NFL icon JJ Watt has already taken a hands-on role less than a fortnight after he and his wife Kealia were unveiled as investors in newly-promoted Premier League club Burnley, forming a burgeoning bond with manager Vincent Kompany.
The Watts have acquired a minority stake in the Clarets, who are owned by Alan Pace's ALK Capital, and were on hand to see their new team lift the Championship trophy at Turf Moor on Saturday after Kompany's squad romped to promotion with 101 points.
Both Watt and Kompany were elite defenders in their respective sports, with the former Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals star winning three Defensive Player of the Year awards across an 11-year career. Kompany, meanwhile, was the anchor of Manchester City's back four and the Belgian lifted four Premier League titles.
Burnley have tied down Kompany's services with the 37-year-old signing a new five-year contract amid reported interest from Tottenham Hotspur and, according to The Athletic, the pair are eager to learn as much from each other as possible.
Watt wants to facilitate Kompany's wish to spend a week with an NFL team to learn about their coaching and training methods, and the Clarets boss will return the favour with Watt set to be granted close access to the first-team setup at Turf Moor.
“I love it when me and Vince just talk ball, those are my favourite conversations," Watt said. "He asks about what our meetings are like, what kind of film study we do, the recovery process. He wants to know everything and that’s what is so great about him, he is always trying to find an edge.”
Watt has attracted plenty of attention since his involvement in the club was announced on May 1, but he has assured fans that he will stick to his strengths in his role and not overstep the mark when it comes to football or finance decisions.
“I’m never going to come into a meeting and say we need to sign this player because Vince knows a hell of a lot more about that than me," he said. "Equally, I’m not going to come in and talk to Alan about refinancing debt,” he says.
“What I am going to do is help with marketing, with brand recognition, commercial aspects, the entire American audience, both fans and investors to try to do my part to grow the Burnley brand and bring global eyes to help tell their story because this place is incredible. I’ve only been here twice but the people, the town, the tradition, the history; the world should know about Burnley.”
