Former Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard has followed in David Beckham's footsteps by investing in an MLS franchise after he was announced as a co-owner of the Houston Dynamos.
The ex-England captain blazed a trail for his old colleague, having established Inter Miami alongside business partners including Jorge Mas back in 2018. In addition to his continued involvement with the Herons, Beckham is also a co-owner at Salford City back in his home country alongside fellow Old Trafford legends including Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville .
Now, the 121-time international Howard has joined NBA star James Harden in becoming an investor at the Texan outfit, which counts Ted Segal as its majority owner. In addition to coming aboard with the Dynamos, the former Everton stopper also will become a minority investor at women's soccer side the Houston Dash.
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This is not the first time that Howard has become involved in team ownership either, with the retired American fan favorite having also been part of the ownership group behind USL club Memphis 901 FC in 2018. He even appeared for the team before hanging up his boots in 2020, making six outings in total.
Howard spoke excitedly about coming onboard in Houston, saying: "As someone who has dedicated my life to the sport of soccer, I am thrilled to join the Houston Dash and Dynamo ownership group. This opportunity allows me to further contribute to the growth of the game in the United States and connect with the passionate soccer fans who call Houston home."
Likewise, ownership group chairman Segal said: "His wealth of experience across soccer, both as a player at the highest levels and subsequently as a sporting director and media analyst, will be invaluable within ownership as we continue to build a competitive and successful organisation. Moreover, Tim’s commitment to using his unique platform to positively impact communities in need aligns with the values of our organization."
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Speaking previously via his Daily Mail column previously, the ex-Premier League stalwart outlined his blueprint for how the popularity of MLS can be boosted in the coming years. Heralding the arrival of Lionel Messi at Miami, he said: "When David Beckham came over in 2007, all eyes were on LA Galaxy - and they did travel. But this is huge.
"If I'm an owner of an MLS team, and I'm into it for half a billion dollars, I should be able to spend money creating a superpower," he continued, as he spoke with unbridled ambition. "Chicago, New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle – there are major cities with everything you need."
The former United States mainstay added: "The United States is in a battle with Saudi Arabia to be the next big destination outside of Europe. The Saudi Pro League has done some really good things - big names have gone over and many are flourishing. If MLS teams are going to compete, you have to allow them to sign bigger and better players. More money, more eyes."
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