City Football Group
The City Football Group is a holding company that unites several football clubs, networks them with one another and operates other football activities.
Shareholders
86.21 percent of City Football Group is owned by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Limited . The remaining 13.79 percent is held by China Media Capital Football Holdings Limited .
On November 27, 2019, it was announced that the US private equity firm Silver Lake is acquiring almost 10% of the group for half a billion US dollars.
Teams
Manchester City
The Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) was founded in 2008 when Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan intended to acquire Manchester City from former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra . The ADUG was used as the managing company for this purpose.
The women's soccer team Manchester City WFC, which plays in the FA WSL , is also part of the City Football Group. This also includes the Manchester City FC Reserves and Academy, which provides the Manchester City U-21 team.
New York City FC
When former FC Barcelona Vice President Ferran Soriano took over as CEO of Manchester City in August 2012 , Major League Soccer approached him to take over a football franchise. The general secretary of the MLS, Don Garber, was in contact with him when Soriano was still at FC Barcelona. In December 2012, it was rumored that Manchester City were on the verge of launching the MLS's 20th franchise. This should be located in New York City and bear the name "New York City Football Club". This was first denied by City. In March 2013, the MLS announced that it was ready for such a franchise.
New York City Football Club, LLC was registered with the City of New York on May 7, 2013, and New York City FC was announced as the official 20th franchise of the MLS on May 21, 2013. The former US national and city player Claudio Reyna was hired as the "Director of Football" as the contact person for the majority shareholder in Manchester City . The City Football Group then took over the majority share in the new football club as a company.
Melbourne City FC
On January 23, 2014, it was announced that Manchester City is taking over Australian football club Melbourne Heart for twelve million US dollars. After negotiations between Manchester City and those responsible in Australia, the CFG took over 80% of the club. The remaining shares were taken over by Australian businessmen around the rugby club Melbourne Storm .
The semi-professional reserve team, Melbourne City FC Youth, plays in the National Premier Leagues Victoria 1 and is also part of the CFG.
Yokohama F. Marinos
On May 20, 2014, it was announced that Manchester City had invested in the Japanese football club Yokohama F. Marinos . Thus, a partnership was reached with the Marinos and the car manufacturer Nissan .
Club Atlético Torque
On April 6, 2017, City Football Group acquired the Uruguayan second division club Atletico Torque. After being promoted in the same year, the club now plays in the top division.
FC Girona
On July 2, 2017, it was announced that the club had been sold to the City Football Group and the Media Base agency at 50% each before its inaugural season in the House of Lords.
Sichuan Jiuniu
On February 20, 2019, it was announced that City Football Group, UBTECH and China Sports Capital had acquired Sichuan Jiuniu . The club will play in the Chinese third division in 2019.
Mumbai City FC
City Football Group became a majority stake in Mumbai City FC on November 28, 2019 after acquiring 65% of the club . The club plays in the Indian Super League .
Lommel SK
On May 11, 2020, the holding took over the Belgian second division Lommel SK as the ninth club . City Football Group plans to reduce the club's debts, which are said to amount to around € 2 million.
Partner teams
Training and Scouting
There are contracts with these teams for the mutual exchange of players or for the exchange of training opportunities. The CFG thus has a large pool of players that it can access when needed. Conversely, players who play for teams in the City Football Group can be loaned to these teams in order to gain match practice.
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Aarhus GF (since 2013) -
Espanyol Barcelona (since 2011) -
Ghana Football Association (since 2013) -
Gil Vicente FC (since 2012) -
FC Limerick (since 2013) -
NAC Breda (since 2016) -
Sporting Lisbon (since 2010)
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Wilmington Hammerheads (since 2015) -
Long Island Rough Riders (since 2016)
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Atlético Venezuela (since 2017)
Football academies
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Mpumalanga Black Aces (since 2013)
- Manchester City is the youth partner of the South African team here. Manchester supports here z. B. youth work with own trainers.
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Right to Dream Academy
Stages
City Football Group owns and operates the Academy Stadium in Manchester. The Manchester City WFC and the Manchester City FC Reserves and Academy teams play there.
The New York City FC Stadium for New York City FC is currently being planned.
The CFG also owns the Etihad Campus, which serves as the training ground for Manchester City. This is in Sportcity Manchester, part of the city. It is within easy reach of the Etihad Stadium .
Individual evidence
- ^ Jason Kreis: New York City FC "quite certain" to sign three Designated Players . In: Yahoo.com . January 11, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
- ^ One Club for all , mancity.com, accessed April 24, 2017.
- ↑ Manchester City's Abu Dhabi owners sell 10 pct stake to US firm
- ↑ Manchester City's new owners put national pride before profit . In: The Guardian , September 1, 2008.
- ^ Roger Bennett: Ambitious Garber ready for the next challenge . In: Relegation Zone , ESPN FC, May 28, 2013.
- ↑ Manchester City Said Close to Being Awarded MLS Queens Team . In: Bloomberg , December 15, 2012.
- ↑ MLS Commissioner Don Garber talks NYC2 progress, Florida expansion, Champions League schedule tweak . In: mlssoccer.com , March 17, 2013.
- ^ New York City FC name Claudio Reyna director of football operations . In: mlssoccer.com , May 22, 2013.
- ↑ a b Uruguayan second tier side Club Atletico Torque and Atletico Venezuela are the latest clubs to establish links with the consortium. Retrieved April 6, 2017 .
- ↑ Girona FC - New member of La Liga and the City Football Group - chefutbol . In: chefutbol . July 2, 2017 ( chefutbol.com [accessed August 20, 2017]).
- ↑ 新浪 体育: 曼城 母公司 收购 四川 九 牛 获 官方 宣布. February 20, 2019, accessed December 10, 2019 .
- ↑ CFG acquires majority stake in Indian Super League's Mumbai City FC. Retrieved December 10, 2019 .
- ↑ City Football Group breidt uit naar België met de overname van Lommel SK , lommelsk.be, accessed on May 11 (Dutch)
- ↑ Lommel SK becomes a partner club of Manchester City , kicker.de, accessed on May 11th