How about a nice warm round of applause for Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich? What, you don't have it your heart to cheer for a Russian billionaire? Okay, me neither.
In any event, Abramovich's reign as the richest man in British soccer is over. He had a good run from 2003-2008. It's hardly too shabby.
According to FourFourTwo magazine's annual 'rich list', Abramovich has fallen all the way down -- the horror -- to third place where his net worth of £7 billion ($10.6 billion USD) is dwarfed by new No. 1 occupant, Manchester City honcho Shekh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nayan who checks in at £15. (Full list here.)
Cash-rich American investors clock in at four places in the top 20. Arsenal shareholder Stan Kroenke is the new Yank entry on the list. The Glazer family (Manchester United, Tampa Bay Bucs), Randy Lerner (Aston Villa, Cleveland Browns) and Tom Hicks (Liverpool, Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars) round out the Americans in the top 20. Hicks place on the list could be tenuous, as he and feuding partner George Gillett owe £350 to a couple banks.
Overall soccer's finances could be quite tenuous, as addressed here.
Sports
With Premier League clubs West Ham and Portsmouth in deep financial trouble and Newcastle United possibly up for sale again, perhaps we'll see more Americans on the list...or Middle Eastern oil barons.
Abramovich No Longer England's Richest Owner originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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