Poll: Incoming Owls owner Mammadov says he will mirror fans’ passion

HAFIZ MAMMADOV claims that Sheffield Wednesday represent the perfect club for him to fulfil his dreams in English football 
after agreeing a deal to take over at Hillsborough.
Milan Mandaric.Milan Mandaric.
Milan Mandaric.

The Azerbaijan-born multi-millionaire businessman reached agreement with Owls chairman Milan Mandaric yesterday, with the deal, reportedly worth around 50m Euros, subject to Football League ratification.

Mammadov has amassed his fortune – said to be worth several hundred million pounds – in oil and gas exploration and production, construction, engineering, and transportation.

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Founder and chairman of the Baghlan Group, the 49-year-old’s first involvement in football was at local club Baku, which he bought in 2004.

He has been building a considerable footballing portfolio since, helping to negotiate a shirt sponsorship deal with Atletico Madrid in December 2012 and also purchasing shares in FC Porto.

He went on to purchase French outfit Lens in August 2013 and 
after pumping in around £20m to turn around their fortunes, he is now relishing the prospect of helping restore the Owls to their former glories.

Mammadov said: “I am a passionate football fan with enormous respect for English football.

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“I have looked at investing in England for some time, but I was determined to find the right club.

“I am hugely ambitious and feel the Owls match my passion and desire for success and represent our motto of Azerbaijan Land of Fire.

“I promise the supporters I will work extremely hard to bring the success everyone so rightly craves.”

The developments bring an end to Mandaric’s long search to find suitable owners to purchase the club, with the Serbian businessman admitting as far back as late 2011 that he would sell up if the right people made the right offer.

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Mandaric has been actively seeking new buyers for the past year, with the 75-year-old keen to spend more time with his family and concentrate on other business interests.

Heralding the deal, Mandaric, who has plunged around £30m into the Owls since taking over in December 2010, said: “I am delighted to have concluded a deal with Hafiz.

“He is a true football man and I have no doubt whatsoever I am handing over control to someone with a real passion for the game and the ability to carry on the work I started three years ago to return Sheffield Wednesday back to the top division of English football.”

Full takeover story: Page 22.

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