EAGLE FOOTBALL LEADERSHIP
GROUP LEVEL LEADERSHIP
John Textor
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
John Textor
FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN
In addition to his passion for football, Mr. Textor is a globally recognized pioneer and developer of disruptive technologies, creative content, and digital distribution business models for media, entertainment and the internet. Mr. Textor is the retired Executive Chairman of fuboTV. Inc. (NYSE:”FUBO”). Mr. Textor previously served as Executive Chairman, CEO and Head of Studio of Facebank Group, Inc., a developer of digital human likeness for celebrities and consumers, which acquired fuboTV, Inc. in April 2020. In October 2020, fuboTV listed on the New York Stock Exchange, ultimately reaching a peak market valuation of more than $8 billion, becoming one of the most successful IPOs of 2020.
Matt Niehaus
PRESIDENT
Mr. Niehaus has executive leadership, advisory, and board experience across a range of technology and media sectors. Most recently, he co-founded and served as CEO of Instore, a FinTech software company acquired by Slice. Instore brought market-leading design and an emphasis on connecting businesses with their customers to a wide range of users in the U.S. and abroad. Matt previously co-founded and served as COO of R4 Global, a technology business acquired by VeriSign. While at Battery Ventures and JP Morgan Capital, Matt invested in and advised a number of successful public and private technology, media, and communications companies.
Dave Horin
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mr. Horin brings 30+ years of financial consulting and executive management experience to Eagle. Prior to Eagle, Mr. Horin was the Founder and Managing Partner of Chord Advisors, LLC, a boutique accounting advisory firm serving more than 500 pre-IPO, public and private equity-backed growth companies on a variety of technical accounting, SEC reporting and capital markets transactions.
Dr. Michael Gerlinger
CHIEF SPORTS OFFICER
Dr. Gerlinger is best known through an 18-year distinguished career at FC Bayern Munich, where he was last served as Vice President of Sports Business, leading the general organizational and economic activities of the professional football department. He was also responsible for the introduction of digital squad and financial planning, the optimization of recruitment, and player transfer processes. In connection with FC Bayern’s collaboration initiatives, Mr. Gerlinger led the establishment of a multi-club network and joint venture with Los Angeles FC, known as “Red & Gold Football”, of which he became the first Chairman.
Thairo Arruda
CEO AT SAF BOTAFOGO
With a diverse background, Thairo boasts a decade of experience as a management consultant for global firms, coupled with a two-year stint in the treasury department of the largest Latin American investment bank and service at the United Nations in Lebanon, coordinating macroeconomic initiatives amidst the Syrian war.
Danilo Caixeiro
EVP, STRATEGIC PLANNING
Mr. Caixeiro is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Yale School of Management MBA graduate with extensive experience in banking and specialty finance. Prior to Eagle, Caixeiro co-founded Matix Capital, a sports-dedicated M&A advisory firm serving prominent football clubs and investment groups globally.
Laurent Prud’homme
GENERAL MANAGER AT EAGLE FOOTBALL GROUPE
Laurent Prud'homme is a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience in the media and sports industries. He began his career at the Canal+ 6 Group in 1998 before transitioning to Eurosport, where he played a pivotal role in the acquisition and licensing of sports rights at an international level. During his tenure at Eurosport, Prud'homme held various leadership positions, including Director of Programs and CEO of Eurosport Events, showcasing his expertise in strategy and business development.
Deive Bandeira
DIRECTOR OF PLAYER TRADING
With over 15 years of extensive market experience as the Director of Transfer management for S.C. Internacional (Brazil) Deive joined Eagle Holding in 2024. He seamlessly combines his knowledge, trustworthiness, and seasoned expertise when engaging in business with clubs and agents. Beyond his executive role, Deive's background as a youth coach adds a valuable layer to his skill set, intertwining sporting experience with a good reputation and negotiation skills.
Eduardo Iglesias, CFA
PLAYER TRADING MANAGER
Eduardo Iglesias, a former KPMG Sports Advisory consultant, brings extensive experience in financial turnarounds, debt renegotiations, and revenue enhancement. With five years of prior experience in soccer industry M&As and club debt restructuring, Eduardo adds financial expertise, in-depth market trend analysis, and acumen in structuring large negotiations.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jamie Dinan
BOARD MEMBER
Jamie Dinan founded Manhattan-based hedge fund York Capital Management in the early 1990s, having previously worked in investment banking at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. Dinan took a stake in the Milwaukee Bucks in 2014. Iconic was set up to invest in recognizable sports businesses.
Dave Horin
BOARD MEMBER
Mr. Horin brings 30+ years of financial consulting and executive management experience to Eagle. Prior to Eagle, Mr. Horin was the Founder and Managing Partner of Chord Advisors, LLC, a boutique accounting advisory firm serving more than 500 pre-IPO, public and private equity-backed growth companies on a variety of technical accounting, SEC reporting and capital markets transactions.
.jpg)
Michele Kang
BOARD MEMBER
Michele Kang is an American businesswoman, investor, and philanthropist. Born and raised in South Korea, Kang came to the United States as a student to pursue her American dream. She has spent her career building businesses that challenge the status quo—and leveraging her own successes, she has focused on helping others achieve their own American dreams.
Alex Knaster
BOARD MEMBER
Alex Knaster is Chairman and CEO of Pamplona Capital Management, an investment management firm he founded in 2004, with private equity, hedge fund, and fund of funds operations. Alex has more than 25 years of experience in the investment banking industry, having previously held senior positions at Simmons and Co., Bankers Trust, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, Credit Suisse First Boston, and Alfa Bank in cities such as Houston, New York, Moscow and London.
Sam Lynn
BOARD MEMBER
Sam has been a partner at WilliamsMarston LLC and Chord Advisors LLC since 2014. Both firms specialize in financial accounting advisory services for publicly listed and private equity-backed companies, with Chord Advisors being acquired by WilliamsMarston in 2021. Before this, he served as Vice President at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (2007–2014) and held the role of Executive Director at UBS AG prior to his tenure at Goldman Sachs.
Frank Patterson
BOARD MEMBER
Frank Patterson is a dynamic and accomplished professional with a storied career spanning the film, entertainment, and technology sectors. As the President and CEO of Trilith Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia, Patterson has been instrumental in shaping the success of one of North America's largest purpose-built film studios.
Gordon Rubenstein
BOARD MEMBER
Gordon Rubenstein is the Managing Partner of Raine Ventures, a global venture capital platform focused on creating, building, and investing in the next generation of digital media properties. Raine Ventures is an investor in Cheddar, (Director), Tastemade (Director), Plexchat (Director), Waggle (Director), Dojo Madness, Within, Raze (Observer), Pixvana, Machinima, Material Bank (Observer), YieldStreet (Observer), The Pro Lacrosse League, The Black Tux, Wattpad, Super Evil Megacorp (Observer) , Whipclip (Director), AltspaceVR, Kite & Lighting, FlyBlade, Second Spectrum, Rising Tide Games (Director, Acquired by Zynga), Starmaker Interactive (Director, Acquired by Kunlun), Mobcrush (Observer) Vettery (Observer), Happn (Director), Dubsmash, Maker Media, Houseparty, Globality (Observer), and IRL.