Ellis Short

Ellis Short
Born (1960-10-06) October 6, 1960 (age 64)
Independence, Missouri, US
CitizenshipAmerican, Irish
EducationMissouri University of Science and Technology (1983)
OccupationOwner of Kildare Partners
SpouseEve Zimmerman Short

Ellis Short (born October 6, 1960)[1][2] American businessman and founder of Kildare Partners, a private equity fund investing in distressed European real estate assets.[3] Short was also the owner and chairman of English football club Sunderland A.F.C. from September 2008 to April 2018.[4][5][6]

Early life

Ellis Short was born in Independence, Missouri to Patricia and Ellis Short III.[2] and attended William Chrisman High School. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in 1983.[7]

Career

After graduating, Short worked for General Electric[8] beginning in 1983. In 1995, Short joined Lone Star Funds, a Dallas-based private equity firm, becoming president of the fund and heading its Asian operations.[5][9] In 2003, Short paid £23 million for Skibo Castle, which operates as a members-only hotel and country club in Scotland.[10] The castle is famous for hosting Madonna's wedding to Guy Ritchie in 2000.[2][11]

In 2013, Short formed a new company, Kildare Partners, to invest in distressed property assets and non-performing debt.[5][12]

Sunderland AFC

In September 2008, Short gained a controlling interest in Sunderland A.F.C.[2][9][13] In December of that year, Short worked on completing a deal with the Drumaville Consortium for their remaining shares in the club.[9] After the Sunderland A.F.C. ownership change, football manager Roy Keane left the club.[14] Short assumed ownership of the club in May 2009.[6][15] His purchase of the club made Sunderland the fourth club in the Premier League to have American owners, alongside Aston Villa, Manchester United and Liverpool.

In November 2011, Short sacked Steve Bruce after a poor run of results, which Short labelled 'not good enough'.[16] Nine days later, Martin O'Neill was appointed Bruce's successor. O'Neill himself was succeeded by Italian ex-footballer Paolo Di Canio in 2013.[17] Di Canio, in turn, was dismissed in September 2013 after a poor start to the Premier League season.[18] Gus Poyet was put in charge of the first team and guided Sunderland to Premier League safety, but he was replaced late in the 2014–15 campaign by Dick Advocaat, who helped the team avoid relegation and secure its top-flight status for 2015–16. Advocaat's replacement, Sam Allardyce, left the club in July 2016 and was replaced by David Moyes, who in turn resigned after Sunderland finished last in the 2016–17 season and were relegated to the EFL Championship.

Simon Grayson was appointed manager in June 2017.[19] After a dire run of results, Grayson was dismissed after a 3–3 home draw with fellow strugglers Bolton Wanderers. Ex-Wales manager, Chris Coleman was appointed as the new Sunderland manager on November 19, 2017. However, after Ellis decided to spend no money during the mid-season transfer window, Sunderland were relegated on April 21, 2018.[20] Coleman was sacked and the club sold on April 29, 2018, to a consortium headed by Stewart Donald, chairman of Eastleigh F.C.[21]

Personal life

He is married to former tennis player Eve Zimmerman.[22] In 2021, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated his net worth at £880 million.[23] Short was a resident of London, England for many years but returned to the United States in 2017.[24]

References

  1. ^ Hickman, Niall. "It's theatre of the absurb as ham-fisted Ellis Short has to share the blame at Sunderland". Daily Express. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ellis Short: all you need to know about Sunderland's man at the helm | Football". The Guardian. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  3. ^ Halpin, Padraic (August 29, 2013). "Ex-Lone Star executive's fund to set up Irish unit – source". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  4. ^ Nick Webb. "Irish billionaire Short pumps €50m into Sunderland FC". Independent.ie. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Deirdre Hipwell (May 14, 2013). "Business big shot: Ellis Short of Sunderland Football Club". The Times. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "404". Archived from the original on May 29, 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2009. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  7. ^ Rollamo. University of Missouri–Rolla. 1983. p. 323. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  8. ^ David Ross (April 30, 2003), "Quiet American may be new Skibo owner", The Herald (Glasgow), p. 4
  9. ^ a b c "Ellis Short takes controlling interest in Sunderland – Football". The Daily Telegraph. September 25, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  10. ^ "The North East Life Glitz List – who are the region's richest and most influential people? – People – North East Life". Northeastlifemag.co.uk. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  11. ^ Stritof, Sheri. "Madonna & Guy Ritchie Marriage Profile". Marriage.about.com. Archived from the original on June 27, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  12. ^ "Finnan leaving Investec to join Kildare Partners - Financial Services News | Business News | the Irish Times - Sat, Aug 31, 2013". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  13. ^ "Ellis Short takes controlling interest in Sunderland – Football". The Daily Telegraph. September 25, 2008. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  14. ^ "The box office awaits the return of a matinee idol". The Irish Times. February 2, 2009.
  15. ^ "New role for Niall Quinn as Ellis Short becomes Sunderland chairman". The Guardian. London. October 3, 2011.
  16. ^ Edwards, Luke (November 30, 2011). "Sunderland sack Steve Bruce as manager as Ellis Short says results "simply not good enough"". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  17. ^ Wardle, John (February 4, 2013). "'I am unique one' says Paolo Di Canio on arrival as Sunderland manager". The Guardian. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  18. ^ "Paolo Di Canio: Sunderland sack head coach after 13 games". BBC Sport. September 23, 2013. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  19. ^ "Simon Grayson: Sunderland appoint Preston North End boss as manager". BBC Sport. June 29, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  20. ^ Taylor, Louise (April 21, 2018). "Sunderland relegated as Liam Boyce's injury-time winner gives Burton hope". The Guardian.
  21. ^ "Sunderland sold by Ellis Short as Chris Coleman is sacked". The Guardian. April 29, 2018.
  22. ^ "Sunday Times Rich List". The Sunday Times. No. 34. April 26, 2015.
  23. ^ "The Sunday Times Rich List 2021". www.thetimes.co.uk. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  24. ^ Hunter, James (October 25, 2017). "Ellis Short still 'invested' in SAFC - despite moving back to USA". ChronicleLive. Retrieved May 26, 2022.