Paraag Marathe is one of the most important figures at Leeds United, but who exactly is he?
There has been plenty of change at Leeds United over the last few years, and Paraag Marathe has been at the heart of it all.
The club ended its 16-year exile from the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa and went on to enjoy three years in the top flight before being relegated.
Daniel Farke was the man hired to get Leeds back in the big time and he came close to doing it immediately, but Play-off heartbreak consigned them to another year in the Championship.
Farke remained in charge and clinched the title with 100 points on the final day of the following season.
Leeds are back in the big time and with ambitious plans to redevelop Elland Road, it’s crucial they stay there.
Farke may be in charge of the players, but he ultimately answers to Marathe, who is the big decision maker at the club.
Here’s everything you need to know about him.
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Who is Paraag Marathe?
Paraag Marathe is a highly experienced football executive who serves as chairman for Leeds United.
He is from Saratoga, California, the United States, and currently lives in the Bay Area with his wife, Jennifer, and two daughters, Juniper and Maren.
Who has Paraag Marathe worked for?
Marathe is a busy and hard-working man who has multiple jobs within sports and without.
He has been a key figure at 49ers Enterprises, which owns the San Francisco 49ers NFL franchise, Leeds and now Rangers, for over 25 years.
Marathe has served as president, executive vice president of football operations and chief operating officer at the 49ers and remains the team’s chief contract negotiator, a crucial role in building rosters in the NFL.
In his role as 49ers president, he oversees investments in different sports clubs across the world. That sees him work as Leeds’ chairman and Rangers’ vice chairman.
Marathe also serves on the board of the NFL UK Foundation, sits on the board of directors for The Body Positive and Project HEAL charities, and is board chairman of the Sequoia Hospital Foundation.
Just in case he had too much free time on his hands, Marathe is also a lecturer in management and co-teaches a course on negotiation in sports, entertainment and media at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.
Finally, he was chairman of USA Cricket for five years and has worked to grow the sport in America.
When did Paraag Marathe join Leeds United?
Marathe initially joined Leeds as a board member in 2018 when the 49ers first invested in the club.
When they increased their stake in 2021, he became vice chairman and then spearheaded the 49ers’ acquisition to buy the club from Andrea Radrizzani in 2023. He has served as chairman ever since.
Praise for Paraag Marathe
Speaking to BBC Scotland ahead of the 49ers buying Rangers in 2025, football finance expert Kieran Maguire gave insight into Marathe.
“He’s a smart businessman,” Maguire said.
“He’s not the type that’s going to throw money away. His responsibility is to look after the interests of the shareholders and investors in the 49ers’ investment arm.”
“He’s very much a committed football fan. He fell in love with the game and he fell in love with Leeds United, well over a decade ago, and it was his ambition to take advantage of that club, which needs a bit of ‘TLC’ in terms of infrastructure and player investment.
“Leeds have progressed certainly this season and they only just failed to get promoted last season.”
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