Randy Lerner is an American businessman who is best known for his involvement in football. He was the owner of the Cleveland Browns, an American football team, from 2002 to 2012. During his tenure, the Browns struggled to find success on the field, and Lerner eventually sold the team to Jimmy Haslam in 2012.
In addition to his ownership of the Browns, Lerner also had a brief stint as the owner of Aston Villa, an English football club. He purchased the club in 2006 and oversaw a period of relative success, including a run to the final of the League Cup in 2010. However, the club struggled in subsequent seasons, and Lerner eventually sold Aston Villa to Chinese businessman Tony Xia in 2016.
Lerner's involvement in football was not limited to his ownership of the Browns and Aston Villa. He also served on the board of directors for the National Football League (NFL) and was a member of the NFL's finance committee. Additionally, he was a member of the board of directors for the United States Soccer Federation.
Outside of football, Lerner is a successful businessman who has made his fortune in various industries. He is the son of Al Lerner, the founder of MBNA Corporation, a credit card company that was eventually sold to Bank of America. Randy Lerner inherited a significant portion of his father's wealth and has used it to invest in a variety of businesses, including real estate, private equity, and media.
Despite his success in business, Lerner's tenure as a football owner was somewhat controversial. Many fans of the Browns and Aston Villa were critical of his management style, and some accused him of being too hands-off and not investing enough in the teams. However, others praised Lerner for his commitment to the clubs and his willingness to take a long-term approach to building successful teams.
Overall, Randy Lerner's football career was marked by both successes and failures. While he was unable to lead the Browns or Aston Villa to sustained success on the field, he was a committed owner who was passionate about the sport and invested significant time and resources into his teams.
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