Ronaldo Enters Club Ownership
On and off the pitch, Ronaldo, 41, continues to extend his influence. The Portuguese icon has acquired a 25% stake in Spanish club Almeria, marking his official entry into football ownership. He started at Portugal, progressed to England, Spain, Italy and now Saudi Arabia. At 41, he is considering life after football. Like any other elite players, investing in profitable ventures provides financial sustainability beyound retirement. Ronaldo following suit doesn’t come as a surprise, but rather a source of hope for the club’s supporters.
Why Almeria?
In an interview, he said; “It has been a long-held ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond just on the pitch. Almeria is a Spanish club with very strong foundations and clear potential for growth”. He said after successfully acquiring 25% stake in the club. UD Almeria is currently in the second division of the Spanish league.
Brief History of The Club
Almeria FC was originally founded in 1989, emerging from the long tradition of football in the city of Almeria in Spain. It was renamed UD Almeria in 2001. Through determination, the team quickly climbed through Spanish league system to Segunda Divion by the mid-1990s. Almeria achieved it’s first promotion to La Liga in 2007, under the management of Unai Emery, marking a major milestone for the club. In 2011, they reached the semifinals of Copa del Rey after a superb performance, for the first time in the club’s history.
What this Means For The Future
They have surged up to Laliga, several times following multiple relegations. After their recent relegation from Laliga in 2024, they are yet to achieve a promotion into the top tier again. They are currently still playing at the second division. With Ronaldo’s involvement, the club will hope to build towards success in the coming years.