Darragh MacAnthony is a Dublin-born football chairman and entrepreneur. The son of Austin MacAnthony, a nightclub owner, MacAnthony was educated at St Mary's College, Dublin. He moved to Spain with his family as a 15-year-old.

Peterborough United

Since September 2006 MacAnthony has been chairman of Peterborough United F.C.

Peterborough United F.C.

Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...

 Outgoing chairman Barry Fry

Barry Fry

Barry Francis Fry is an English football manager. A former Manchester United apprentice as a winger, his playing career involved brief spells with Bolton Wanderers, Luton Town and Leyton Orient, before he retired prematurely due to injury.He has managed Dunstable Town, Bedford Town, Maidstone...

 cited a Sky One

Sky One

Sky1 is the flagship BSkyB entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland.The channel first launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, and is the fourth-oldest TV channel in the United Kingdom, behind BBC One , ITV and BBC Two...

 documentary, Big Ron Manager

Big Ron Manager

Big Ron Manager is a television documentary series based on Ron Atkinson's efforts as a troubleshooter at the English football club Peterborough United, at the time playing in Football League Two...

, as a factor in attracting investment from MacAnthony. Legally obliged to give first refusal to a third party (Peterborough United Holdings Ltd) in the event of a sale, Fry retained 99.8% ownership of the club, but MacAnthony gained power of attorney for the club's affairs.

MacAnthony took over as chairman at Peterborough at the age of 30, making him the youngest chairman in the Football League. As a sign of his ambition, a printed note from MacAnthony was added to Peterborough United's match programme in August 2007. In it, he promised fans promotion from League Two

Football League Two

Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....

 to the Championship

Football League Championship

The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...

 in two seasons, which was duly delivered, though the club were subsequently relegated to League One. In March 2007, Peterborough United signed a £3 million shirt sponsorship deal with MacAnthony's company MRI Overseas Property. MacAnthony became owner of the club in August 2007, buying the club for a nominal £1 after taking on the club's debts.

In January 2007, manager Keith Alexander

Keith Alexander (footballer)

Keith Alexander was a Saint Lucian footballer and manager. Born in Nottingham, England, he was the manager of League Two side Macclesfield Town at the time of his death, in a career that included international appearances for Saint Lucia. Alexander played for a whole host of lower league football...

 was sacked and replaced by Darren Ferguson

Darren Ferguson

Darren Ferguson is a Scottish football manager and former player, currently in his second spell as the manager of Peterborough United...

, who was at the time untried as a manager. Ferguson initially delivered big returns, delivering back-to-back promotions in his first two full seasons. Ferguson left Peterborough, by mutual consent, on 9 November 2009 after a disappointing start to the 2009-10 season. AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe

Eddie Howe

Edward "Eddie" Howe is an English former footballer and manager of Burnley. A defender before retirement who spent much of his career at Bournemouth, he was the youngest manager in the Football League when appointed Bournemouth manager in January 2009.-Playing career:Howe began his professional...

 was linked with the job, but after discussions with his chairman Eddie Mitchell it was decided that Peterborough would not be given permission to talk to Howe. Peterborough were relegated in 2010. In the 2010–11 season MacAnthony reappointed Darren Ferguson, and Peterborough United were once again promoted to the second tier.

Business interests

MacAnthony attended a business college in London, but left after two months to sell Time-Share in Spain. He formed the property group Macanthony Realty International (MRI) in 2000, selling overseas holiday homes to mainly Irish and British customers. From a head office in Marbella, the company offered properties in countries including the Bahamas, Bulgaria, Cyprus and the Dominican Republic, with MacAnthony stating in 2005 that he gave the number of his personal mobile telephone to clients. but the UK Company was liquidated in the UK 2009 as reported in the London Gazette. In 2006, MacAnthony funded a satellite TV channel, Overseas Property TV, which was presented by his younger sister. and was also liquidated in 2009 leaving debts reported in the London Gazette. MacAnthony Realty International Ireland is also under receivership 2011 - Insolvency Journal Ireland.

The The Sunday Times Rich List

Sunday Times Rich List

The Sunday Times Rich List is a list of the 1,000 wealthiest people or families in the United Kingdom, updated annually in April and published as a magazine supplement by British national Sunday newspaper The Sunday Times since 1989...

estimated his wealth at £150 million in 2007, and £68 million in 2008.

MacAnthony has pledged his financial support for the Helping Hands Group, a company that supports disabled people.