Footballers spend much of their careers chasing trophies, but retirement is increasingly opening another route into the game: club ownership.
As the value of English football continues to rise and investors from across the globe look for opportunities within the sport, a number of former stars have moved into ownership and investment roles.
Their involvement varies considerably. Some have acquired controlling interests, others hold minority stakes, while several have joined investment groups and become prominent figures within their clubs.
Gary Neville and David Beckham Back Salford City
Manchester United’s famous Class of ’92 has played a major role in Salford City’s modern history.
Gary Neville became part of the ownership group that took control of the club alongside David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
Neville has remained closely involved with Salford as the club progressed through the English football pyramid.
The takeover produced remarkable early progress, with Salford securing four promotions in five seasons and eventually reaching the English Football League. Establishing themselves at that level, however, has proved a significantly tougher challenge.
Beckham has also maintained his connection with the club, although his ownership interests have expanded considerably through his involvement with Inter Miami.
Azpilicueta Invests in Hashtag United
Former Chelsea captain César Azpilicueta took a different route into club ownership when he became a shareholder in Hashtag United in 2018.
The club initially gained attention as a football team built around YouTube content before developing into a conventional club competing within the English football pyramid.
Azpilicueta was attracted by Hashtag United’s ambitions, community focus and long-term vision.
The club has since experienced the challenges associated with moving through the lower divisions, while its women’s team has also progressed through the national football structure.
Bellerin Finds a Natural Fit at Forest Green
Héctor Bellerín’s investment in Forest Green Rovers reflects interests that have been prominent throughout his life away from football.
The former Arsenal and Spain full-back became the club’s second-largest shareholder in 2020.
Forest Green have established a distinctive identity around environmental sustainability and veganism, setting them apart from many traditional football clubs.
Their environmental work has even earned recognition from FIFA, making the club a natural destination for Bellerín given his longstanding commitment to environmental causes.
Mark Palios Turns Former Club Into a Family Business
Few former players on this list have a closer relationship with their club than Mark Palios.
Palios made more than 200 appearances for Tranmere Rovers during his playing career before eventually returning in an ownership capacity.
After later serving as chief executive of the Football Association, Palios and his wife, Nicola, acquired a controlling stake in Tranmere in 2014.
He subsequently remained chairman as the club competed in League Two, giving him the unusual experience of overseeing an institution he once represented as a player.
Luka Modric Joins Swansea Investment Group
Luka Modric has demonstrated that players do not necessarily have to wait until long after retirement before becoming involved in club ownership.
The Croatian midfielder joined an investment consortium that acquired a stake in Swansea City in 2025.
The group includes investors from outside the traditional football world, while Modric’s role is primarily that of an investor rather than an executive involved in the club’s daily operations.
His involvement nevertheless highlights the international appeal of English football and the opportunities it offers players looking to build interests beyond their playing careers.
Zaha Invests in His South London Roots
Wilfried Zaha’s move into club ownership has a particularly strong local connection.
The former Crystal Palace forward partnered with musician Stormzy and businessman Danny Young to invest in AFC Croydon Athletic in 2023.
Based in south London, the club operates much further down the English football pyramid than the Premier League environment in which Zaha spent most of his career.
The investment has therefore given the former Palace star a very different perspective on running a football club.
Cantona Takes a Different Ownership Route
Eric Cantona’s relationship with FC United of Manchester does not follow the conventional football ownership model.
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.
Unlike clubs controlled by a single owner or investment group, FC United is collectively owned by its members.
Cantona’s involvement therefore forms part of a wider community-based structure rather than giving him traditional control over the club.
Carroll Combines Playing With Investment
Andy Carroll has taken one of the most unusual paths into football ownership.
The former Newcastle United and England striker became a shareholder in Dagenham & Redbridge while he was still playing for the club.
That arrangement placed Carroll in the unusual position of being both an investor and an active footballer.
Few professional players have been able to combine their responsibilities on the pitch with a direct financial interest in the club representing them.
Pato Becomes Face of Northampton Takeover
Brazilian former international Alexandre Pato has also entered the English ownership landscape.
Pato became the public face of an investment consortium that completed a takeover of Northampton Town in 2025, with the group acquiring a majority stake in the League Two club.
His involvement brought a prominent name from Brazilian and European football into the ownership structure of an English club.
It also demonstrated once again how the appeal of English football extends well beyond the Premier League, with international investors increasingly looking at opportunities throughout the country’s football pyramid.
A New Chapter for Football’s Former Stars
The growing list of former players involved in English club ownership shows how careers in football can continue long after the final whistle.
For some, the motivation is financial. For others, it is a chance to support their local communities, promote particular values or remain connected to the sport that made them famous.
From Salford and Tranmere to Forest Green, Swansea and Northampton, these former players have taken markedly different routes into the boardroom.
Their involvement also reflects the changing nature of football ownership, where sporting experience, global profile and personal investment can increasingly combine to create a second career away from the pitch.
