Lights, Camera, Football: Avengers director Joe Russo joins Sheffield United board

Alongside his brother Anthony, Russo directed four Marvel films, including the record-breaking Avengers: Endgame, the second-highest grossing film of all time. Now, the director has taken on a new challenge in football, contributing his business acumen and global brand-building expertise to Sheffield United’s aspirations of long-term success. The Blades are on course to get promoted back to the Premier League at the first time of asking as they look to build the club’s future.

They’re currently embroiled in a fierce battle for promotion as they sit only a point behind league leaders Leeds United. Manager Chris Wilder is leading the charge for the Blades’ promotion and will be hoping to seal a top two finish as that would guarantee an automatic promotion to the Premier League rather than taking the tougher route of playing through the promotion playoffs.

Joe Russo, Len Komoroski and Terry Ahern have all joined the board of directors of Sheffield United and become investors in COH Sports. 🤝

Tap below for more information. ⬇️

— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) January 20, 2025

Sheffield United’s latest board appointments signal an ambitious new era for the club. The inclusion of high-profile figures like Joe Russo, alongside experienced sports and business executives, highlights the ownership’s commitment to building a strong foundation for success. With the Blades currently in a strong position in the Championship, their Hollywood-backed aspirations of Premier League football could soon become a reality.

Russo becomes the fourth major American to become involved in an English football club outside of the Premier League’s big six. Reynold and McElhenney started the trend with their takeover of Wrexham, before another Hollywood actor associated with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Michael B. Jordon took a minority stake in Premier League side Bournemouth. Former NFL star Tom Brady then took a small stake in EFL League one side Birmingham City before Russo made his entry into this system.

Hollywood Flair and Strategic Expertise

Joe Russo is joined on the board by Len Komorski, the former chief executive of NBA side Cleveland Cavaliers, and Terry Ahern, a seasoned real estate businessman. Their appointments mark a clear intention by the Blades’ ownership group to elevate the club’s standing both on and off the pitch. Co-chairmen Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy emphasized the importance of building a strong infrastructure for sustained top-flight football, stating:

“We want to see the Blades competing in the top-flight of English football consistently, not just on a one-off basis. An important element of this is ensuring we have the highest quality team not just on the pitch but in the boardroom as well.” Russo’s Hollywood experience and passion for British football add an intriguing dimension to the board. This is not his first experience of the Football League System.

In April 2023, Russo was spotted alongside Hollywood actors Paul Rudd and Ryan Reynolds at Wrexham’s match against Boreham Wood. That game saw Wrexham, co-owned by Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, secure promotion to the English Football League. Russo’s presence in British football reflects a growing trend of American entertainment and business figures becoming involved in the sport.

Avengers director Joe Russo has joined the Sheffield United board. Read more: https://t.co/gCRn1mLxjW pic.twitter.com/DAi3EWy6DL

— BBC Sheffield (@BBCSheffield) January 21, 2025

Sheffield United’s new board members bring diverse skill sets to the club as it aims to regain its place in the Premier League. Russo’s global brand-building expertise, Komorski’s experience in leading a major NBA franchise, and Ahern’s business background are seen as pivotal assets to help the club achieve its ambitions. The American consortium’s vision is clear: transforming Sheffield United into a sustainable Premier League club capable of competing at the highest level.

With Joe Russo’s involvement, the Blades also have an opportunity to strengthen their global profile, especially in the United States, where the Marvel director has a massive following. Meanwhile, Russo and his brother Anthony remain active in Hollywood, with plans to return to the Marvel franchise with Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, scheduled for release in 2026 and 2027.