Jul 9, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Novak Djokovic (SRB) dances on the court towards his daughter in the player's box after his match against Flavio Cobolli (ITA)(not pictured) in a gentlemen's singles quarter-final on day ten of these Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
August 2, 2025 | 12:08 AM EDT
Le Mans FC has secured a high-profile investment led by Georgios Frangulis, founder and CEO of OAKBERRY, and Brazilian sports-investment firm OutField. Novak Djokovic and former F1 drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen will join them as investors and advisors.
Frangulis will serve as Chief Branding Officer, partnering with longtime manager Thierry Gomez to boost Le Mans’ performance and global profile. They aim to fuse the club’s soccer ambitions with Le Mans’ motorsport heritage, home to the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans, Le Mans Classic, and MotoGP, to create a uniquely pan-sport European brand.
New Shareholders, Novak Djokovic, Georgios Frangulis, Felipe Massa, and Kevin Magnussen, and Their Respective Roles
Frangulis built OAKBERRY into a global health-food brand, expanding from São Paulo in 2016 to over 1,000 stores across 50 countries by mid-2025. He emphasizes franchising for rapid yet sustainable growth. As Chief Branding Officer at Le Mans FC, he’ll leverage that expertise to elevate the club’s image worldwide.
OutField, founded in 2016 and helping modernize top Brazilian sides like Coritiba FC, brings deep experience in sports and entertainment investments in Latin America. Joining as strategic investors and advisors, Djokovic and F1 veterans Massa (2008 F1 world champion runner-up) and Magnussen will leverage their star power and motorsport experience to enrich the club’s outreach.
Gomez, Le Mans’s manager, praised this mix of sports icons and investors, noting that the group’s “high-level athletes” reputation will help fill stadiums and ignite fan passion. Frangulis’s passion for racing and soccer aligns with Djokovic’s enthusiasm for football, while Massa and Magnussen share Frangulis’s motorsport roots, providing an authentic connection on branding and community engagement.
The New Shareholders Aim to Unite Soccer with Racing
Le Mans FC’s new ownership sees a rare chance to unite soccer with one of Europe’s most storied racing cities. The 24 Hours of Le Mans, which has been running for over a century, draws motorsport fans worldwide, offering the club a built-in audience. The group plans to integrate racing themes into merchandising and digital content, differentiating Le Mans from other Ligue 2 clubs.
Frangulis’ track background and OAKBERRY’s storytelling prowess are expected to drive marketing campaigns highlighting iconic circuits like Circuit de la Sarthe. OutField’s proven methods in fan engagement will support partnerships with local motorsport events, creating cross-promotional opportunities.
Djokovic, Massa, and Magnussen will contribute advisory insights on athlete branding and global partnerships, enriching Le Mans FC’s athlete development programs.
