It’s been 15 years since Fenway Sports Group bought a Liverpool Football Club on the brink of administration. Fifteen years since a side struggling on the pitch, on the brink of a potential massive points deduction that could well have seen them dropped down into the Championship, was saved from that fate.
Not every moment since has been perfect. There have been stumbles and missteps and mistakes made. Given where the Reds were, though, and looking around the Premier League at other owners and ownership
groups, it’s impossible not to look back from 15 years later, with Liverpool back up on their perch, and not see the sale to FSG as one of the most fortuitous moments in the club’s 133 year history.
Having not won the league since 1989-90, Liverpool have since won it twice while competing with a financially doping Manchester City side. They’ve won another FA Cup and three League Cups, a sixth European Cup and a first Club World Cup. It’s Liverpool again and not Manchester United who are the most successful club in the history of English football.
It hasn’t always been perfect, but at a foundational level it’s difficult to imagine much of that happening without the club’s sale to FSG 15 years ago. In the imperfect world of modern football, for a club aspiring to compete for the top titles and trophies while also holding on to something of its identity, this is what good ownership looks like.
“When we first became involved with Liverpool, we knew we were joining something extraordinary and we hoped we could restore such an incredibly storied institution to standards it had previously set,” read a letter to the fans today from owners John Henry, Tom Werner, and Mike Gordon. “But we could never have imagined exactly how the next 15 years would unfold.
“From the outset, our aims were simple: to bring success back to Anfield and to ensure the long-term health and stability of this great club. We understood the responsibility that came with being its custodians, and we’ve tried to honour that every single day.
“Looking back now, it’s not only been quite a journey; it’s also been an incredible adventure that we, as owners, have been privileged to be a part of. The two Premier League titles—one under Jürgen [Klopp] and one under Arne [Slot]—and the Champions League win are the obvious milestones.
“We will never forget being inside Anfield earlier this year, finally able to lift that league trophy in front of our fans. It is a memory that will stay with us for life. Of course, there have been tough times too. We’ve lost finals and missed out by the smallest of margins. Off the field, there have been times we’ve got things wrong. We know that and we have learned from it [but] all our decisions are made with the best, long-term interests of the club at the centre of our thinking.
“We are proud today of how the club has grown in every sense. We also want to take a moment to recognise all the leadership at Liverpool, both on and off the field. Liverpool Football Club means so much to so many people, and that’s something we’ve always been conscious of. It brings a responsibility we never take for granted.
“Today is a day to look back with gratitude. But it’s also a reminder that our work isn’t done. There’s still so much more ahead of us—more to achieve, more to win, and more memories to make, together. To you, our supporters—on behalf of everyone at Fenway Sports Group—thank you.”
