Meet the eight new minority Leeds United owners including Olympic ace & golf duo
It's safe to say former Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani's time at Elland Road ended in abject failure.
After finally helping the Whites get back to the Premier League, with a sizeable assist from Marcelo Bielsa, back in 2020, Leeds were relegated at the end of the 2022/23 campaign – a season which saw them go through three permanent managers.
Jesse Marsch started the campaign, only to be replaced by Javi Gracia in February. However, the Spaniard was then also dismissed just months later following a 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth, prompting Radrizzani to pull out a Batman-like emergency signal to Sam Allardyce.
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But Allardyce couldn't keep the Whites up, with Leeds relegated on the final day of the season against Spurs, an outcome which ultimately saw Radrizzani sell up to the investment wing of NFL franchise the San Francisco 49ers this summer.
Had they stayed up, it was thought Radrizzani would be moving on anyway, albeit with more money in his back pocket. However, 49ers enterprises are now in charge at Elland Road.
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The group, who already previously held a 44% stake in Leeds, is run by president Paraag Marathe. Following the takeover, ex-MLB star Michael Schwimer confirmed his Big League Advantage group had invested in Leeds, with a number of high profiled athletes putting their money up to become minority owners in the Championship side.
And with that in mind, Daily Star Sport took a look at the eight athletes, alongside Schwimer, to have become minority owners of Leeds United through their ties to the 49ers.
Michael Phelps
There's no doubt that Michael Phelps is the biggest named athlete to invest in Leeds United. The decorated swimmer won a whopping 28 Olympic medals in the pool, 23 of which were gold.
Eventually, Phelps bowed out from competing back in 2016, after having come out of retirement for the Rio Olympics that year.
Jordan Spieth
Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth was one of the first names revealed to have invested in Leeds United following the takeover of the Whites by 49ers Enterprises. He is estimated to have a net worth of over $120m (£95m).
Speaking about investing in Leeds, Spieth said: "I'm excited to have a team I'm emotionally invested in. I've watched the Premier League intently for a few years. Hopefully, we'll be back very soon."
Justin Thomas
Another golfer to invest in the Whites is two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas. The former world number one has an estimated net worth of $60m (£47.5m)
Russell Westbrook
Former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook was in attendance to take in Leeds United's first 2023/24 Championship fixture at Elland Road earlier this summer. Unfortunately for Westbrook, who is a nine-time NBA All-Star, he could only watch on as Leeds drew 2-2 against Cardiff City.
TJ McConnell
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell is another investor in Leeds United via Schwimer Big League Advantage group. The 31-year-old has carved out a decent NBA career as a role player, having entered league undrafted back in 2015.
His hard work would eventually pay off in 2021 when the Pacers inked him to a four-year $35m (£27.7m) deal.
Larry Nance Jr
The son of three-time NBA All-star Larry Nance, Larry Nance Jr, also invested in Leeds United this summer. Now playing for the New Orleans Pelicans, Nance Jr has bounced around the NBA during his 10-year career after being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2015.
The 30-year-old is no stranger to football across the pond either, having attended games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and St James' Park in the past.
Erik Johnson
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Erik Johnson is one of two NHL investors in Leeds United. Following the conclusion of the 2022/23 NHL season, Johnson opted to leave the Colorado Avalanche after 13 seasons, inking a one-year $3.25m (£2.6m) with the Sabres.
Gabriel Landeskog
And Swedish NHL star Gabriel Landeskog rounds out the list of athletes to have invested in Leeds United. Landeskog currently plays for the Colorado Avalanche, the team that drafted him back in 2011.
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