RIP Markus Liebherr

Sad news last night as Markus Liebherr, the owner of Southampton FC, passed away from an unspecified illness.

Liebherr effectively saved Southampton from extinction in July 2009 when he purchased us after years of financial mismanagement resulted in the club being relegated from the Championship in administration with a threadbare squad, no manager, a ten point defecit for the next season and serious doubts about the club future. Liebherr, a Swiss billionaire, purchased the club and, in a rare, near unprecendented step, paid up all of its debts in full, rather than by the usual repayment method of an agreed percentage of the amount owed. Liebherr paid off debts in full, and invested an amount of money for new players in the form of equity rather than loans that would be paid back.

News reports this morning suggest that Liebherr will have made money available to ensure Southampton's future continues to look as rosey as it did with him at the helm.

It may seem a little trite to attempt to write a piece in hushed respectful tones where the life of a 60 something year old man is eulogized simply because he bought a football club in the last year of his life. I actually don't know anything about Markus Liebherr other than the above. But without him, the future of Southampton Football Club would have looked remarkably different, and for that, I thank him. Rest In Peace.