Latest news with #SMCaen
Business Post
26-04-2025
- Business
- Business Post
From Beckham to Mbappé and Modric: Why star players are putting their money into clubs
Sport From Beckham to Mbappé and Modric: Why star players are putting their money into clubs It used to be that footballers bought pubs, but David Beckham's groundbreaking Miami move has led to the emergence of a new career path Richard Fitzpatrick 14:03 France's Kylian Mbappé reportedly paid €15 million to buy an 80 per cent stake in SM Caen, a French club he once represented as a teenager in a tournament. Picture: Getty
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kylian Mbappé-owned SM Caen relegated to National
Kylian Mbappé-owned SM Caen relegated to National It has been a week to forget for Kylian Mbappé (26). The France captain came off injured during Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League elimination at the hands of Arsenal on Wednesday and on Friday, the club that he bought in the summer, SM Caen, was relegated from Ligue 2. Advertisement With three games remaining in the Ligue 2 season, Caen's fate has been confirmed. Rock-bottom of the league, a 3-0 defeat at home to fellow strugglers Martigues was the nail in the coffin. It is the first time in 41 years that the club will drop to the third division. There was anger from the fans, expressed through a pitch invasion post-match, as well as a banner unfurled by the club's ultras: 'Management, players – all to blame, all out,' it read, calling for a clear-out at the club. It comes less than a year after Mbappé purchased the club through his investment fund, Coalition Capital. Nicolas Seube began the season as Caen manager and despite his sacking early in the campaign, ended the season with the best points-per-game ratio (0.94) of any of the three managers who have inherited the post. Bruno Baltazar lost all seven of the games that he took charge of, whilst Michel Der Zakarian (0.75 points-per-game) has failed to save the club from its inevitable fate. Next season, Caen will compete in the National 1, the third tier of French football. GFFN | Luke Entwistle
BBC News
15-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Why are footballers snubbing management?
Luka Modric became the latest high-profile footballer to signal his interest in swapping the dressing room for the Monday, it was announced the Real Madrid midfielder was "investor and co-owner" with a minority stake in Championship side Swansea Sport's Ask Me Anything team looks into why more and more footballers are snubbing management. More difficult than being a player - Ronaldo In February, Cristiano Ronaldo expressed a lack of desire to move into the dugout, once his playing days are over."Me as a manager? I don't see it… it's more difficult than being a player," said Ronaldo."If I can be a club owner, why would I be a manager, sporting director or CEO? That is a dream of mine and I am sure I'll be a club owner. I hope to have not just one club, but several clubs."Other players have gone one step further by investing in football clubs before Mbappe (SM Caen), Sadio Mane (Bourges Foot 18) Juan Mata (San Diego FC), Wilfried Zaha (AFC Croydon), Cesar Azpilicueta (Hashtag United) and Hector Bellerin (Forest Green) are just some of the names who appear to be planning for life after football. I've got no interest in being a manager - Beckham "I've got no interest in being a manager. It's not a passion of mine," said David Beckham (co-owner of Inter Miami and Salford City)."Being a coach is too much work," said Zlatan Ibrahimovic (investor in Hammarby and senior advisor at AC Milan).Both Beckham and Ibrahimovic had public run-ins with managers during their playing careers and it could be argued they are better suited at the top of the tree, rather than managing a squad of 25 players and taking instructions from a board of finance expert Kieran Maguire told BBC Sport, "Footballers do not necessarily want to go into a coach/management role because of the stresses it brings. It also doesn't suit some personalities." 'Modric is not a brand, this isn't financial' The majority of football clubs do not make enough profit to financially benefit their owners and revenue stream has dwindled since their seven-year spell in the top flight ended in 2018 and the club have accumulated losses of £39m over the past three years."I don't believe it's a financial move for the player. Swansea is losing £450,000 a week. He will bring his expertise to the table," said Maguire."Luka Modric is not a brand like Ronaldo, Beckham or Mbappe. He is just a very good footballer. Modric wouldn't be named in a list of top 10 well-known players. Maguire added: "If a player is a brand in their own right, there are financial benefits for them and their clubs. But they do it for the love of the game and it allows them to stay in the realms of football." Risk or reward? That is not to say pursuing football club ownership is not without July 2024, Mbappe completed the takeover of Ligue 2 side Caen, investing £12.6m in a majority stake. His first season in club ownership is likely to end with relegation for the French all-time top goalscorer David Villa was a co-founder of Queensboro FC. Since the club was announced in November 2019, they are yet to make their debut in the USL Championship, the second tier of football in the United Hazard was announced as the co-owner - along with former Chelsea team-mate Demba Ba - of San Diego 1904, who were set to play in the North American Soccer League (NASL). The league collapsed before the club could play their first the 'Class of 92' led by Gary Neville are on target to take Salford City to the Championship by 2029. The club reached the English Football League with four promotions in five years but have remained in League Two since 2019. 