Two rivals Salford City, along with Gary and Phil, Neville, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
Others, including Ronaldo (Real Valladolid), Kylian Mbappe (SM Caen) and Gerard Pique (FC Andorra), are majority shareholders of clubs in countries where they spent a significant part of their careers.
The likes of Luka Modric (Swansea), Thierry Henry (Como), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Hammarby) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Almeria) have also become co-owners of clubs outside the European elite in recent years.
When former players invest in clubs, they often buy much smaller shares and make much less money than their business partners.
Adding an in-game name to a group of investors can add star power and originality to a takeover.
“As football has developed on a commercial level, the opportunity has been created for former professionals to stay in the game in a way that wasn’t possible before,” says Dan Plumley, professor of sports finance at Sheffield Hallam University.
“There are clear positives in combining business acumen with people who have lived and breathed football – it gives you a wide range of views.
“Being part of a consortium also spreads financial risk across a group of investors rather than keeping it in the hands of a single owner.
“History tells us that you don’t make money from owning a football club, so there could be a wider advantage for ex-professionals as well, as it could be a way for them to take on different roles in football, learn from them and progress professionally.
“If you invest further down the pyramid and build a project that you’re a part of. That can generate some profit depending on how high up you can get in the football ecosystem.”
The excitement of a former star joining forces with a lower league club can quickly pay off.
“This takeover has not been confirmed yet but you can see the story is all over the media and the club is already attracting extra attention.
“As gaming continues to take off commercially, we can expect to see more of these types of models in the future.”
