‘Not Involved’ – Hammarby Statement on Zlatan Ibrahimović’s Role At The Club

Despite his limited involvement in the club, it is still not feasible for Allsvenskan outfit Hammarby to buy out the shares owned by Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimović.

It has been three years since the Bajen initiated discussions on becoming fully member-owned, but any hopes of reclaiming shares from its minority owner, AEG, remain distant, as reported by Afton Bladet. AEG, which currently holds 47% of the club’s shares, has no plans to sell, with co-owner Ibrahimović maintaining limited involvement in the club’s day-to-day operations.

Richard von Yxkull, CEO of Hammarby, reiterated that while everything has a price, selling AEG’s stake is not on the table for now. “Everything in this world has a price, but right now it’s not relevant,” von Yxkull told the press, explaining the current ownership situation.

Despite his partial ownership of AEG Sweden, which gives Ibrahimović control of around a quarter of Hammarby, the Swedish football icon has largely stepped away from the club’s activities. While there were initial signs of interest, with Ibrahimović more present in the early years, his focus has shifted, particularly after his sons no longer played at the club.

“He is available sometimes if there is something we want to play, but it is not that often,” von Yxkull explained. “Sometimes he may have questions and concerns, but he often takes them via his representative on the board. Every now and then we meet for an update or something. But nothing everyday in our business.”

Ibrahimović’s involvement in Hammarby has been minimal in recent years, with his current commitments largely tied to his career in Milan. When asked whether he had contributed to attracting new signings or helping the club in other capacities, von Yxkull confirmed, “No, he has not done that. He works in Milan and his commitment lies there and not in Hammarby. Then he is a co-owner in Hammarby and certainly defends those interests as a co-owner, but he is not involved in the club’s operations”

The idea of the club buying back shares from AEG was first floated at the 2021 annual meeting, but with AEG not interested in selling, the prospect remains highly unlikely. “We always have a dialogue about how they view their ownership, but they want to be part of Hammarby,” von Yxkull said. He added, “We have to discuss what it’s worth, if we want to buy and if we have the resources, but right now it’s not relevant.”

Site Opinion: Detached Ownership

Ibrahimović’s limited involvement in Hammarby raises questions about the impact of celebrity co-ownership in football. While his investment and name recognition undoubtedly brought initial excitement, the reality is that his focus has remained elsewhere, primarily on his career in Milan. Co-owners like Ibrahimović can help elevate a club’s profile, but without active participation, the potential benefits may be more superficial than substantial.

The lack of day-to-day involvement also points to a deeper issue for Hammarby. Having a high-profile figure like Ibrahimović could have provided opportunities for marketing, sponsorship deals, or attracting talented players. Yet, without him taking a more hands-on role, those opportunities are largely missed. While his financial interest aligns with Hammarby’s success, the club might be better served by an owner more engaged in its operations.

This kind of passive ownership, where the figurehead doesn’t directly contribute to the club’s growth, often creates a gap between public perception and actual benefits. Hammarby may have to weigh the benefits of celebrity association against the potential advantages of more engaged local ownership, especially as fans have shown interest in a member-owned future.