Under Jurgen Klopp’s guidance, Liverpool have returned to the top of football as one of the best sides in the world. However, this would not have been possible without their owners. But who owns Liverpool FC?
The Merseyside club were in a horrible mess under previous owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Board disputes and an incredible amount of debt put Liverpool on the brink of collapse until Fenway Sports Group acquired the team.
FSG, controlled by principal owner John W Henry, oversaw a revival at Anfield. Under their ownership, Liverpool have finally started winning trophies once more.
In 2012, the Reds ended a six-year trophy drought with a League Cup win. Then, after Jurgen Klopp took over as manager, Liverpool started rising back up towards Europe’s elite.
In 2019, Liverpool won their sixth Champions League trophy, recovering from their loss in the 2018 final to Real Madrid. The season after, the Reds finally broke their 30-year league drought with a dominant Premier League title win.
This season, Klopp’s side have won two domestic trophies, and have a third Champions League final to look forward to.
However, all this on-field success would not have been possible without FSG’s investment and stability.
John W Henry: the man who owns Liverpool FC
Formerly known as New England Sports Ventures, FSG bought Liverpool for £300 million in 2010. Their owner, John W Henry, has a track record of restoring historic sports teams to their former glory.
Via his business, he owns Major League Baseball team the Boston Red Sox, having bought the team in 2002.
Since FSG’s takeover, the Red Sox have won four World Series – also breaking an 86-year title drought in the process. Henry’s other sports ventures include a stake in NASCAR’s Roush-Fenway Racing team, and a recent purchase of NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
Liverpool’s owners have provided transfer funds throughout the years, but not quite at the same level as other teams. In February, Football Observatory provided a report of European football’s biggest transfer spenders over the last ten years. Liverpool ranked a surprising 14th, with a net spend of £291 million.
This pales in comparison to other teams in England and Europe. For instance, Man United were first on the top spenders’ list, with a net spend of £903 million. However, Liverpool ranked eighth on spending alone, having invested £955 million on transfers.
With such a small net spend, this proves how FSG run the club. They sell-to-buy, meaning transfer sales are used to raise funds to bring in new players, rather than throwing money at fresh signings.
Some do criticise FSG’s policy, especially considering how much money the owners are sitting on.
What is the owner’s net worth?
FSG reportedly has a net worth of £4.8 billion, according to Tribuna. Additionally, as per Forbes, John W Henry’s net worth stands at $3.6 billion. Henry did not just make money from his sports teams, though.
The man who owns Liverpool FC built up his fortune via his investment firm in the 1980s. From there, he began acquiring businesses and sports franchises. As well as his teams, Henry and FSG possess a stake in LeBron James’ entertainment business, which is called The Springhill Company.
To add to this, they also own US TV company New England Sports Network, as well as real estate.
Finally, Henry himself owns the US newspaper, the Boston Globe, having bought it out in 2017.
From saving the club from debt collectors in 2010 to winning major trophies, Fenway Sports Group has been instrumental in restoring Liverpool to the top of club football.
Featured image credit: Getty