Giorgio Chiellini Joins LAFC Owners in Post-Playing Move

Giorgio Chiellini has swapped shin pads for spreadsheets, returning to Los Angeles Football Club not as a defender but as a shareholder in the Major League Soccer champions he briefly captained to glory. The Italian icon, long synonymous with Juventus and the Azzurri, now adds “club co-owner” to a résumé that already includes nine Serie A titles and a UEFA Euro 2020 medal.

Giorgio Chiellini’s Next Chapter in Los Angeles

The 39-year-old retired from playing in December 2023 after 18 influential months at LAFC, culminating in an MLS Cup triumph in 2022. Though his on-field stint in California was short, Chiellini’s impact was immediate: he steadied the back line, mentored younger teammates, and injected the locker room with a winning mentality forged over 17 seasons in Turin. During the past year he remained linked to the Black & Gold in a player-development consultancy role, helping academy prospects refine positional play. Becoming part of the LAFC ownership group felt like a natural evolution. “There was something special about this club from day one,” Chiellini said. “I wanted my commitment to be permanent.”

Why the Move Matters for LAFC Ownership

Bringing Giorgio Chiellini into the boardroom extends LAFC’s strategy of pairing Hollywood flair with football expertise. Existing investors include actor Will Ferrell and NBA legend Magic Johnson, but Chiellini is the first former LAFC player to take equity. His presence bridges the front office and the dressing room, offering insight on everything from scouting center backs in Europe to balancing a congested CONCACAF Champions Cup schedule. Crucially, the Italian’s international profile strengthens the club’s global brand—a vital asset as MLS eyes new broadcast markets and a lucrative 2026 World Cup bump.

Chiellini’s Experience: A Competitive Edge

Few defenders have logged more minutes at the game’s highest level. From marking Cristiano Ronaldo in Champions League finals to out-tackling England at Wembley, Chiellini has seen every tactical shape modern football can produce. LAFC co-president John Thorrington believes that perspective will sharpen recruitment: “When Giorgio tells a young prospect what it takes to win, they listen—because he’s done it.” The Italian has already held virtual meetings with the analytics department to discuss using data to identify undervalued defenders in South America, mirroring his own path from promising Fiorentina loanee to world-class leader.

Building on MLS Momentum

Major League Soccer has courted European stars before—David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Gareth Bale—but Giorgio Chiellini talks about “making roots,” not just collecting an American sunset. His part-ownership signals a maturing league where ex-players can shape policy, youth development, and labour relations from the inside. MLS Commissioner Don Garber welcomed the move, noting that investors who “understand the daily grind of a training ground” accelerate the league’s learning curve. With the 2025 Leagues Cup expanding and a new salary-budget mechanism on the horizon, Chiellini’s locker-room credibility could prove invaluable during collective-bargaining debates.

From Turin to Tinseltown: Cultural Synergy

Los Angeles and Turin might seem worlds apart, yet both cities thrive on spectacle and craft. Chiellini’s educational background—he holds a master’s degree in Business Administration—makes him unusually prepared for trans-Atlantic commerce. LAFC plan to lean on his European connections to arrange pre-season tours against Serie A sides, offering U.S. fans rare matchups while opening merchandise pipelines in Italy. Juventus CEO Maurizio Scanavino praised the appointment, calling Chiellini “a cultural ambassador who can merge two football traditions for mutual benefit.”

The Sporting Blueprint Ahead

On the pitch, LAFC are rebuilding after narrowly missing a second consecutive MLS Cup in 2023. Center-back pairing Jesús Murillo and Aaron Long remains solid, but depth is thin. Chiellini has already championed a strategy of signing a young, ball-playing defender from the Belgian Pro League—“someone who can grow into the role I once had,” he said. Off the pitch, the club will continue to invest in its 30,000-seat BMO Stadium experience, including a new supporters’ pavilion that Chiellini insisted carry tribute murals to past players, blending Italian calcio heritage with LA street art.

Financial Footprint

Neither the percentage of shares acquired nor the transaction value has been disclosed, yet league sources estimate Chiellini’s stake between two and five percent. While modest in isolation, that piece of a franchise valued at over $1 billion underscores MLS’s explosive growth. For comparison, Beckham paid $25 million for Inter Miami’s expansion rights in 2014; Forbes now values that club at $1.03 billion. Analysts expect LAFC’s worth to rise further with the 2026 World Cup spotlight, making Chiellini’s early buy-in astute.

Legacy and Long-Term Vision

Giorgio Chiellini’s legacy will always rest on those trademark tackles and iconic broken-nose photos, but he is determined to leave an imprint beyond highlights. His stated goals include:
• Establishing an LAFC satellite academy in Rome within three years.
• Promoting green initiatives at BMO Stadium, inspired by Turin’s Allianz Stadium eco-programs.
• Advocating for MLS to adopt code-sharing analytics with NWSL teams, enhancing talent pathways across genders.

How Fans Reacted

Supporters’ groups like the 3252 have embraced the news. Social media lit up with memes of Chiellini wielding a Hollywood director’s clapperboard, while season-ticket holder Mario Gomez said, “Knowing a legend who bled for this crest now owns part of it makes me trust the club’s future.”

Opinion: Chiellini’s Ownership Is a Win for Everyone

By layering Giorgio Chiellini’s elite mindset atop LAFC’s innovative culture, both parties enhance their competitive edge. The club secures a globally recognized football mind who genuinely cares about its community, while Chiellini accesses a dynamic sports market poised for post-World-Cup expansion. If more European stars follow, MLS could transition from a retirement league to a partnership platform—where legends don’t just play; they invest, mentor, and build. For fans on both continents, that’s a tantalizing prospect.