In the world of football, there are owners, and then there is Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This enigmatic figure, a member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, has made an indelible mark on the sport through his ownership of several high-profile football clubs.
With seemingly bottomless pockets and an unwavering commitment to success, Sheikh Mansour has become one of the most influential figures in the global footballing landscape. In this blog, we embark on a fascinating journey to unravel the intricate web of football clubs under the stewardship of Sheikh Mansour.
List of Football Clubs Onwed By Sheikh Mansour
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the proprietor of the City Football Group (CFG), owns an array of football clubs. As per information available on the CFG website as of December 2021, the following clubs are under the group’s ownership:
Manchester City (ENG)
New York City (USA)
Melbourne City (AUS)
Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)
Montevideo City Torque (URU)
Girona FC (ESP)
Sichuan Jiuniu (CHN)
Mumbai City FC (IND)
Lommel SK (BEL)
Troyes AC (FRA)
Manchester City Football Club
Manchester City Football Club, a renowned professional football institution situated in the heart of Manchester, England, boasts a storied history marked by a series of ownership transitions. Established in 1894, the club has witnessed significant shifts in its ownership landscape. Notably, since August 4, 2008, Manchester City has been under the predominant ownership of Sheikh Mansour.
Following the takeover, Sheikh Mansour entrusted the reins of responsibility and ownership to Khaldoon Al Mubarak and the City Football Group, heralding an era of remarkable transformation for the club. Manchester City has clinched the Premier League championship on seven occasions, with their most recent triumph occurring during the 2021-2022 season.
During Sheikh Mansour’s stewardship, Manchester City has ascended to the pinnacle of football success, solidifying its position as one of the globe’s preeminent football clubs. The team’s remarkable achievements include securing an impressive seven Premier League titles, clinching the coveted FA Cup three times, and triumphing in the EFL Cup on six occasions.
Melbourne City FC
Melbourne City FC, a prominent professional football club, actively participates in Australia’s premier football competitions, the A-Leagues. Originating in 2009 as Melbourne Heart FC, the club was conceived with a visionary commitment to fostering a diverse and community-driven team that celebrates the rich tapestry of cultures and unwavering sporting fervor through the medium of football.
In a transformative shift, the club rebranded as Melbourne City FC in 2014, solidifying its identity. Melbourne City FC stands proudly as a wholly owned entity under the expansive umbrella of the City Football Group.
It is a strategic holding company overseeing various association football clubs, including the noteworthy involvement of Sheikh Mansour’s Aabar Investments among its ownership consortium. The club’s impressive accolades include two Premiership victories in 2015–16 and 2019–20, along with four championship triumphs in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020.
New York City FC
New York City FC, a distinguished professional soccer franchise situated in the vibrant heart of New York City, proudly contends in the esteemed ranks of Major League Soccer (MLS).
The club’s inception dates back to 2013, and it boasts ownership by the City Football Group (CFG), a conglomerate encompassing football clubs bearing the “City” moniker from various corners of the globe.
Notably, CFG falls under the auspices of Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), an entity overseen by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which also holds ownership of the renowned Manchester City FC.
Mumbai City FC
Mumbai City FC, a professional football franchise situated in Mumbai, India, actively participates in the dynamic Indian Super League (ISL). In November 2019, the club underwent a significant transformation when it became part of the City Football Group (CFG), with CFG acquiring a commanding 65% stake in the organization.
CFG operates as a holding company overseeing various association football clubs and is jointly owned by three prominent organizations. The majority stake of 81% belongs to the Abu Dhabi United Group, while an 18% stake is held by the American firm Silver Lake. The remaining 1% ownership is divided between Chinese firms China Media Capital and CITIC Capital.
Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)
Yokohama F. Marinos, a prominent Japanese J-League club, traces its origins back to its founding as a factory team affiliated with the automotive titan Nissan. The club transitioned to professional status in 1993, coinciding with a name change to Yokohama Marinos.
In 1999, a pivotal development occurred as the club merged with local rivals Yokohama Flugels, a move prompted by the latter’s financial insolvency. This merger led to the adoption of the current name, Yokohama F. Marinos.
Throughout its storied history, the club has consistently maintained majority ownership by Nissan. In 2014, a transformative partnership emerged when the City Football Group (CFG), under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, invested in a minority share of Yokohama F. Marinos, cementing a collaborative alliance between the football club and CFG.
Montevideo City Torque (URU)
Montevideo City Torque is a soccer club owned by the City Football Group, which is part of the Abu Dhabi United Group. The club was originally called Club Atlético Torque when it was founded in 2007. In 2020, it got a new name, Montevideo City Torque.
They play in the Primera División Apertura. In the 2022 season, the team’s value is €1.60 million. Their new home in Uruguay is special because it hosts not only the men’s and women’s teams but also youth teams, club staff, and community foundation projects.
Girona FC (ESP)
Girona FC is a soccer team in Spain. In 2017, it became partly owned by two groups: City Football Group and Girona Football Group. Each of them has 44.3% of the shares. City Football Group is a company that takes care of many soccer clubs and has three owners.
Before, when Girona FC was in the Segunda División (a lower league), Manchester City lent some of its players to Girona FC. Some people thought this might be a way to get their coach, Pep Guardiola, to join Manchester City
Sichuan Jiuniu (CHN)
Sichuan Jiuniu is a soccer team in China. It belongs to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who is from a powerful family in Abu Dhabi. They started the club in 2006. Right now, the team plays in the Chinese League One, which is the second level of soccer in China. In 2022, the players in the Sichuan Jiuniu team are worth between €25,000 and €225,000
Lommel SK (BEL)
Lommel SK is a pro soccer team from Lommel, Belgium. Right now, it’s owned by City Football Group (CFG). CFG is mostly owned by Sheikh Mansour, who is the vice president and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and a part of the Abu Dhabi royal family. They got most of Lommel SK’s shares on May 11, 2020. This club plays in the Belgian First Division B, which is the second level of soccer in Belgium
Troyes AC (FRA)
Troyes AC is a French soccer team. Right now, it’s owned by City Football Group (CFG), a company that owns Manchester City and some other soccer clubs in different places. They bought Troyes AC in 2020, and it cost them a few million dollars. Troyes AC plays in France’s Ligue 2, which is the second level of soccer in France.
