Djokovic joins Le Mans as an investor
Novak Djokovic is joining the French second-division team Le Mans FC as a shareholder. Two former Formula 1 drivers are also part of the investor pool.
Novak Djokovic is now a shareholder in Le Mans FC. IMAGO/Propaganda Photo
24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic is one of several well-known names in the sport who have acquired shares in Le Mans FC . Former Formula 1 drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen are also joining, as is investor OutField.
"These new partnerships give us the opportunity to grow responsibly," said club president Thierry Gomez in a statement. The size of the investments is not known.
Le Mans was still playing in the fifth division in 2016/17. Since then, they've steadily improved, achieving promotion to the second division last season. "We have to be aware that the economic model of football has changed. The elite has shrunk, and new investors have entered the game. To survive and continue to grow in this new context, we have to adapt," explained Gomez.
Djokovic and his co-stars aren't alone in their investments; more and more active and former athletes are joining clubs. Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, for example, is a shareholder in the English third-division team Birmingham City , and 14-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams holds shares in the women's soccer club Angel City FC and the WNBA team Toronto Tempo.
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