'From dressing room to boardroom' Players are actively seeking out opportunities to learn about the business side of the Jordan Henderson, Aston Villa's Tryone Mings, and Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogam are just some of those taking courses in football business management."The PFA [Professional Footballers Association] has its own business school. Helping assist players from dressing room to boardroom. Rather than the dugout," Maguire added."Footballers have a unique understanding of the game. They can combine skills they have gained from their playing days and can bring that to the boardroom".Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler is enrolled on the PFA Business School's Sporting Directorship programme."There is more to football than playing and coaching. It just isn't about playing and I find that fascinating," said Fowler."We want to see the game grow and be part of it. Coaching and managing is difficult and this job is extremely difficult. It is an avenue to stay within the parameters of football." More questions answered... How do athletes manage sleep, and how can you improve yours?How does BBC report on big stories about itself?Why are there so many international breaks in football?When does it get too hot to play tennis?How does the new Club World Cup work & why is it so controversial? What questions would you ask? We're looking for your questions for the Ask Me Anything team. Post them in the comments section and we'll look to answer the best of them in the future.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘We reap what we sow' – Alexandre Mendy criticises Kylian Mbappé's ownership as Caen sink towards relegation
'We reap what we sow' – Alexandre Mendy criticises Kylian Mbappé's ownership as Caen sink towards relegation SM Caen have spent the past forty years since turning professional competing across the top two tiers of French football. However, that stay looks to be under threat with the club on a collision course with relegation from Ligue 2. Advertisement After three successive seasons finishing in the top half (7th, 5th, and 6th), Caen find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table. The club have lost 19 times this season, the latest coming last night with a 4-2 defeat to promotion chasers Paris FC. Alexandre Mendy (31), the club's all-time top scorer, laid the blame squarely at the feet of the new ownership. The Normandy-based team was bought by Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé (26) over the summer via his investment group, Coalition Capital. Kylian Mbappé's ownership comes under fire Mendy told beIN Sports during his post-match interview, 'It's a reflection of our season. I'm speaking for myself, but when you start a new season with the wrong energy – everyone knows what happened during this transfer window for several players – this is what it looks like today. We'll fight until the end, but we only reap what we sow.' Advertisement Mendy was referring to his wish to join Sunderland during the summer transfer window. An agreement between the clubs had been reached after Mendy had been promised by the previous owners that he would be allowed to leave, but the deal was scuppered as the new ownership did not want to part ways with their star player. At the time, the striker told Foot Mercato, 'I don't want to force my way out of the club, but today, I'm very affected by this situation. I don't understand it. I feel wronged and betrayed'. GFFN | Nick Hartland
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ali Abdi extends Nice contract
OGC Nice have officially confirmed that Ali Abdi (31) has extended his contract with the club until 2027. The Tunisian international only arrived at the club over the summer from Ligue 2 side SM Caen when he was signed as a 'joker' transfer. Abdi, who was named Ligue 2's best left-back for his final two seasons at Caen, has adjusted well to life in the top flight. He opened his goalscoring account for the club during a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain. Since that game, Abdi has registered one more goal during the 4-2 victory against Stade de Reims, as well as providing assists during victories over AS Monaco (2-1) and Stade Brestois (1-0). The left-back has seen significantly more game time than most would have expected since joining the club. He was largely considered a player who would be a backup to Melvin Bard (24) when he first arrived, but head coach Franck Haise has created a system that fields both players. GFFN | Nick Hartland
