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Anthony Kleanthous

Anthony Kleanthous (born January 1966) is a British businessman of Greek descent, best known as the owner and chairman of Club, a role he assumed in December 1994 at the age of 28, making him the youngest chairman in the League at the time. Born in , , to a family, Kleanthous built his fortune through diverse entrepreneurial ventures before entering football ownership. Kleanthous began his business career selling cars, later expanding into and becoming one of the largest distributors for Cellnet (now ), where he earned several industry awards for distribution. His interests have since broadened to development and and diagnostics through companies like TIC Health in . As of 2020, his was estimated at £131 million, primarily from and investments, ranking him among the richest individuals of origin in the UK. Under Kleanthous's stewardship, Football Club has experienced significant infrastructure development, including the construction of in 2013 at a cost exceeding £60 million, which serves as the club's training ground and home venue in . In the 2024–25 season, won the , earning promotion to . He has overseen multiple managerial appointments, including high-profile figures like and , amid the club's transitions between league levels. In February 2024, Kleanthous announced plans to relocate the club back to the London Borough of with a proposed £14 million stadium at South Underhill, aiming to end a decade-long exile from its traditional home. However, the planning application was refused by in July 2025, and as of October 2025, no appeal has been lodged. His tenure has also included advocacy for lower-league clubs, such as calls for financial support during the .

Early life

Family and heritage

Anthony Kleanthous was born on 31 January 1966 in , , to parents who had immigrated from . His family background is rooted in heritage, with his parents among the wave of migrants from the island who settled in the during the mid-20th century. Raised in , he grew up immersed in a community shaped by such immigrant families, where cultural ties to influenced daily life. Kleanthous's early years emphasized strong family bonds and local community connections in the working-class neighborhoods of . This upbringing later transitioned to formal schooling in .

Education

During his childhood and teenage years, Kleanthous attended secondary school in , , where he developed foundational skills amid a local environment that fostered his later interests in . Following , he enrolled at a in Waltham Forest to study , completing his formal in the mid-1980s. This vocational emphasized and principles, equipping him with practical knowledge that influenced his in the motor trade. Throughout his studies, Kleanthous showed an emerging interest in and , evident in his focus on hands-on applications of technology.

Business career

Leisure and property development

Anthony Kleanthous spearheaded the planning, construction, and development of The Hive, a multi-purpose leisure complex located on the former Prince Edward Playing Fields in Edgware, Middlesex. The facility opened on 15 December 2009, with the official ceremony attended by England manager Fabio Capello and Football Association director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking. Initial investment in the project totaled £15 million, establishing it as Europe's largest dedicated football facility with FIFA Pro 2* certified 5-a-side and 11-a-side pitches, alongside a gym, café, and conference spaces. Further enhancements followed, including a £4 million phase two expansion in 2012 to improve training and event capabilities. The Hive serves as a versatile leisure hub, offering training facilities for various , event hosting for corporate functions, weddings, and tournaments, and ample parking for visitors. It has hosted international youth teams, including under-18 squads from , , and , providing high-quality pitches and support services for their training sessions. Community programs are facilitated through The Hive Foundation, which promotes participation and youth development in the local area. Kleanthous owns related operational companies, including Venue Management Systems Limited, which handles venue operations and , and The Hive Match Day Parking Limited, focused on parking services for site visitors. These entities support the non-sporting uses of the complex, such as conferences and private . The Hive forms a core part of Kleanthous's broader property portfolio, centered on leisure-oriented in , within his group of over 30 companies valued at £131 million as of 2020.

Medical and healthcare services

Anthony Kleanthous serves as a of TIC Health Limited and related entities within the TIC Medical Group Holdings, overseeing operations in and diagnostics. TIC Health operates a fleet of 15 mobile and relocatable units (8 mobile and 7 relocatable) equipped with advanced MRI, , and scanners from manufacturers such as , , , and , enabling on-site diagnostic services for hospitals and clinics across the . These units incorporate technological integrations like AI-driven workflows, Reconstruction for faster image processing, and Compressed SENSE technology to reduce scan times by up to 50%, ensuring efficient and high-quality imaging while adhering to regulatory standards including () accreditation. In 2018, Kleanthous established The Imaging Centre as the flagship facility of TIC Health, with a £5 million investment in state-of-the-art equipment to provide MRI, , , and services, aimed at reducing waiting times for both NHS referrals and private patients. Located within The Hive complex, the centre operates extended hours—up to 12 hours daily, seven days a week—to support broader accessibility. The services emphasize diagnostics for elite athletes, including and scans, through partnerships with sports organizations such as local , , and athletics clubs, utilizing specialized protocols. TIC Health also runs outreach programs, offering affordable scanning options for local residents to promote early detection and general wellness. Under Kleanthous's leadership, the healthcare division has expanded, incorporating additional clinics in locations like , , Reading, and , , while maintaining focus on , , and seamless integration of mobile units with fixed-site facilities to enhance service delivery nationwide.

