Brentford owner Matthew Benham sells majority stake in FC Midtjylland - The Athletic

See original article

Key Points

Matthew Benham, owner of Brentford FC, has sold his majority stake (95.5%) in FC Midtjylland to Anders Holch Povlsen.

Holch Povlsen, already a 25% stakeholder since 2021, now takes full control of the Danish club.

Benham's nine-year ownership saw FC Midtjylland win the Danish league title multiple times and qualify for the Champions League group stage.

Benham's Strategy

Benham's investment in Midtjylland was based on the idea of testing innovative management strategies, later implementing them at Brentford. The transfer of Frank Onyeka from Midtjylland to Brentford exemplifies this strategy.

The Sale

Benham's statement expressed satisfaction with his time at Midtjylland, highlighting achievements, collaboration with Heartland (Holch Povlsen's company), and leaving the club in a stronger position. He will continue providing data to Midtjylland through his company Smartodds.

Holch Povlsen, through his company Heartland, also holds a majority stake in CD Mafra, a Portuguese club.

Conclusion

The sale marks the end of a significant chapter for Benham's involvement with FC Midtjylland, but his data-driven approach to football club management will continue its influence.

Sign up for a free account and get the following:
  • Save articles and sync them across your devices
  • Get a digest of the latest premium articles in your inbox twice a week, personalized to you (Coming soon).
  • Get access to our AI features