49ers Enterprises have taken a huge step towards full control at Leeds United after agreeing terms with current majority shareholder Andrea Radrizzani. The club released a statement confirming the two parties had reached a takeover agreement after plenty of speculation following the Whites' relegation to the Championship.
Much of that speculation has been caused by the lack of voice from both parties in relation to a proposed takeover in the past year or so. The 49ers were reported to have a deadline of January 2024 to take over Leeds, but that move has been accelerated to this summer after a disappointing Premier League campaign.
Back in 2018, when the 49ers Enterprises first bought 15% of the club, vice-chairman Paraag Marathe was optimistic of the partnership but was hesitant to speak about the possibility of a full takeover. He said: "Professional sports is professional sports - you're trying to take smart ideas and apply them somewhere else to turn those teams into winners.
"From an ownership perspective, our owner is very like-minded and similar to how Andrea is. Andrea is very passionate and is passionate about how they're playing on the pitch and actually wants his team to be successful."
However, in recent years, those percentages have been on the rise, with their shares in the club increasing to to 37% in January of 2021. The long-term vision at Elland Road became clearer with Marathe appointed vice-chairman of the club.
At the time, the club said: "Marathe, supported by 49ers Enterprises vice president Collin Meador and other key 49ers personnel, will be more involved in the decision-making process and day-to-day operations of the club moving forward, both in football and business operations as he has done for the 49ers for the last 20 years and maintains his place on the Leeds United board of directors."
In November of 2021, the 49ers increased their ownership stake by a further seven per cent, to 44 per cent in the club. Chief Executive Angus Kinnear said: “We are delighted to see Aser Ventures strengthen their partnership with 49ers Enterprises who have clearly been impressed by the quality of the project.
“Aser Ventures and chairman Andrea Radrizzani remain unequivocally committed to the club, whilst all those involved with the 49ers are actively working with our management team on a daily basis to help to drive us forward, putting us in a strong position to achieve our goals in the coming years.”
Back in October 2022, Marathe gave his most in depth interview to BBC Sports on the The Sports Desk podcast and outlined his plans for the future of the club. "I sort of just take it one day at a time," he said.
"I'm really enjoying the ride and the biggest thing on my mind is Crystal Palace. I can't really think past that to be honest with you. I'm very much enjoying the ride. I'm very much enjoying everything about it and I do think there's so much more we can do, whether it be with the stadium, whether it be with on the pitch or generally just growing the organisation. But, right now, I'm just focused on Palace and we'll see what happens next week.
"I'll be honest with you, the main thing is to protect the magic and electricity that is in Elland Road," he added. "The answer then is it's probably a stadium expansion than a new stadium because I don't want to take away that aura.
"Players from the other 19 clubs, if they're going to list the three worst places that they want to play on the road, Elland Road is probably one, two or three for them. I don't want to take that away."
When asked why Marathe got involved with Leeds and what he brings to the club, he said: "Speaking for myself, this is the most popular sport in the world and one of the most popular leagues in the entire world. It's such a cultural phenomenon, not just in the UK and Europe but around the world and it's big business and big competition.
"I think a lot of us American sports owners and executives, we live for the competition, we live for the winning and losing of it and you see it in English football. The emotions, the jeopardy and the intensity are just almost magnified.
"It's probably not good for any of our heart health. I know mine included, but it's just fabulous, it's fascinating, it's energy."
