Sports
Stan Kroenke tells ‘wonderfully rabid’ fans: He’s about winning trophies and not money
Stan Kroenke has told Arsenal’s “wonderfully rabid” fans: I am about winning trophies, not making money.
American tycoon Kroenke is strong and ambitious in his vision for the Gunners, and insists there are easier ways to rake in cash than owning a football club.
The 70-year-old has outlined his vision for the club to the Mirror as he promised:
* He will NEVER sell Arsenal — the Premier League giants will remain in his family for generations.
* They can win major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League.
* Arsene Wenger is the best man for the job — and they regularly text each other.
* The thought of his Gunners lifting silverware is what drives him on.
Kroenke will face shareholders on Thursday at the club’s AGM, after a roller-coaster year when some fans turned on the ownership and the manager.
It is an issue which he addressed head-on in an exclusive interview with the Mirror, insisting the fan backlash was both good and bad last season.
“Sports fans are wonderful,” said Kroenke, who also owns professional American football, ice-hockey, basketball, Major League Soccer and lacrosse teams back home.
“The best thing is the rabid fans… the worst thing is the rabid fans.
“They are passionate about the club, they have the right to their opinions and the only part I worry about is how it affects the players and the coaching staff. It can have a bad effect on that group and that’s the last group you want it to have a bad effect upon.
“That’s how I look at it.
“They always have opinions, they are certainly entitled to them… I know there were some opinions about what we should do about Arsene. But we have always had a lot of respect for Arsene.”
Arsenal director Josh Kroenke, Stan’s son, added: “We said jokingly that the best and worst part is the fans’ passion. From an ownership standpoint, the emotions that are involved — we as fans feel that range of emotions as well.”
Kroenke Snr then interjected, laughing: “We might feel the same way…!”
What came across very clearly in two hours spent in the company of the duo was their passion and love for the club and their determination to make Arsenal successful.
Stan chatted to Lee Dixon at Arsenal’s Carabao Cup win over Norwich, while Josh sat with Sol Campbell.
They enjoy being immersed in the traditions and history of the club. Both got emotional when talking about Wenger’s record-breaking seventh FA Cup win in May.
They throw open the doors to fans and shareholders each year at the club’s AGM.
It is the third time Stan Kroenke has spoken to Mirror Sport, while other owners of major clubs, such as Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich and the Glazers at Manchester United, have remained silent.
Kroenke, who owns a 67.1 per cent stake in Arsenal, has reiterated his commitment to the club and insisted he is simply not interested in selling.
Alisher Usmanov, who owns 30 per cent, made an offer in May. But there has not been any serious contact since.
Kroenke said: “There are a lot of easier ways, so many easier ways, to make money, I assure you! You guys talk about the downs, maybe that’s the nature of it, but if you’re just trying to make money there are a lot easier ways to do it.
“If you look at our history – just go look at our history. We get into these things to try to build them, to try to grow them. You don’t see us selling things. You just don’t. Go and check us. We are committed long-term.”
When pressed if they would ever consider selling the Gunners, Kroenke added: “No, absolutely not. That’s just not our model, not what we do. I’m at a stage in life where what good does that do?
“I love Arsenal, love being involved with Arsenal. There is no finer feeling that going out and winning, like we did with the FA Cup. There’s no finer feeling — wonderful, wonderful feeling.”
Josh added: “We’re talking the day after the Los Angeles Rams (the NFL team the Kroenkes own) won, the terminology is always funny for me. In basketball, it’s the locker-room. Ice hockey is the dressing-room, it’s the same for football over here and there are few things as fun going down to a dressing-room and feeling that mood.
“Whether it’s the FA Cup or just a big win. The feeling is contagious and it makes you want to keep doing it.”
Stan interjected again: “There’s nothing else like it. That whole afternoon and evening, we talked about what happened on the pitch. That whole evening – how wonderful was that?
“Once you have that feeling, you want it again because there’s nothing else like that. You hear people say: ‘I’d do anything to have that again.’ Believe me, that’s how you feel. You really want that feeling again.
“Look, we want to be champions of everything. Premier League, Champions League – we want them all. When they list them on my phone, they list a third one, they list the FA Cup: Arsenal. Right there; that’s your list of champions.
“We shouldn’t sell that short. Do we want to win more? Absolutely. We want them. We have to do better but don’t sell short the FA Cup and Arsene’s record setting.
“His record of consistency through 20 years. We did fall out of the Champions League but with four more points than finishing second. It’s competitive and arguably more competitive.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Super Eagles.
This development was announced by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday, following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee based on a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Labbadia’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Born on 8th February 1966 in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team. His club career included stints at prominent clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
Labbadia’s coaching career has seen him manage top-tier clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. He holds a UEFA Pro License and is well-regarded for his tactical acumen.
With his appointment, Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Höner notably guided the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate task is to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. The team will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November as they aim to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles, placed in Group D, will face familiar foes Benin Republic, who recently defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the AFCON qualifiers, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last month, also sees Nigeria taking on Libya and Rwanda, both of whom are also part of the Super Eagles’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles look to regain their dominance on the African continent and secure qualification for both the AFCON and the World Cup.
Finidi George has stepped into a new role as the technical manager for NPFL side, Rivers United, following his resignation as coach of the Super Eagles.
During his brief tenure with the Eagles, George’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan cast doubts on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, prompting calls from fans for his dismissal.
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Nevertheless, Rivers United, the 2021-22 champions, expressed optimism in a statement on Wednesday via their official handle about having the former Eagles international manage their team.
“Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years,” the statement read.
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Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, General Manager of Rivers United FC, welcomed George, stating, “We are delighted to have Finidi George join our team. His appointment marks a new chapter in our club’s history, and we are committed to working together to achieve success.”
Expressing his gratitude to the club, an elated George remarked, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and I thank the Sports Commissioner, the General Manager, and the supporters for their confidence in me. I am committed to working hard and making the team win.”
Inter Milan were taken over by US fund Oaktree on Wednesday after the Serie A champions’ outgoing owners Suning missed a deadline to repay a debt worth hundred of millions of euros.
In a statement, Oaktree announced they had “assumed control” of Inter after the non-repayment of a “three-year loan to Inter Milan’s holding companies that matured on 21 May 2024 with a total balance due of approximately 395 million euros ($428 million)”.
Chinese conglomerate Suning have relinquished control of Inter to Oaktree three days after the team were officially crowned Italian champions for the 20th time.
Suning borrowed 275 million euros at over 12 percent interest three years ago to pay staff and players as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the finances of clubs across Europe, putting up their controlling stake in the club as collateral.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders,” Oaktree continued.
Inter became a powerful force at home and abroad after Suning acquired the club in 2016, with seven trophies including two Serie A titles and two European finals.
Simone Inzaghi’s team cruised to this year’s championship, winning the Scudetto with five matches remaining by beating AC Milan in a thrilling local derby.
Oaktree, which manages $192 billion in assets, said they are “committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch”.
Inter ended up in the hands of Oaktree in a manner similar to the way another US fund, Elliott Management, took control of their local rivals Milan in 2018.
Elliott became Milan’s owners when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong was unable to repay a loan he had taken out when he bought the club from the late Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest the previous year.
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