Le Mans FC Welcomes brazilian Investment Firm, Securing Future in French football
Le Mans FC has announced a critically important new financial partnership with Brazilian private equity firm OutField, a move aimed at solidifying the club’s presence in French professional football. The announcement, made by club president Thierry Gomez on Friday, signals a new era for the team, wich recently earned promotion back to France’s second tier, Ligue 2, after a second-place finish in the third division, National.
OutField’s investment is spearheaded by co-founder Pedro Olivera.The consortium of investors includes georgios Frangulis, the founder and CEO of health food brand OakBerry, and a notable lineup of athletes: tennis superstar Novak Djokovic, former Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa, and current F1 competitor Kevin Magnussen.
Frangulis expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “We want to help grow the city’s brand and sporting heritage. Le Mans has a unique name in world sport, and the sense of belonging the club can offer makes this project exceptional. Novak, Felipe, and Kevin understand this better than anyone, and that’s why they’re so excited.”
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, is recognized for his “mental strength and unique approach,” which Le Mans believes will bring “considerable added value” to the club.
Massa and Magnussen bring their extensive motorsport backgrounds to the partnership.Magnussen recently participated in endurance racing, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans with BMW M Team WRT. Massa, an 11-time Grand Prix winner, shared his motivation for joining the venture: “Le Mans FC has a strong connection with motorsport, and when my good freind and partner at Oakberry, Georgios Frangulis, presented the project to me, I wanted to be a part of it-especially alongside people I deeply respect, like Djokovic, who needs no introduction, and Magnussen, with whom I shared many years in Formula 1.” He added, “It’s undeniably a great chance, taking advantage of the momentum of french football, the reigning Champions League champion, which is currently attracting significant investment.”
This investment aligns with a broader trend of high-profile athletes diversifying their portfolios by investing in sports teams. Recent examples include Snoop Dogg and Luka Modric investing in Swansea City, Tom Brady becoming a minority owner of Birmingham City, and Jordan Spieth and Justin thomas purchasing stakes in leeds united. Additionally,Trent Alexander-Arnold,Anthony Joshua,and Rory McIlroy joined Otro Capital’s investment in the Alpine F1 team,while LeBron James holds a minority stake in Fenway Sports Group,which owns liverpool.
