Former German footballer and World Cup winner Lothar Matthäus has made a foray into football club ownership by acquiring Ghanaian Premier League team Accra Lions.
The announcement was made on Sunday, May 22nd, 2023, and has sent shockwaves through the football community.
Matthäus, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, has had a long and successful career in football. He has played for top clubs including Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Borussia Mönchengladbach, and has won numerous trophies and accolades along the way.
Now, Matthäus is taking on a new challenge by becoming the owner of Accra Lions, a team that has been steadily rising through the ranks of Ghanaian football. The team was founded in 2015 and has quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League.
Speaking about his decision to acquire the team, Matthäus said, “I have always been passionate about football and I am excited to take on this new challenge as the owner of Accra Lions. I believe that the team has a lot of potential and I am committed to helping them achieve great things in the future.”
Matthäus went on to say that he plans to bring his wealth of experience and knowledge to the team, and will work closely with the coaching staff and players to help them develop and improve.
The acquisition of Accra Lions by Matthäus is a major milestone for Ghanaian football, and is likely to attract a lot of attention from around the world. With Matthäus at the helm, the team is poised to make a big impact in the Premier League and beyond.
In the new ownership structure, Lothar Matthäus has formed a partnership with two key figures to drive the success of Accra Lions. Oliver König, a player agent based in Frankfurt with a reputation for establishing strong connections in West Africa, assumed the role of chairman at Accra Lions in January.
König’s appointment brings a wealth of experience and extensive networks to the club. Additionally, Ibrahim Tanko, a Ghanaian former player who had a notable career at both Borussia Dortmund and SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga, serves as the sporting director. Tanko has also contributed his expertise as a scout and coach at Cologne.
Completing the ownership triangle is Frank Acheampong, a 29-year-old Ghanaian international who currently plays for Shenzen FC in the Chinese Super League. Acheampong’s professional journey has taken him across different leagues, including Ghana, Thailand, and Belgium’s top-tier Anderlecht club.
Matthäus shared his introduction to König and Acheampong, stating, “I was introduced to Oliver König and Frank Acheampong through mutual friends about a year ago, and their enthusiasm for the project was contagious. It was this shared passion that led us to become partners here,” he said during his visit to the club’s headquarters in Abokobi.
Matthäus, together with his business partners Oliver König, a former German player agent, and Ghanaian international Frank Acheampong, aims to cultivate talent in West Africa and establish a route for young players to make their mark in European football.
Speaking to German tabloid Bild, the 62-year-old acknowledged the business aspect of the venture, stating, “Of course, it’s a business model. Ghana has always possessed immense talent potential, evident in the national team.”
Accra Lions, founded in 2015 and currently placed ninth in the Ghanaian top flight, is valued at $2 million (€1.85 million) according to Transfermarkt.