The 49ers Enterprises took total control of Leeds United football club back in July 2023. Before then they had a majority share in the club, with plans of a takeover and global expansion.
Since they took full control of the club and the daily activities, things have gone very well on and off the pitch for the Whites. They hired Daniel Farke to bring the club back to the top flight and armed him with quality players to do so. Despite the Leeds boss’ complaints sometimes, he has had a lot of good players in and around the team during his time at the club. And the investment has paid off as the club are now in the Premier League, with the next step to secure their status for the near future.
Off the pitch, Leeds have seen so many brands, sponsorships and partnerships elevating the commercial status of the team. Adidas and Red Bull have used the club for major marketing purposes which has added revenue.
Paraag Marathe makes key Rangers decision
In the summer of 2025, the 49ers acquired 51% of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership. The announcement raised eyebrows among Leeds United fans as they felt their club should be the only priority of the ownership. Paraag Marathe has since split his time between the two clubs, taking up the role of vice-chairman.
As of this week, it has been announced that Marathe will step down from the role at the Scottish club. This comes after UEFA’s latest regulations regarding multi-club ownership. Since Marathe held roles with Rangers and Leeds, he had to relinquish his role alongside Director Gene Schneur. This is to ensure that the club does not breach any rules after what happened with Crystal Palace last season. The Eagles had to drop to the Conference League after qualifying to the Europa League via winning the FA Cup, because owner John Textor held roles in both clubs as part of their multi-club ownership.
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Best decision was made
In the end, the best course of action was taken – now the club has no fears of breaching UEFA rules in the event Leeds United qualify for Europe. This means that in the future, the club can play in these competitions. And secondly, it is a huge boost for Leeds United fans as the 49ers’ focus will be shifted more to them. For the past few months, it has looked like Rangers were the priority as they got more transfers and even hired a top quality coach. This move shows the ownership’s commitment to the fans which is a huge step in the right direction.
