Bex Smith, former New Zealand women's football captain, has completed the purchase of French club Montpellier through her investment group Crux Football, marking the first step in a multi-club ownership venture. The acquisition of a 100% stake in the club, announced on Wednesday, is part of Smith's plan to create player-centric environments that she says were lacking during her playing career.
Smith, who holds a master's degree in psychology and previously worked at Fifa, told the Guardian that the move is driven by a desire for positive, sustainable growth in the women's game. 'Our model is very player-centric – we will start from the players first and give them what they need,' she said. Montpellier, currently 10th in the French top flight after losing all three opening games, was chosen for its facilities, including 'Barcelona-quality pitches', and the potential she sees in the French league.
Crux Football's investors include former USA captain Julie Foudy, former Netflix vice-president Cindy Holland, and Ted Knutson of StatsBomb. Smith aims to add more clubs to the portfolio, entering a growing market where multi-club ownership groups like Michele Kang's and Mercury13 are expanding. The move tests football ownership rules as the women's game attracts increasing investment.
