No American manager has ever been successful in the English Premier League. Jesse Marsch had a good run at Leeds United but didn’t last long.
But who needs American managers when you control the vast majority of the League?
Next season, American billionaires will own the majority of Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Everton, Leeds United, Fulham, Burnley, and Sheffield United (if promoted through the play-offs).
They have part ownership in Manchester City (with UEA) and Aston Villa (with Egypt).
Brentford, Brighton, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United will represent British clubs. That leaves only Newcastle (Saudi Arabia), Greece (Nottingham, Forest), and China (Wolves).
It is easy to see why the Premier League is so popular. According to a recent study, the league has a television audience of 4.7 billion people, making it the world’s most watched sporting competition.
As of 2025, the total value of Premier League broadcasting rights deals was $5 billion per year, with over $2.7 million coming from international markets.
As the Glazers demonstrated at Manchester United, there is a lot of money to be made. Furthermore, as they have demonstrated, it is not always in the club’s best interests.
Most importantly, it is rarely in the best interests of the fans, who must deal with constantly rising season ticket prices, threats to a European Super League, and other issues.
Is it any surprise, given the current US political landscape, that decisions are made that benefit the billionaire class over the average consumer?
All of this could have significant implications for the Premier League. Making rule changes requires 14 votes out of 20 clubs.
Earlier this season, Wolves proposed an amendment to abolish VAR, which was overwhelmingly rejected by the other clubs despite continued fan outrage.
Could it be that VAR’s true goal is to facilitate the introduction of commercials into the action (as is done in American sports) in order to increase broadcast revenue?
Could the Super League concept return to the forefront soon?
Could it be that the wealthy and powerful are unwilling to impose the sanctions that should be imposed on Manchester City for Financial Fair Play violations, such as those that resulted in Nottingham Forest losing points last season?
Failure to punish Manchester City will undoubtedly exacerbate the perception that different clubs are treated differently based on their “value” to the Premier League brand.
Could we see the introduction of other “gimmicks” borrowed from American sports, such as a “All-Star” game, which Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has already proposed?
And, while not everything will be bad (miking refs, for example), it’s impossible not to get the impression that American billionaires and Middle Eastern Crown Princes are motivated solely by the desire to help the rich get richer.
