Lothar Matthäus, a former German international and Ballon d’Or winner, has become a co-owner of Ghanaian football team Accra Lions. Former Bayern Munich player expects the club will serve as a feeder to European clubs.
Lothar Matthäus is a Bundesliga champion, World Cup winner, Ballon d’Or winner, television analyst, and currently football club owner after purchasing Accra Lions in Ghana’s Premier League.
Matthäus is keen to develop potential in West Africa and provide up a way to Europe for young players, working with business partners Oliver König, a former German player agent, and former Ghanaian international Frank Acheampong.
“Of course, it’s a business model,” the 62-year-old told Bild in Germany. “Ghana has always had a huge potential in terms of talent, and you can see that in the national team.”
The Accra Lions, founded in 2015 and now eighth in Ghana’s top flight, are valued at $2 million (€1.85 million) by Transfermarkt, though specifics of Matthäus’ personal investment have not been released.
“We want to bring young players to Europe who are already well-trained,” remarked the former Bayern Munich great. That’s why we’re also investing in the practice facility here.”
Accra Lions’ chairman was one of Matthäus’ new partners, Frankfurt player agent König, who had supposedly acquired considerable ties in West Africa.
Ibrahim Tanko, 45, a Ghanaian who played for both Borussia Dortmund and SCFreiburg and spent time as a scout and coach at Cologne, is König’s sporting director.
Acheampong, the third member of the ownership triangle, is a 29-year-old Ghanaian national team player who is now playing in the Chinese Super League. He has played professionally in Ghana, Thailand, and for Belgium’s top division team Anderlecht.
“I met Oliver König and Frank Acheampong through friends a year ago, and they got me excited about the project,” Matthäus explained during a visit to the club’s headquarters in Abokobi on Tuesday.
As a Bundesliga Legend and ambassador, Matthäus has spent a significant amount of time in Ghana.
As early as 1999 he told local reporters: “Ghana is a football country and what I saw when training with the kids, they like and love football. I saw many players with good qualities and passion for football and this is the key to making Ghanaian football better in the future.”
His investment of time and mentorship in Ghana has now been followed by a financial investment meant to reap rewards for individuals with eyes on European football.
OG KANI is an official content writer for Exgenera.com from Lapaz, Accra. He is also an authority in blogging, digital marketing, and other fields. By following Og Kani on the social media networks listed below, you may find out more about him.
