Tom Glick, the executive tasked with assisting Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly in establishing a global network of clubs, spent several months working on similar ideas with the investor in Crystal Palace, John Textor.
Glick, formerly the chief commercial officer for Manchester City’s owner, City Football Group (CFG), has been tasked by Boehly to lead Chelsea’s efforts to establish a multi-club network that could lead to investments in Brazil, Belgium, and Portugal, where Textor has held discussions with Benfica and Porto about the possibility of purchasing large stakes.
Textor, who acquired 40% of Palace for £90m last year and is poised to add Lyon to his Eagle Football stable, which already includes Botafogo in Brazil and RWD Molenbeek in Belgium, has been startled by Chelsea’s efforts to find clubs in the same leagues, given his close relationship with Glick.
In July, Glick was appointed president of business for Chelsea. Less than two months ago, he was photographed beside Textor at a So Paulo meeting that sealed Botafogo’s admission into the new Brazilian division, Libra. A Brazilian journalist at the time described Glick as a “senior adviser” to Eagle Holdings.
Textor stated in an interview at the time, “I dragged Tom Glick along.” “Together, we provided numerous insights on growth potential. Technologies for television, technologies for consumer-oriented applications, digital distribution of content, to make it more profitable and profitable, with worldwide development, and we offered instances of ways Brazilian clubs have never attempted to generate revenue. We brought Premier League lessons with us.
Chelsea had been rejected by the Brazilian club Santos, where Pelé spent the majority of his career, and are believed to have made a late offer to purchase Lyon this month, despite having an agreement with Textor in place since June. Textor, who built his money in digital technology companies before investing in football, is thought to have gotten funding from Ares Management Corp, an American investment firm that last year acquired a 34% share in Atlético Madrid.
Glick served as the chief executive officer of Derby County for four years before joining Manchester City as the chief commercial and operations officer in 2012. In 2018, he was appointed president of Tepper Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the National Football League’s Carolina Panthers and Major League Soccer’s Charlotte FC.
Tepper Sports – founded by David Tepper, an estimated $16bn (£14.7bn) hedge fund investor who is the NFL’s wealthiest owner — announced Glick’s resignation at the beginning of February, saying he was “moving aside to pursue other possibilities.”
Glick is thought to have worked closely with Textor on his ambitions to purchase Lyon from the club’s longtime owner and president, Jean-Michel Aulas, and had been expected to be confirmed as the chief executive of Eagle Football Holdings before Chelsea’s intervention.
When Glick was hired, Chelsea’s co-owners Behdad Eghbali and José E Feliciano stated, “Tom is a fantastic addition to Chelsea FC and will help us achieve our long-term goals.” “He possesses the credentials and experience necessary to enhance the club’s worldwide reputation and to lead our efforts to grow the club by investing in squad additions, infrastructure, technology, the youth academy, and the women’s team.”
Glick and Textor are anticipated to be present at Selhurst Park on Saturday when Palace hosts Chelsea in Premier League action.
