10 football clubs owned by players as Dutch legends line up English team takeover

Most footballers head into management, punditry or just put their feet up after a long and arduous career – but some are mad enough to become club owners

Dennis Bergkamp is keen to buy an English Football League side along with Dirk Kuyt and Ronald Koeman

While former footballers usually find themselves heading into the world of management or appearing on our television sets as pundits – others have decided to spend their money as stressfully as possible.

Some crazy enough have opted to try their hand in the highest seat of all at a football club – taking the reigns at board level or investing into a club hoping to get something out of the project rather than just animosity from fans.

It’s been recently reported that Arsenal legend Denis Bergkamp, ex-Liverpool hero Dirk Kuyt and former Southampton and Everton boss Ronald Koeman are all interested in joining forces to buy an English Football League side.

Some of the biggest names in football have embarked on a journey owning a football club, and here the Daily Star Sport looks at 10 who did exactly that.

The Chelsea legend made history as the first when he became player-owner of the second-tier US side. Upon signing on a free transfer in 2017, he also purchased an ownership stake in the club. The Ivorian retired in 2018 while Phoenix are still vying to become an MLS side.1 of 10

The most famous case of ex-footballer ownership in the UK saw Manchester United’s famed Class of 92 acquire local side Salford City. The former treble winners changed the clubs’ colour from tangerine orange to red and have taken the club from the eighth tier to league Two in ten years.2 of 10

Golden Balls himself, his move to LA Galaxy in 2007 came with an agreement that he could own his own MLS expansion team at a discounted franchise fee and in 2014 Inter Miami were born. The club eventually began playing in 2020 and have an incredible former Barcelona core with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba starring for them.3 of 10

Before Beckham’s Inter, the AC Milan and Italy legend co-founded Miami FC in 2015 with Riccardo Silva - also co-owner at Milan. Maldini’s side joined the North American Soccer League with Alessandro Nesta hired as manager and found success by winning the Spring and Fall championship in 2017. But Miami FC failed to qualify for the play-offs in 2023 and remain firmly in the shadow of Beckham’s boys.4 of 10