Serbian TV mogul takes over Southampton FC

Serbian TV mogul Dragan Solak has taken control of English first division club Southampton FC. As the Saints announced on Tuesday, the Solak-led investment company Sport Republic has acquired 80 percent of the shares.

These belonged to the Chinese entrepreneur Gao Jisheng since 2017. According to the English media, the deal went for the equivalent of around 120 million euros.

Solak is the principal investor in London-based Sport Republic, founded by Rasmus Ankersen – who recently stepped down as co-director of Brentford FC – and Henrik Kraft.

“My partners and I have experience of long-term investments in the sports and entertainment industries and Sport Republic was created to bring that expertise together and bring something unique to the market,” said Solak. “Southampton has so many qualities that we’ve been looking at a large sports organization. “

FC Southampton, trained by the former Leipzig Bundesliga coach Ralph Hasenhüttl, is currently 14th in the Premier League, the relegation zone is ten points away.

Solak made his fortune as the founder of the United Group, a pay-TV, broadband and mobile communications company operating in the Balkans and Southeastern Europe.