The biggest fan-owned football clubs in the world

There are many billionaire house owners in world soccer nowadays, however there are additionally some golf equipment preferring to maintain issues a little bit nearer to house and provides followers the management.

Newcastle United are the newest fanbase vying to take again management from their proprietor, Mike Ashley, by buying a stake within the membership, however historical past has proven us that such a call can both work out completely or result in catastrophe.

Let’s check out among the most well-known fan-owned golf equipment round.

And the FC United Purpose of the Season chosen by the Supporters’ is by @_finsmithh v @theyellows within the @NorthernPremLge ⚽?

Congratulations Finlay!

?⚪⚫#FCUM pic.twitter.com/UiMSHk2SYw

— FC United of Manchester (@FCUnitedMcr) April 1, 2021

Issues behind the scenes at Manchester United weren’t nice on the flip of the century, they usually solely received worse when the notorious Glazer household purchased the membership in 2005. That was the ultimate straw for some followers, lots of whom broke away to type their very own crew, FC United of Manchester.

Inserted into the tenth tier of English soccer, FC United made it as excessive because the sixth tier in 2015 they usually have been kicking about in non-league ever since.

What began off as a bunch of drained followers who had grown annoyed with United has since develop into a real soccer crew with a ladies’s setup as effectively. They won’t be strutting about within the Premier League, however at the least the house owners are a preferred bunch.

? Counting all the way down to kick-off now and listed below are the boys warming up a bit earlier. @ProSportsImages #AFCW pic.twitter.com/Q1skO93AX7

— AFC Wimbledon (@AFCWimbledon) April 5, 2021

Wimbledon FC’s transfer to Milton Keynes to develop into MK Dons in 2003 didn’t go down effectively amongst some native followers, lots of whom selected to remain put and create a brand new crew to assist.

It is a related story to that of FC United, however what units Wimbledon aside is how profitable they’ve been. Thrown in at degree 9, the Dons at the moment are flying excessive in League One.

Of their debut season at that degree, Wimbledon got here up in opposition to MK Dons, they usually truly went on to safe a 2-0 win. Karma.

? #SamePassion

?⚪️ @AthleticClubFem ? @Athletic_en pic.twitter.com/m1oSPbv7lE

— Athletic Membership (@Athletic_en) April 8, 2021

One in all simply 4 sides in Spain’s high tier to nonetheless be owned by its members, Athletic Membership have been doing issues their very own approach for a very long time now.

As a result of there isn’t a sugar daddy funding the membership, Athletic have centered on growing abilities from contained in the Basque area and can solely signal gamers with native roots, and whereas that appears like a recipe for catastrophe, it has confirmed to be something however.

Athletic are real powerhouses in Spain and have by no means been relegated from the highest flight. They’re taking part in by no one’s guidelines however their very own, and they’re completely loving it.

CAN’T WAIT FOR#ELCLÁSICO! ? pic.twitter.com/BD8A5OL4ZA

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 6, 2021

One other of these Spanish sides to nonetheless be fan-owned, Barcelona are instance of what can occur when issues get a little bit uncontrolled.

An issue with Barcelona’s strategies is anybody hoping to develop into president of the membership should be capable of discover 10% of the membership’s value as some type of a deposit. Present president Joan Laporta wanted £108m earlier than he may take workplace – one thing your Common Joe clearly cannot afford.

It implies that whereas Barcelona’s ‘socios’ can vote on who controls the membership, they solely have a finite variety of wealthy, elite candidates to decide on between. It is a enterprise, however with out the authorized title.

With energy handed to the bigwigs, Barcelona followers technically management their membership, however they vote away their energy at any time when they convey in a brand new president.

Again at it ?#packmas pic.twitter.com/tTTCabJQ4z

— ???FC Bayern English??? (@FCBayernEN) April 8, 2021

Barcelona might need misplaced their approach in relation to fan possession, however German giants Bayern Munich nonetheless know what they’re doing.

The Bundesliga’s well-known 50+1 rule implies that groups should stay majority owned by followers (barring the odd exception), however as an alternative of settling for 51% fan possession, Bayern have been as excessive as 75% lately.

Followers centered on reaching outcomes on the pitch, and Bayern have grown and grown right into a self-sufficient, wealthy powerhouse of European soccer in consequence. No glitz, no glamour, simply trophies.

??‍♂️ Go effectively, lads! #ECFC #OneGrecianGoal pic.twitter.com/0d6ONxnPN9

— Exeter Metropolis (@OfficialECFC) April 5, 2021

Exeter’s relegation to the Convention in 2003 was an excessive amount of for the Exeter Metropolis Supporters Belief to bear. They’d watched their facet be run into the bottom by poor house owners, they usually determined to step in.

The Belief purchased a majority share within the membership and managed to maintain them afloat via fundraising actions, till an FA Cup draw with Manchester United gave them the revenue they wanted to lastly put their toes up and chill out.

Now with an elite academy, Exeter have not made it any increased than League Two, however to followers, that is irrelevant. Their membership is alive and that is all that issues.

#MadeInCotia ?? pic.twitter.com/50WuOiZqBC

— São Paulo FC (@SaoPauloFC) April 8, 2021

Since 1993, Brazilian regulation has allowed personal possession for his or her soccer groups, however a choose few have rejected change and proceed to fly the flag for his or her supporters.

The likes of Santos, Flamengo and Palmeiras are all a part of that group, as are Brazil’s most profitable membership of all time, Sao Paulo.

With six league titles and three tastes of Copa Libertadores glory, it is laborious to say it hasn’t labored out for them.

? We Are Rangers

? We Are Champions#Champion55 pic.twitter.com/UjiBguexfe

— Rangers Soccer Membership (@RangersFC) March 7, 2021

Rangers aren’t totally fan-owned, however supporters group Membership 1872 are the second-largest entity within the boardroom, so that they get greater than only a say in relation to how the membership is run.

Born out of a mutual frustration in direction of former administration, Membership 1872 noticed quite a few fan teams put all their cash collectively to buy a stake within the membership, and as assist has grown, so has the group’s spending energy.

They have already got one of the best a part of 11% of the shares within the membership, and the hope is to maintain choosing up extra over time.

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