NFL great Tom Brady has become a minority owner of English second-tier club Birmingham City and wants to bring a winning mentality to the underperforming club.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion has partnered with the club’s holding company, US-based Knighthead Capital Management, and becomes chairman of a new advisory board.
"Maybe you are asking, 'What do you know about English football, Tom?'," Brady said in a video released by the club. "Well, let's just say I've got a lot to learn. But I do know a few things about winning."
Birmingham, who play in the EFL Championship, said Brady will “apply his extensive leadership experience and expertise across several areas of the club".
That includes working alongside the sports science department to advise on health, nutrition and recovery programmes.
“Birmingham is an iconic club with so much history and passion and to be part of the Blues is a real honour for me," Brady said.
Birmingham last played in the Premier League in 2011, the same year they won the English League Cup – one of two major trophies the club has captured in its 148-year history.
Brady joins a number of other American sports stars to invest in English football clubs.
Former NFL player JJ Watt recently became a minority investor in Burnley, who have just been promoted to the Premier League, while PGA Tour golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas have said they will be minority owners of Leeds after investing in 49ers Enterprises, which is in the process of taking over the Yorkshire club.
Basketball star LeBron James has been a part-owner of Liverpool since 2011 because of a small stake in the club.
Brady has partnered with Knighthead Capital on several other ventures and the club's new chairman, Tom Wagner, spoke of the benefits his expertise can bring.
“Tom Brady joining the Birmingham team is a statement of intent. We are setting the bar at world class," Wagner said. “Tom is both investing and committing his time and extensive expertise. The goal that Tom has committed to own is to make Birmingham a respected leader in nutrition, health, wellness and recovery across the world of football.”
Brady won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and another with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. He retired in February, after Tampa's loss in the play-offs.
Under Birmingham's new ownership, former Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook has taken up the same role and Hope Powell, the former coach of England's women's team, has been hired as women’s technical director.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
Torque: 500Nm
Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)
On sale: 2022
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
Company%20profile
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The%20specs
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
