Hollywood director follows Ryan Reynolds’ suit as he joins board of Championship club

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Yet another Hollywood figure has decided to plough money into English football.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney became the most high-profile names from tinseltown to invest when they took over Welsh side Wrexham in November 2020.

Reynolds is one of the most high-profile owners in world football

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Reynolds is one of the most high-profile owners in world footballCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Under the pair's ownership, Wrexham have risen from the National League to League One and remain in the promotion mix to the second tier.

Michael B. Jordan, who is the star of the Creed movie series, is part of a minority ownership group that purchased a stake in Premier League side Bournemouth in December 2022.

Even comedic icon Will Ferrell has thrust himself into the scene when he bought a minority stake in Leeds United last May.

Joe Russo, who directed Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame alongside his brother Anthony, has now added his name to the lengthy list of Hollywood figures in English football.

The 54-year-old has become a board member and an investor in COH Sports, who own Championship high-flyers Sheffield United.

Russo is one of three new board members at Bramall Lane alongside leading real estate figure Terry Ahern and Len Komorski, who is a senior advisor of Rock Entertainment Group.

"We are delighted to welcome Joe, Len and Terry to the board of directors of Sheffield United Football Club," Blades co-chairmen Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy said.

"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 Sheffield United Football Club has the highest quality team not just on the pitch but in the boardroom as well.

"Each of Joe, Len and Terry bring outstanding capabilities and decades of experience to the table as we plan for the long term, develop the brand and ensure we have the best infrastructure in place.

"As prospective board members and investors we know all Blades fans will give them a warm welcome at Bramall Lane."

 International Film Festival of St Andrews on April 19, 2024 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Euan Cherry/Getty Images for University of St Andrews )

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Hollywood director Joe Russo has become involved with Sheffield UnitedCredit: Getty

Alongside the two Avengers flicks, Russo directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War.

All up, the films Russo has directed have generated an eye-watering £5.7billion in box office revenue.

As for Komorski, he has experience in the sporting industry through his role with Rock Entertainment Group.

Rock Entertainment Group is the umbrella company of teams and venues that fall into Dan Gilbert's Rock Family of Companies, which include NBA side Cleveland Cavaliers, the G-League Charge and the Cleveland Monsters, who play in the American Hockey League and are an affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL.

Ahern served as the co-founder, principal and chief executive officer of The Townsend Group, a real estate advisory and investment management firm, from 1986 until May 2022.

The Blades will hope the trio's addition to the board of directors continues their upward trajectory that has them in prime position to seal an instant return to the Premier League.

 Chris Wilder the manager of Sheffield United celebrates after the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United FC and Norwich City FC at Bramall Lane on January 18, 2025 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

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The Blades' promotion bid under Chris Wilder is in full swingCredit: Getty

Chris Wilder's side sit second in the Championship on 55 points, one behind league leaders Leeds and two ahead of third-placed Burnley.

The club also announced the return of striker Ben Brereton-Diaz from Southampton on a loan until the end of the season, with the option to make it permanent in the summer.

It is the Chilean international's second stint at Bramall Lane having joined on loan from Villarreal last January as he scored six goals in 14 appearances.

Following the expiry of his loan deal, Brereton-Diaz moved to Southampton but has not scored one for the Saints this season.

But the 25-year-old will hope another spell under Wilder can help him rekindle form.

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