THE Glazer family own two of the most coveted prizes in world sport – Manchester United and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
United are one of the biggest money makers in world football, but the Glazers’ leveraged takeover of the club has been mired on controversy – mainly because they bought the club with borrowed money then leveraged it against the team.
The Buccaneers – owned by the Glazer family – thumped the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 to win the Super Bowl on February 7, 2021.
Tom Brady threw three touchdowns, giving the evergreen 43-year-old quarterback a record-extending seventh championship ring.
The only team to play a Super Bowl on their home field, the Buccaneers made the most of the opportunity as they were crowned champions for the first time since January, 2003.
They beat the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9.
Co-owner Joel Glazer accepted the Vince Lombardi Trophy as confetti showered the on-field stage.
Who are the Glazers?
The Glazer family has owned the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 1995, when American tycoon Malcolm Glazer paid a then-record $192million for the franchise.
He also acquired Manchester United as he looked to expand his business empire on both sides of the Atlantic.
Glazer acquired ownership of United in a £790m takeover by gradually buying out shareholders between 2003 and 2005.
He had a net worth of £3.19bn when he died in 2014.
The family’s ownership of United has been a point of controversy for almost two decades.
Ever since the American family took charge of the Red Devils there have been fan protests, with many supporters fearing that the club has moved away from its traditional local values.
Despite a public offering of United on the New York Stock Exchange in 2012, the Glazers remain in control approaching the 16th anniversary of their takeover.
After the success of the Buccaneers, United is mounting its best title challenge since winning its record 20th English league trophy in 2013.
Here’s a profile of the Glazer family and their various business ventures:
Avram Glazer
Known as Avie, the eldest child of Malcolm and Linda Glazer has been co-chairman of United, with brother Joel, since 2005.
His earlier business career included being chairman and chief executive of the Zapata Corporation, which was founded by George W Bush.
He is co-owner of The Tampa Bay Buccaneers with his siblings but is not listed as a chairman.
In December 2021, Glazer purchased a franchise from the brand-new T20 league in the United Arab Emirates.
“I am very excited to be a part of UAE T20 at its formation. UAE T20 promises to be a world-class event that will be transformative to the growth of cricket in the Emirates,” he said.
The UAE T20 league is a six-team competition and will run for the first time between February and March 2022.
Joel Glazer
As well as his involvement with United, Joel is co-chairman, with brothers Bryan and Edward, of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NFL franchise the family bought in 1995.
The Buccaneers website states he oversees the day-to-day operations of the franchise.
Under their tenure, the Buccaneers won their first Super Bowl in 2003 and opened a new stadium where home team touchdowns are marked by cannons firing from a 103-foot replica pirate ship.
The team also won in 2021 on their home field against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Bryan Glazer
Bryan is co-chairman and a former Zapata executive.
He takes control of a lot of the day-to-day running of the NFL team and had a big role in the design and construction of the Raymond James Stadium.
The team’s website states he is “working tirelessly to support the Buccaneers franchise and brand”.
In 2015, he made a $4million contribution to setting up the Bryan Glazer Jewish Community Center in Tampa.
Kevin Glazer
Kevin is co-chairman of First Allied Corporation, the real estate company which is the foundation of the family’s fortune.
He is also the director of a banking firm, a commercial refrigeration business and the Houlihan’s restaurant chain.
Darcie Glazer Kassewitz
Darcie is the executive vice-present of First Allied Corporation.
She is co-president and main driving force of the Glazer Family Foundation which established a Children’s Museum in Tampa and does a lot of philanthropic work in the city, much of it linked to the Bucs.
The team’s website states she is the “driving force behind many of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ innovative, forward-thinking fan engagement and community outreach initiatives, retail activation, and facility design”.
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Edward Glazer
Edward is the co-president of the Glazer Family Foundation.
The Glazers are known as supporters of Donald Trump, but although Ed hosted a fundraiser for Trump and donated $250,000 to his inaugural committee, but also gave $5,400 to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.
He cashed in £30m of United shares in December 2014, barely six months after his father Malcolm’s death.
He is owner and co-chairman of the Buccaneers.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
