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Finding a new direction in life after retirement is a struggle that millions of people around the world find themselves in every year.

For professional athletes, who already aren’t used to the concept of downtime in an occupation where constant activity is quite literally the name of the game (and who call it quits decades before the average person), that struggle remains the same.

Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and soon to be first ballot Hall of Famer JJ Watt hung up his cleats following the conclusion of the 2022 season, finishing on a high note with 12.5 quarterback sacks after half a decade of injury-marred seasons.

Watt made more than $129 million in his 12 year NFL career and his wife, Kealia Watt (née Ohai) enjoyed an eight year career in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) for the Houston Dash—where she met Watt, as he played for the Houston Texans during much of that time—and the Chicago Red Stars, but she hasn’t played since the 2021 season as she and JJ started a family.

Whether or not Kealia Watt resumes her soccer career, the power couple is staying busy during their time off the field, recently purchasing a stake in Burnley FC of the English Premier League.

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Power Move For A Power Couple

The Watts look to back an underdog, as Burnley only just made it into the Premier League, earning the promotion after finishing first in EFL Championship in the 2022-23 season. They’ve bounced around on the cusp between the Championship and Premier League’s for the past decade and a half, looking to make the stay a permanent one as the Watts take on a large role within the club’s operations: just how large of a share they own remains unclear.

Furthermore, the Watt couple’s involvement in Burnley FC brings a sense of connection and loyalty to the team, which can resonate with Arizona Sports Betting enthusiasts looking to back a Premier League team. Bettors may feel a stronger emotional attachment to the team, making their online sports betting experiences all the more meaningful.

JJ Watt is one of the best-liked athletes in all of sports, so rooting for him likely comes as second nature for many NFL fans.

Premier League Enthusiasts

As a professional player, Kealia’s love for soccer can’t be overstated. JJ, on the other hand, had a vested interest in the sport even before he met his wife. Funnily enough, JJ has been a fan of the Premier League for years… but his vested interest in Burnley is a new phenomenon. JJ’s interest in the Premier League began with ever-popular Chelsea.

Why Chelsea?

Watt first began tuning in to English soccer as a Chelsea fan because he loved playing as Ivorian legend Didier Drogba on the FIFA video game franchise.

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“So we were playing and I would pick Ivory Coast every time. No clue why, but I would pick Ivory Coast every time, and obviously Drogba was the legend, Watt said. “So I was like, ‘Alright, who does Drogba play for?’ And just started following Chelsea because Drogba was on Chelsea. All of a sudden they’re winning [the] Champions League and they’re winning the Premier League. I’m like this is unbelievable — this is the best team ever.”

Soccer fandom came easily for Watt, just like American football. While club ownership may come easily to a family that seems like they can do no wrong, the Watt’s have an upward climb if they want to see Burnley climb to the top of the Premier League under their guidance.

From the Horse’s Mouth

Here’s what the brand new owners had to say regarding their big purchase. JJ, never one to rest on his laurels, joked on social media after the news broke that he was “retiring from retirement.”

While it remains to be seen just how much of a say the Watts have in how Burnley operates (as well as how active of a role they plan to take in their new endeavor), the Watt work ethic is legendary and one would assume that both JJ and Kealia plan to go all out in their quest to bring the club to prominence. JJ noted that he has the amount of money that would befit a minority owner, not a majority one, but that he will be putting massive amounts of emotional energy into the endeavor nonetheless.

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If nothing else, JJ is an excellent people person: even if the Watt name doesn’t carry the same weight across the pond as it does here in the states, he could be excellent at luring top talents to a club looking to find their feet in the top flight of English soccer.

Kealia’s interests as an owner are twofold, as she looks to play a role in helping to lift up the women’s club of Burnley FC: each of the Premier League clubs has a corresponding women’s team as well.

The post Premier League Power Move: J.J. Watt Joins Burnley FC Ownership appeared first on Premier League Heroes.