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Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani has targeted Europa League football and a new Elland Road stadium after increased investment from San Francisco 49ers.<\/p>\nLeeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani has targeted Europa League football and a new Elland Road stadium after increased investment from San Francisco 49ers.<\/p>\n
The Premier League club announced on Monday that NFL franchise the 49ers has increased its stake in the West Yorkshire club from 15 to 37 per cent.<\/p>\n
Paraag Marathe, president of 49ers\u2019 financial arm, 49ers Enterprises, has been appointed Leeds\u2019 vice-chairman, having already been a member of the club\u2019s board.<\/p>\n
Radrizzani believes the deal, understood to be worth up to \u00a350million, will help Leeds fulfil their potential on and off the pitch and challenge the top flight\u2019s \u2018big six\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dream \u2013 and I think I share the same dream as Paraag \u2013 is to play one of these European nights in a new stadium with Leeds United,\u201d Radrizzani said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo until I accomplish this dream you\u2019ll see me around for a long (time). But I\u2019m also realistic. To achieve that level we need to be smart, consistent and rational with the decisions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it would be fair to say in three years we\u2019ll try to be in and around the Europa League, or in those places.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to go gradually and a realistic goal would be in three or four years to be a Europa League club. That\u2019s what we need to work for after promotion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leeds, promoted back to the top flight for the first time in 16 years last season, have fallen way behind English football\u2019s top six clubs in terms of revenue and infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Radrizzani is determined to close the gap, but recognizes Leeds must first become a stable Premier League club.<\/p>\n
\u201c(To close the gap) on the top six, it\u2019s almost impossible,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to be just next to them. We need to be in the range of clubs like Everton, West Ham, Aston Villa.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re clubs that can challenge the top six, but are just the line below.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to double our revenue in three to five years, that\u2019s necessary, and hopefully build a new stadium that can bring bigger revenue and give solidity to the club.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 49ers bought an initial 15 per cent stake in 2018 from majority owner Radrizzani, who completed his 100 per cent takeover from fellow Italian Massimo Cellino in 2017.<\/p>\n
Marathe, who will be \u201cmore involved in the decision-making process and day-to-day operations\u201d, played down the notion that the 49ers will one day become Leeds\u2019 sole owners.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo I envisage the day where we continue to grow as a club and experience more success together as partners,\u201d he said. \u201cI can\u2019t underscore that enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marathe added: \u201cThis is a powerful club with a remarkable history that has such strong bones to be one of the most, already is, one of the most recognizable brands in global football.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou see that manifested as soon as we got promoted \u2013 how much we\u2019re talked about on social media, how much passion the club plays with, how many times we\u2019re playing in prime-time matches on Sky \u2013 this is clearly a club that belongs and this is just the beginning of a long journey.\u201d<\/p>\n