Premier League legend Brad Friedel has suggested that Tiger Woods would achieve great success if he were to invest in a club such as Manchester United. Nevertheless, he would prefer to see the golf icon join another prominent English team instead.
The contemporary era has seen numerous high-profile athletes and celebrities becoming involved in the ownership of British football clubs. NFL stars Tom Brady and JJ Watt have found success after acquiring stakes in Birmingham City and Burnley, respectively, while Wrexham has ascended the ranks under the leadership of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
This shift in the ownership landscape prompted remarks from former Premier League player Matt Jansen, who indicated that a figure like Woods would likely thrive if he pursued a similar investment. Former Liverpool goalkeeper Friedel, who openly admits to being a fan of the club, concurred that attracting such a prominent name would be a significant achievement for any leading club.
“I saw Matt Jansen say he’d like Tiger Woods to take over Man United,” the American told Mr-gamble.com. “I would prefer he does not go to Old Trafford. But it would be brilliant for the Premier League if he did. Go to Liverpool instead, Tiger!”
Despite the initial enthusiasm surrounding Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority acquisition of United, the team’s performance on the field has yet to show significant improvement under the British billionaire’s leadership. In fact, the Red Devils have recorded their two lowest finishes in the Premier League since he began overseeing the club’s operations in early 2024.
Back in August of this year, Jansen, a three-time Blackburn Player of the Season who was previously a target for United, expressed high praise for the new investment model in British football. He mentioned notable figures such as Woods and NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan as examples of generational talents who could have a substantial influence in the elite sphere.
“I think Tom Brady is a good one,” he recently told BettingLounge.co.uk. “Maybe Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods, people who’ve been at the top of their sport, the No. 1 in their sport, will always be impressive and can relate a little bit more to football than the music industry.
“It could be any club, couldn’t it? But the likes of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods would probably be looking at Liverpool, Chelsea or Man United, those kinds of clubs. They’re that big a star. So is Tom Brady, but Birmingham are really putting their money where their mouth is. I think they’ll be a force this season.
“They could target clubs in the EFL. Look at what Wrexham started and they’ve been a success. It’ll be other people putting it to the likes of Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods, rather than them approaching clubs.”
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