The Arnault family, renowned for their ownership of the LVMH luxury empire, is set to leverage Jürgen Klopp’s expertise in an ambitious initiative to establish Paris FC as a formidable contender in French soccer.
As part of their takeover of the second-tier club, the Arnaults are partnering with energy drink giant Red Bull, which will become a minority stakeholder. Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, is expected to join Red Bull as head of global soccer in January.
“I’ve spoken with Klopp several times, and he’s very excited about working with us,” Antoine Arnault, son of billionaire Bernard Arnault, said during a press conference at the team’s training facility in Orly, just 14 miles (22 kilometers) south of Paris.
“We’re not entering this alone,” Arnault emphasized. “Red Bull is alongside us because we recognize our strengths and weaknesses. While we possess management skills, we lack experience in football operations.” He noted plans to utilize Red Bull’s innovative data tools to tap into the rich soccer talent pool in the Paris region.
“Paris has arguably the best talent pool in the world, second only to São Paulo,” Arnault stated. “Red Bull’s advanced scouting technologies will significantly enhance our efforts.”
Arnault also shared details about the family’s majority stake in the club. “This is a family project initiated by my siblings and me,” he explained. “We wanted to explore something more exciting than our usual pursuits. Football has been my passion since I was 10 years old.”
The Arnault family’s holding company, Agache, will acquire a 52% stake in Paris FC, while Red Bull will hold 11%. Arnault will represent Agache on the club’s board. Current president and owner Pierre Ferracci will retain 30% for the time being. He confirmed that the French league has approved the takeover, with finalization expected on November 29.
By 2027, the Arnault family plans to increase their stake to approximately 80%, while Red Bull will expand its share to 15%. This acquisition positions Paris FC as a potential rival to the Qatari-backed Paris Saint-Germain. However, Arnault downplayed any notion of rivalry.
“PSG is a club I’ve loved since I was 12,” he remarked. “You’ll never hear me say anything negative about it. I don’t rule out supporting both clubs in the capital.”
Arnault described the initiative as a long-term commitment to elevate both the men’s and women’s teams at Paris FC to elite status. Ferracci, who has led the club since 2012, highlighted the importance of sustainable growth.
“There’s a sovereignty issue in football,” Ferracci noted, referencing the prevalence of foreign ownership in French clubs. “If Paris FC can distinguish itself with French investment, it would be a significant achievement.”
Founded in 1969, Paris FC’s men’s team has yet to secure major accolades. Currently, it leads the Ligue 2 standings with more than half the season remaining, while its women’s team competes in France’s top league and the Women’s Champions League.
“We’re not pursuing this for profit,” Arnault concluded. “Our goal is to create emotional experiences for fans. Inspired by the Olympics and their positive impact, we aim for financial balance while avoiding wasteful spending.”
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