German football legend buys Ghanaian club Accra Lions for over ₦1bn

Former World Cup winner Lothar Matthaus is now a club owner in Africa after buying a club in Ghana.

According to German outlet Spiegel Sport, Matthaus has bought into Ghanaian first division side Accra Lions, a club established in 2015 and currently ninth on the league table.

The 62-year-old has invested two million Euros (over ₦1bn) with two other partners to unearth more talents in Ghana.

Speaking on the deal, the most capped player in Germany’s history noted that it was a business move from him and his partners as Ghana has a vast potential for talent.

"Of course, it's a business model. Ghana has always had a huge talent potential, you can see that in the national team," Matthäus told Bild newspaper per Spiegel.

“I like to spend all my time in football. I want to give back to the community. I want to help with my experience. To the Accra Lions players, we know the football a bit longer than you so you can always come to me or anyone in the team for help.”

On his plans, he added that "We want to bring young players to Europe. In a serious, way and already well-trained. That's why we're investing in the training ground here."

The 1990 World Cup winner was made aware of the club by the duo of Oliver Konig, a compatriot and President of the club since January, and former Ghana star Frank Acheampong.

Both club officials got the former Bayern Munich star excited about the project at the Accra Lions and he decided to join them at the club.

Matthaus will also work with another former Bundesliga star at the club, Ibrahim Tanko, who is the sporting director.

From 2001 to 2011, Matthäus worked as a coach in Austria, Serbia and Montenegro, Brazil and Israel. In the meantime, he was also the national coach in Hungary and Bulgaria. He currently works as an expert for the pay-TV channel Sky.