Soccer stardom is fleeting, and many stars have not only fought hard on the field in order to ensure a trouble-free life after retirement, but off-field commercial endeavors have also become the norm. Former German midfield superstar Ausl, known for his creativity on the field, is no less capable of building a business empire off the field, and the breadth of his commercial footprint is staggering.
Starting out at Schalk 04, Ossur has been hailed as one of Germany's most outstanding attacking midfielders in recent years. He played for Real Madrid and Arsenal and helped Germany win the 2014 World Cup and get a taste of the top of the world. Ossur, 33, faded from Europe's mainstream leagues in 2021 to join Turkish powerhouse Fehrenbach, but seems to have lost his brilliance on the pitch, and has recently been dropped from the team's lineup, leaving his future unclear. While the highlights of his soccer career are in the past, his commercial success is just as impressive.
Founded the hip label M10 in 2015
Back in 2015, Osl started his own streetwear brand, M10, and enlisted James Bond, co-founder of American hipster label Undefeated, as a design consultant. His manager Sugu revealed in an interview, "We met him through Zoom and Facetime after being introduced by a local soccer manager in the US. With James Bond designing, the brand naturally can't be bad. m10 achieved a £1 million turnover in its first year of existence, which is a good start for a new brand."
The e-sports industry is booming and Osl is targeting the opportunity, setting up an e-sports training base in Düsseldorf, Germany, and planning to launch his own Ball brand. The German midfielder has also taken on the role of global creative director for a boot brand in a bid to challenge mainstream sports brands, and Sugu expects the Ball brand to bring in £1.5m for Osl in its first year after launch.
Coffee shop opens amid World Cup craze
Ossur also saw the World Cup as a business opportunity and invested in a boutique coffee shop in London, with plans to open a branch before the World Cup opens in Qatar. His business instincts are as good as his on-field acumen, and he has been helped by former Arsenal teammate Famini. Famini, a well-known entrepreneur in the football world who made his fortune by setting up a biochemical company, mentored Osel on how to embark on the road to business success.
Business and charity go hand in hand
Osl knows that "you have to make money to do good" and has been working with a German charity since 2010 to raise money for medical surgeries for disadvantaged children around the world. The World Cup winner is reportedly planning to enter the virtual currency market, and Sugu is confident that Osl's business profits will exceed his earnings as a player.
Hometown barbecue and ice cream business
Osl's compatriot Podolski is also a keen businessman, and in 2018 the 'Prince of Cologne' became a talking point when he opened a Turkish kebab store in Cologne. Pudorski also owns an ice-cream parlor and his own clothing brand, which collaborated with a Japanese hip-hop brand to produce limited-edition apparel during his time with Japanese side Kobe Victory.
Famini's Biochemical Empire
Famini is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in football. The former France international co-invested with a partner in 2015 to create a biochemical company whose main business is extracting acetylpropionic acid from plants for the production of medicines and plant hormones, among other products, and has grown to become the world's largest producer of acetylpropionic acid, with a market capitalization of 30 billion euros (about HK$260 billion). In recent years, Famini has continued to expand its business and invited Oser to co-invest in an eco-friendly skincare brand.
Beckham's dream of a career in the U.S.
"Beckham is known for his good looks and brand endorsements during his playing days. After retiring from football, he partnered with members of Manchester United's "Seven Stooges" to take a stake in soccer club Shafter City. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star has taken his dream of being a class act to the United States in recent years, becoming the head coach of the USL's Miami Internationals in 2018, and the team made its USL debut in the 2020 season with the introduction of stars such as Higuain and Kieran Kibis, which has created a buzz.
