Sport Republic
TypeSports Investment Firm
IndustrySports
Sports services
FoundersRasmus Ankersen
Henrik Kraft
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Key people
Dragan Šolak
SubsidiariesSouthampton (80%)
Göztepe (70%)
Valenciennes
Tonsser
Sport Buff
WebsiteOfficial website

Sport Republic is a London based sports investment firm founded by Rasmus Ankersen and Henrik Kraft and financed by lead investor Dragan Šolak.[1] The firm currently holds an 80% stake in the EFL Championship club Southampton.[2]

On 19 August 2022, Sport Republic acquired a 70% stake in Turkish club Göztepe, becoming the first foreign investor to buy a club in the Turkish football industry.[3] In July 2023, the firm became controlling shareholders of French club Valenciennes.[4]

Background

Sport Republic was set up by Rasmus Ankersen, who was previously director of football at Brentford, and Henrik Kraft, formerly a partner at private equity firm KKR.[5] Dragan Šolak was told about the plans to obtain stakes in football clubs, with Šolak agreeing and becoming a lead investor.[5]

United Group, the European media company founded by Šolak, had previously held the rights to screen Premier League matches in the Balkans but lost out on the latest rights to screen Premier League matches to Telekom Srbija.[6] Šolak has insisted that his decision to become a lead investor, and buy Southampton, was unconnected to losing the Premier League rights.[5]

Sport Republic owned clubs

Southampton F.C.

On 4 January 2022, it was announced that Sport Republic had bought Chinese businessman Gao Jisheng’s 80% stake in Southampton.[1] Despite buying Southampton, Sport Republic was keen to create a multi-club model similar to what City Football Group has achieved but to a smaller scale.[7] Southampton chief executive Martin Semmens said that the new ownership would allow the club to be more flexible in the transfer market but insisted a sensible, cautious approach will help the club in the long term.[8]

Sport Republic’s first summer transfer window during the 2022–23 season saw a number of new arrivals for Southampton, with the transfers putting faith in youth.[9] The window saw the arrivals of Gavin Bazunu, Mateusz Lis, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Roméo Lavia, Joe Aribo, Sékou Mara, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Samuel Edozie and Juan Larios on permanent transfers, whilst Ainsley Maitland-Niles joined on loan.[9][10][11] The manager at the time, Ralph Hasenhüttl, called their efforts in the window 'phenomenal'.[12]

On 7 November 2022, Southampton announced it had parted company with Hasenhüttl.[13] At the time, Southampton were in the Premier League relegation zone with 12 points after 14 games.[14] This was Sport Republic's first managerial sacking. Three days later, Sport Republic appointed Nathan Jones as Southampton's new manager, joining from Luton Town.[15] Jones's appointment led to widespread disapproval from the fanbase and calls to sack him after just four games, with Jones losing all four.[16]

The January window saw Sport Republic buying five players in an attempt to lift the club off the bottom of the table. A club record fee of €25 million was paid for winger Kamaldeen Sulemana. Mislav Oršić, Carlos Alcaraz, James Bree, and striker Paul Onuachu also joined the club.[17][18][19]

On 12 February 2023, Nathan Jones was sacked as Southampton manager after just 95 days in charge.[20] Rubén Sellés then took over for the remainder of the season, before leaving the club. On 13 May 2023, it was confirmed that Southampton would be relegated to the EFL Championship, after Sport Republic's first full season of ownership.[21]

Following relegation, Sport Republic made large organisational and senior staff changes at Southampton including long standing CEO, Martin Semmens leaving his role and the appointment of Dragan Solak as chairman.[22][23]

Göztepe S.K.

On 19 August 2022, it was announced that Sport Republic brought a 70% stake in Göztepe.[24] Ankersen, who is director at Southampton, was appointed chairman of the club.[25]

Valenciennes F.C.

On 25 July 2023, Sport Republic became the majority shareholder of French club Valenciennes.[26][4]

Other business ventures

Sport Republic have also acquired stakes in the football youth development app Tonsser[27] and sport streaming site Sport Buff.[28]

References

  1. 1 2 "Serb mogul completes Saints takeover". BBC Sport. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  2. ↑ "Serbian billionaire-backed Sport Republic buys Southampton". Reuters. 4 January 2022. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  3. ↑ House, Alfie (19 August 2023). "Sport Republic complete acquisition of Turkish club to add to Saints portfolio". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Sport Republic has completed the investment to become the controlling shareholder of the French football club Valenciennes FC". Sport Republic. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Walker, Shaun (27 January 2022). "Dragon's den: meeting Southampton's new billionaire owner". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  6. ↑ Dunai, Marton (21 January 2022). "Southampton's new billionaire owner swaps one football battle for another". Financial Times. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  7. ↑ Sheldon, Dan (15 April 2022). "One hundred days of Sport Republic at Southampton". The Athletic. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  8. ↑ Low, Jonathan (15 February 2022). "Martin Semmens opens up on Sport Republic takeover and what next for Southampton transfer". Hampshire Live. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  9. 1 2 Warlow, Rob (24 June 2022). "Southampton's early summer transfer business offers sign of what is to come under Sport Republic". Hampshire Live. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  10. ↑ "Southampton transfer news: Ainsley Maitland-Niles signed plus Caleta-Car and Man City duo". BBC Sport. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  11. ↑ "Southampton: Transfers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  12. ↑ "Hasenhuttl reveals why Sport Republic are 'phenomenal' for finance and freedom". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  13. ↑ "Club statement: Ralph Hasenhüttl". Southampton FC. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  14. ↑ "Southampton sack manager Hasenhuttl after poor run". BBC Sport. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  15. ↑ "Nathan Jones appointed as Saints manager". Southampton FC. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  16. ↑ Warlow, Rob (5 January 2023). "Sport Republic urged to take accountability for Saints' current plight". Hampshire Live. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  17. ↑ "Southampton pay club-record fee for Sulemana". BBC Sport. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  18. ↑ Tanswell, Jacob (13 January 2023). "Carlos Alcaraz and Mislav Orsic: What to expect from Southampton's new signings". The Athletic. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  19. ↑ "Saints complete Bree signing". Southampton FC. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  20. ↑ "Club statement: Nathan Jones". Southampton FC. 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  21. ↑ "A statement from our owners". Southampton FC. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  22. ↑ "Sport Republic announces organisational changes". Southampton FC. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  23. ↑ "Southampton confirm appointment of Mark Bitcon as Director of Performance and Darren Mowbray as Head of Recruitment". Southampton FC. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  24. ↑ "Saints owners buy majority stake in Turkish club Goztepe S.K." BBC Sport. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  25. ↑ "Southampton owners acquire 70 per cent stake in Turkish club Goztepe S.K.". The Athletic. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  26. ↑ "Welcome Sport Republic". Valenciennes FC (in French). 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  27. ↑ Sheldon, Dan (10 March 2022). "Tonsser: An attempt to change the way young players are scouted through data". The Athletic. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  28. ↑ "Sport Buff secures significant seed investment". Sport Buff. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
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