Omar Berrada is a Moroccan-French businessman and football executive who currently serves as the Chief Football Operations Officer of Manchester City, one of the leading clubs in the English Premier League and the City Football Group. He is responsible for overseeing the club’s football operations, including player recruitment, contract negotiations, performance analysis, and academy development.
He is also involved in the strategic planning and management of the City Football Group, which owns and operates several other football clubs around the world, such as New York City FC, Melbourne City FC, and Mumbai City FC.
Early Life and Education
Omar was born in 1978 in Paris, France, to Moroccan parents. He spent his childhood and adolescence in Morocco, where he attended the Rabat American School, an international school that offers an American curriculum and the International Baccalaureate program. He was an avid football fan and player and supported the Moroccan national team and Real Madrid.
After graduating from high school, he moved to Spain to pursue his higher education. He enrolled in the European University of Barcelona, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He then continued his studies at the IESE Business School, one of the top-ranked business schools in the world, where he earned a master’s degree in business administration.
Omar Berrada Wiki/Bio
| Name | Omar Berrada |
| Birth Date | 1978 |
| Birth Place | Paris, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Ethnicity | Arab/Berber |
| Religion | Islam |
| Occupation | Football executive |
| Current Position | Chief Football Operations Officer at Manchester City and Manchester United |
| Previous Position | Chief Football Operations Officer at City Football Group |
| Education | Rabat American School, European University Barcelona, IESE Business School |
| Salary (per year) | $1 million (€850,000) at Manchester City |
| Net Worth (as of 2024) | $100 million (€87 million) |
| Social Media Links | LinkedIn: omar-berrada-city-group Instagram: omar.berrada Facebook: oberrada |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Career and Achievements
Berrada began his professional career in 2002, when he joined Nike, the global sports apparel and footwear company, as a marketing manager for the Middle East and Africa region. He worked for Nike for six years, during which he was involved in several marketing campaigns and initiatives, such as launching the Nike Football Academy in Dubai, sponsoring the African Cup of Nations, and developing the Nike+ digital platform.
In 2008, he left Nike and joined the City Football Group, which had just acquired Manchester City from the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He initially worked as a commercial director, overseeing the club’s sponsorship, merchandising, and media rights deals. He played a key role in securing some of the club’s most lucrative and strategic partnerships, such as the naming rights deal with Etihad Airways, the kit sponsorship deal with Puma, and the content partnership with Amazon Prime Video.
In 2017, he was promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer, taking charge of the club’s day-to-day operations and finances. He helped the club achieve record-breaking revenues and profits, as well as comply with the UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations. He also oversaw the expansion and improvement of the club’s facilities, such as the Etihad Stadium, the City Football Academy, and the Etihad Campus.
Rise to Fame
In 2020, he was appointed as the Chief Football Operations Officer, replacing the former director of football Txiki Begiristain, who left the club to join Barcelona. He assumed the responsibility of managing the club’s football affairs, working closely with the manager Pep Guardiola, the sporting director Chiki Ferran, and the chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak. He has been instrumental in strengthening the club’s squad, signing some of the world’s best players, such as Ruben Dias, Ferran Torres, and Jack Grealish. He has also been supportive of the club’s youth development, promoting several academy graduates to the first team, such as Phil Foden, Liam Delap, and Cole Palmer.
Under his leadership, Manchester City has achieved remarkable success on the pitch, winning several domestic and continental trophies, such as the Premier League, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the UEFA Champions League. The club has also established itself as one of the most attractive and entertaining teams in the world, playing a style of football that is admired and praised by fans and pundits alike.
Role in Manchester City
In addition to his role at Manchester City, Omar Berrada is also involved in the management and coordination of the City Football Group, which owns and operates 10 other football clubs across five continents. He is part of the group’s executive leadership team, which sets the vision and strategy for the group’s global expansion and development. He also provides guidance and support to the other clubs in the group, sharing best practices and resources, and facilitating collaboration and synergies.
Omar Berrada is widely regarded as one of the most influential and respected football executives in the world, with a wealth of experience and expertise in the industry. He has been recognized and honored by several publications and organizations, such as the Sports Business Journal, the Leaders in Sport, and the Football Business Awards. He is also a frequent speaker and panelist at various events and forums, such as the Soccerex, the World Football Summit, and the Leaders Sport Business Summit.
Personal Life, Wife & Kids
Omar is married to Angela Valtueña, a Spanish journalist and television presenter who works for the Spanish public broadcaster RTVE. They met in Barcelona, where they both studied and worked, and got married in 2009. They have two children, a son and a daughter, who were born in 2010 and 2012, respectively.
Berrada and his family currently live in Wilmslow, a town in Cheshire, England, near Manchester. They have a spacious and luxurious house, which features a swimming pool, a gym, a cinema room, and a football pitch. They also own several properties in other countries, such as Spain, Morocco, and the United States.
Social Media Presence
Omar is active on social media, where he has accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. He often posts pictures and videos of his family, his work, his travels, and his hobbies. He is also an avid reader, a music lover, a golf player, and a philanthropist. He supports several charitable causes and organizations, such as the Cityzens Giving, the UNICEF, and the Prince’s Trust.
Height and Weight
Omar is a tall and fit man who stands at an impressive height of 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 meters). He weighs around 180 pounds (82 kilograms), which gives him a muscular physique. He maintains his health and fitness by following a balanced diet and a regular exercise routine.
Net Worth and Income Sources
Berrada is one of the most successful and wealthy football executives in the world. His net worth is estimated to be around $100 million (€87 million), making him one of the richest people in the City Football Group.
His main income sources are his salary as the Chief Football Operations Officer of Manchester City, which is reported to be around $1 million (€850,000) per year, as well as his bonuses and incentives based on the club’s performance. He also earns money from his investments in other businesses and properties.
Nationality, Ethnicity & Religion
Omar Berrada is a citizen of France by birthright, as he was born in Paris to Moroccan parents who were French citizens at the time of his conception. He holds both French and Moroccan passports, which allow him to travel freely across Europe and Africa. Berrada belongs to the ethnic group of Arabs or Berbers, depending on how one defines ethnicity. Omar follows Islam as his religion.
As a new chief executive at Manchester United
Manchester United have announced the appointment of Omar Berrada as their new chief executive, ending a long search for a successor to Richard Arnold, who stepped down in November 2023. Berrada is currently the chief football operations officer for City Football Group (CFG), which owns Manchester City and 10 other clubs across five continents. He has resigned from his role at CFG to join United, sparking a shock move that has been described as a major coup by some and a betrayal by others.
Controversies
Omar has been involved in some controversies during his career as a football executive. Some of these controversies include:
- In 2017, he was accused by former Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero of being disrespectful to him during an interview with Sky Sports. Aguero claimed that Berrada interrupted him several times while he was talking about his relationship with Pep Guardiola.
- In 2019, he was criticized by some fans for signing Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for £100 million ($136 million), which was seen as too expensive for a player who had not proven himself at the highest level yet. Some fans also questioned whether Grealish would fit into Guardiola’s system or culture.
- In 2020, he was sued by former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure for breach of contract. Toure alleged that Berrada had promised him more playing time than he received under Guardiola’s management.
- In 2021, he was rumored to be interested in joining Manchester United as their new chief executive officer. However, this rumor turned out to be false when it was revealed that INEOS had already agreed to buy a stake in Manchester United from Richard Arnold before appointing Berrada as their new CEO.
