This one is likely to fly under the radar, but Americans gained another quiet foothold in Europe when Oakland A's co-owner John Fisher bought a 3 percent stake in Glasgow Celtic on Thursday -- just less than $1 million worth in stock. In case you're keeping track, that makes a fourth American sports owner invested in a major British club.
Fisher joins the quartet of English Premier League teams that are part or completely owned by Americans: Malcolm Glazer and family at Manchester United, George Gillett and Tom Hicks at Liverpool, Randy Lerner at Aston Villa and Stan Kroenke at Arsenal.
It also marks another link between Major League Soccer and the Old World. Fisher and Lew Wolff are also co-owners of the new San Jose Earthquakes. Whether that means cooperation between the two clubs remains to be seen. Remember, Celtic already has good relations with MLS -- the Scottish club was the All-Star game opponent this past summer and Celtic's Polish striker Maciej Zurawski is set to make an amicable move to the Los Angeles Galaxy.
On the European side, expect the Scottish footballing public to have its predictable anxiety attack over Fisher's purchase -- as fans of all the above mentioned clubs did. What's not immediately clear is if he plans to increase his stake in Celtic, as Glazer did gradually before taking Man. United private (Kroenke did the same thing at Arsenal, but ultimately decided against a full-scale takeover). I'll pass on more details when I get them.
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Comments (7)
I really don't know what to say, I guess it is good. I mean it certainly doesn't hurt the MLS, that's one thing for sure. Celtic are a great club, and anytime you can be associated with, you should take that opportunity.
Keeper | 12/20/07, 08:11 PM
Report Offensive Commentwell, when i become a billionaire, me and my associates are gonna buy back man u and give it back to the brithsh, where it belongs.
jeevs BS | 12/20/07, 08:22 PM
Report Offensive Commentanyway, this is a great move on MLS's part. but i think the brits are feeling the american presence around, and they dont like it
jeevs BS | 12/20/07, 08:23 PM
Report Offensive CommentI have been a Celtic fan since first following soccer as a child playing in the rec league and watching the 1994 World Cup here in the United States... perhaps it was the Catholic upbringing...
I don't know what to say about this. On one hand, it is awesome to see Americans getting interested and American capital getting involved in a beautiful game... on the other hand, it is sad that investment interest is so low in the birthplace of the game that the former colonies are stepping in to take place with fresh money.
I bid Fisher well, and hope his interest is purely in the same fanhood vein as mine... though I fear nothing more than another Glazer-style takeover...
Great blog, and thanks for the news... this is where I heard it first!
Bigalke | 12/20/07, 08:25 PM
Report Offensive CommentUgh, its likely all buisness. Wolff and Fischer know there's money to be made in the sport. I really doubt either of the two let whatever fandom they may have into these decisions. Even the way they are handling the Quakes comeback and the A's move out of Oakland (build a smaller stadium that intentionally doesn't handle capacity to raise ticket prices and the cost of television deals). Blah.
poop_on_a_stick | 12/20/07, 09:19 PM
Report Offensive Commentthe glazer family is slowly killing manchester united...
thehemogoblin: behemoth login | 12/20/07, 10:21 PM
Report Offensive CommentI don't like the Glasers, but to say they are killing Man U is a bit of a joke. Last time I checked there was no drop off in talent, funds, or trophies. Traditionalists don't like these clubs being run by large corporations, but I don't see any one keep their shares.
Are any American teams done like this besides the Green Bay Packers?
David James Brown | 12/21/07, 01:29 PM
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