PFA chief executive and former professional footballer Maheta Molango is estimated to boast a net worth of over £5m, but how did the 41-year-old earn his fortune?
Maheta Molango Net Worth
Maheta Molango is a Swiss-born sports executive and former professional footballer, who currently works as the Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association for England and Wales following his appointment in June 2021 replacing Gordon Taylor.
Molango has been in the news recently due to him receiving a 30% pay rise from £500k to £650k, which the PFA cited the ‘cost of living crisis’ as the motivating factor behind their decision.
That’s according to The Times, who have reported the 41-year-old’s salary change following his first pay review in over two years.
As of November 2023, it is estimated that Maheta Molango has a net worth of £5 million (source: allfamousbirthday.com).
🔺EXCLUSIVE: “Maheta Molango’s annual salary as the chief executive of the PFA has risen by a staggering 30 per cent, with the union linking the increase — to £650,000 — to the cost of living crisis” |✍️@Lawton_Timeshttps://t.co/xzJl5T3vhOhttps://t.co/xzJl5T3vhO
— Times Sport (@TimesSport) October 31, 2023
Maheta Molango Career
Molango played as a forward during his professional career as a footballer, and began his career with Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid at the age of 18. Following a successful trial, he signed a two-year contract in the capital.
In the summer of 2004, he joined Brighton on a three-year deal after impressing manager Mark McGhee during a two-week trial. He scored his first goal for the club just 12 seconds into his debut against Reading.
The Swiss striker moved to Lincoln City a few years later on loan and also enjoyed a spell in Spain’s lower divisions. He played for the likes of Oldham Athletic, Wrexham and Grays Athletic in the later stages of his career.
At international level, he represented Congo Under-21s and made six appearances.
After football, he obtained a LL.B and B.A. in Political Science from the University of Madrid. He joined the employment law department of the Madrid office of Baker & McKenzie in April 2007.
In 2008, Molango moved to the United States to study for the LL.M program in International Legal Studies at the Washington College of Law – graduating in 2009 whilst being a recipient of the college’s Rubin Scholarship.
He passed the New York bar exam in 2011. In 2015, he served as a legal counsel at Atletico Madrid, where he focused on contract and transfer negotiations. Within two windows, he helped oversee 30 deals including:
- Mario Mandzukic to Juventus
- Filipe Luis’ return from Chelsea
- Yannick Carrasco from Monaco
- Antoine Griezmann’s new contract
Molango is fluent in English, Spanish, French, Italian and German. He was twice named one of the best sports lawyers in Spain by international rankings company Chambers and Partners.
In 2016, he was appointed the Chief Executive of RCD Mallorca following the takeover led by NBA MVP Steve Nash and former Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver. He spent four years there as the club earned back-to-back promotions from the third division to La Liga.
He left the position with the team bottom of the league standings and two weeks later, Molango was reported to have been questioned as part of a money-laundering investigation into Albanian agent Fali Ramadini who was charged with a number of offences.
His next job was Director of FIFA’s Diploma in Club management programme, beginning in March 2021. He helped train other executives such as former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Italian footballing legend Fabio Cannavaro.
A few months later in June, Molango was appointed as the CEO of the PFA for England and Wales. He’s played a pivotal role in the PFA and Premier League funding agreement, as well as reforms to contracts in the women’s game and a PFA Business School.
PFA staff reportedly received ‘negative endorsements’ when asking for references for Molango, and there were concerns about his suitability for the role.
In September 2021, he pledged to donate his brain as part of a concussion initiative which is set to research Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and other consequences of brain trauma in athletes.
He also called on footballing stakeholders to establish an industry-wide care fund, to support players living with neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia.
In February 2022, Molango announced the creation of a dedicated Brain Health department focused on such decisions within football – the first of its kind. It’s led by Dr Adam White, a renowned research leader in sports, medicine and health.
He is now the highest-paid union boss in Britain with his brand-new £650,000 salary – which should hopefully help him evade the cost of living crisis.
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