Dragan Solak leads the investment group Sport Republic, which made its first investment in Southampton in January 2022.

The 62-year-old has presided over a turbulent spell for the Saints on the pitch, which has resulted in the team losing its status as a Premier League regular.

The Hampshire club has become a yo-yo club, with the team settling into a second consecutive season in the Championship in 2026/27.

Solak will be hoping that Southampton can overcome difficult competition to regain their spot in the top division, especially considering the turmoil surrounding their failure to gain promotion the previous season.

Dragan Solak’s three top priorities

Solak has received a great deal of criticism from fans for how he has handled Southampton’s ownership, with the team’s downfall provoking a lot of reaction.

However, the Serbian has stated that the Saints are not his first focus in life, and that he takes other hobbies and obligations more seriously.

“My top priorities are my family and golf, and then I would say business,” Solak told the Guardian in 2022.

The majority of Solak’s wealth is invested in 33 percent of United Group, a business he formed in the Netherlands that controls much of the media in the Balkans.

Dragan Solak’s Political Ambitions

Former Serbian prime minister Ana Brnabic slammed Solak, alleging that the Southampton owner is part of an oligarchy with close ties to a previous regime.

The 62-year-old has avoided his native country for security reasons, and he has kept a low profile since taking over at St. Mary’s.

However, he has denied any political aspirations and stated that politics is not even one of his top 100 interests.

“Politics ranks nowhere in the top 100. “I don’t care about politics,” he added.

“I became a political figure only because I wouldn’t allow them to change the way we operate our news channels.”

Dragan Solak’s tenure in command at Southampton
Solak first invested in Southampton in January 2022, and the club went on to finish 15th in the Premier League standings under Ralph Hassenhuttl.

However, in his first full season as owner of the Saints, the team was relegated to the Championship after a decade away from the second division.

Southampton: Points and standings finishes under Sport Republic.

Season (division)

Points

League finish

2021-22 (Premier League): 40

15th

2022-23 (Premier League

25

20th

2023–24 (Championship)

87

Fourth place (P/O winner)

2024-25 (Premier League).

12

20th

2025-26 (Championship): 80

4th

Russell Martin was able to return Hampshire to the first level, but another 20th-place finish resulted in their relegation.

Tonda Eckert led Southampton to the 2025/26 play-offs, but the club was kicked out after being found guilty of breaking the EFL’s rules regarding spying on opposing teams during training.

Dragan Solak denies Southampton leaving reports.

Solak’s tenure at Southampton has not been particularly popular, with the club’s relegation to the Championship causing widespread frustration.

However, the Serbian has also invested in other football clubs, including Turkish side Goztepe and French outfit Valenciennes.

In a 2025 interview with the BBC, Solak denied that he intended to sell his ownership in the Championship squad.

He acknowledged the possibility of external investment, but stated that he had no immediate plans to leave.Solak stated, “I have no plans to sell the club.”We have several fascinating initiatives.If promoted to the Premier League, I plan to seek additional investment from partners.But selling was never on my mind; instead, I was focused on this 10-year strategy of commercial and financial development for the club, making it more solid and less reliant on TV rights deals.