Football career

Barnet Football Club

Anthony Kleanthous acquired Football Club in December 1994 at the age of 28, making him the youngest chairman in the League at that time. Under his ownership, the club experienced multiple league movements, including relegation from the Football League in 2001, promotion back via the Conference National title in 2005, relegation from in 2018, and a return to the Football League through promotion from the in 2025. These fluctuations highlighted the financial strains on the club, with Kleanthous personally funding operations during periods of instability, such as the 2020 layoffs of non-playing staff amid the crisis that threatened monthly losses of £100,000. A pivotal decision came in 2013 when lease disputes with Council forced the relocation from to The Hive in , ending over a century at the club's traditional home and sparking tensions with supporters over the move outside the borough. At The Hive, Kleanthous in infrastructure upgrades, including expanded training facilities shared with other local teams, to support the club's operations and player development. These efforts sustained the club through further challenges, including fan criticisms of insufficient and strained relations, though Kleanthous maintained a commitment to long-term stability. In April 2025, secured promotion to for the 2025–26 season after a 4–0 victory over Aldershot Town clinched the title, marking the end of seven years in . This achievement followed Kleanthous's ongoing financial backing, which included sustainability initiatives like eco-friendly designs in facility enhancements at The Hive. To address the ongoing "exile" from borough, Kleanthous announced plans in February 2024 for a new 7,000-seat stadium at the Underhill site, with a planning application submitted to Council in December 2024. Revised designs were unveiled in January 2025, emphasizing community integration and Kleanthous's pledge to self-fund the £14 million project. However, in July 2025, Council's Committee refused the application. As of October 2025, the club has confirmed that no appeal has been lodged. The club has also briefly referenced support from Kleanthous's medical services for player health monitoring at The Hive.

Other contributions to football

In 2013, Anthony Kleanthous founded London Bees F.C. as the women's team affiliated with Barnet F.C., securing a license to compete in the FA Women's Super League 2 and marking a pioneering effort to elevate women's football at the club level. Under his leadership as director, the club invested in facilities at The Hive Stadium and talent development, aiming to foster a professional environment that could attract broader support across London and revitalize the sport's growth in the capital. Kleanthous emphasized the initiative's potential to "breathe new life into women's football in this country," positioning London Bees as a city-wide asset rather than a local side. Kleanthous served on () Board as a Professional Game representative, contributing to key decisions during his tenure in the late 2000s and early 2010s. His involvement included participation in committees focused on player welfare and development, where he helped shape policies supporting youth academies and community engagement programs to broaden access to the sport. As a board member, he advocated for structural reforms within the , including inquiries into organizational effectiveness, reflecting his commitment to enhancing football's administrative framework beyond club operations. On the National League board, Kleanthous held directorial roles for over a decade, departing after years of dedicated service, and played a pivotal role in modernizing the league's operations. As the director responsible for , he oversaw the rebranding from the Football Conference to the in 2015 and launched NLTV, an affordable internet streaming service that provided live coverage of matches and trained students in sports media production. He also championed reforms such as adjustments to formats to ensure competitive balance, while advocating for improved financial support and infrastructure for non-league clubs facing sustainability challenges. Kleanthous's Cypriot heritage, stemming from his family's immigration from to , has informed his broader influence on 's inclusivity, with under his chairmanship becoming one of the sport's most multi-cultural clubs. In response to allegations in 2022, he underscored the club's diverse composition, stating it as "one of the most multi-cultural clubs on the planet" and reaffirming a zero-tolerance stance on to support immigrant and minority communities in the game. Additionally, he has pushed for league-wide sustainability, notably urging the and in 2020 to redistribute funds to lower-tier clubs amid the crisis, highlighting the need for equitable resource allocation to prevent collapses in non-professional .

References

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