Marwan Koukash
Marwan Koukash | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Need valid birth date: year, month, day Palestine |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, racehorse owner |
| Known for | Ownership of racehorses; former owner of Salford Red Devils rugby league club |
Marwan Koukash (born December 1958 in Palestine) is an entrepreneur and owner of racehorses whose animals have secured victories in notable competitions such as the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte, Cesarewitch Handicap, City and Suburban Handicap, Ayr Gold Cup, and Chester Cup.
According to a 2018 Channel 4 documentary titled My Millionaire Migrant Boss, his net worth was estimated at £50 million. Although often referred to as a multi-millionaire, Koukash was declared bankrupt in 2022.
Early life and business career
Koukash was born on the West Bank of the River Jordan in December 1958. Due to regional unrest, his family relocated first to Jordan and subsequently to Kuwait. He later moved to Britain for his studies, settling in St Helens where he attended a technical college.
He completed his education at Liverpool John Moores University, earning a PhD in electrical engineering. After spending five years as a lecturer there, he advanced to the position of Director of International Business. Additionally, Koukash owns several hotels managed by Hilton, including The Doubletree Hotel located in Liverpool.
Horse racing
Koukash’s introduction to horse racing came through his bank manager, with his first winning horse recorded in 2007. By 2012, his horses had accumulated 101 victories and prize earnings exceeding £1 million. His racing colors feature grey with a gold star, and many of his horses bear the names of his children: Gabrial, Lexi, and Layla.
He operates a pre-training facility situated in Knowsley and employs trainers such as Richard Fahey and Kevin Ryan. He is recognized as one of the largest racehorse owners within Britain.
Salford Red Devils
In 2013, Koukash took ownership of Salford City Reds, a struggling Super League club. His passion for rugby league began through attending St. Helens games with his family. Motivated by Rugby Football League CEO Nigel Wood, he sought to elevate Salford into the premier club of the Super League by rebranding the team as Salford Red Devils and recruiting 14 new players.
National Rugby League
In 2014, Koukash revealed intentions to acquire an Australian National Rugby League (NRL) franchise prior to the 2015 season. The NRL is regarded as the most competitive rugby league competition globally, with rugby league enjoying greater popularity than rugby union in Australia.
By 2016, he announced plans to launch a British-based team named the "British Bulldogs" to compete in the NRL, supported by airline and hotel sponsorship agreements.