Andy Kohlberg admits that most other owners and presidents he speaks with find their weekly duties particularly challenging. "It’s probably the worst two hours of the week," he says with a laugh. The former professional tennis player—now a minority owner of the Phoenix Suns and president of Real Mallorca—will travel to the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday to watch his football team. Despite their struggles since their last victory there in 2009, including relegation to the third division and subsequent return, a potential win during his decade-long tenure won’t be met with visible celebration.
The contrasts between sports cultures stand out. "It’s unusual for Americans—they can’t believe I have lunch with the Madrid president," Kohlberg remarks, seated beneath the Son Moix stand as rain falls outside. "In the NBA, you might exchange greetings, but you don’t share meals or sit together. People are surprised that you can’t cheer a goal. You just remain composed. Others in football do it naturally, but sports condition you to handle highs and lows evenly. Even at 14, I learned that."
Ranked as a top college tennis player, Kohlberg turned professional at 17, traveling alone to India, and retired at 30. His best major result was reaching the Wimbledon mixed doubles semifinals in 1987. Unlike many peers—who stuck to hotels and training—he sought to explore the cultures of the cities he visited. After retiring, he considered a career in sports promotion but found it unfulfilling.
He instead built a business in senior living before re-entering sports in 2004 as part of the group that acquired the Phoenix Suns. In 2016, he led a €20.62m purchase of struggling second-division Mallorca. Kohlberg became president, joined by figures like Steve Nash, Stuart Holden, and Graeme Le Saux. In 2023, he assumed full ownership.
The journey hasn’t been easy. Mallorca was relegated to the third tier in 2017 but climbed back to the top flight by 2019—only to drop again. After returning in 2021, they secured eighth place in 2023 and made the Copa del Rey final in 2024. Membership has since surged to a record 23,044.
"Victory makes it all worthwhile," Kohlberg says, "but the real reward is seeing the team and club progress. As Warren Buffett says, turning things around requires patience."
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