Former Liverpool and Montreal Canadiens co-owner George Gillett dies aged 87

George Gillett, the American businessman who co-owned Liverpool FC during one of the club’s most turbulent ownership periods, has died at the age of 87 after a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Gillett completed a joint takeover of Liverpool alongside fellow American Tom Hicks in March 2007. Their tenure proved deeply contentious, marked by broken promises over a new stadium and mounting fan unrest, before a bitter sale to New England Sports Ventures — led by John Henry — was finalised in October 2010.

Beyond football, Gillett had a wide-ranging presence in North American sport. He previously owned NHL franchise the Montreal Canadiens and held stakes in NFL side the Miami Dolphins and the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team.

The Canadiens were among the first to pay tribute. “On behalf of the entire Canadiens organization, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to George’s family,” owner Geoff Molson said in a statement. “George immersed himself in the Montreal community and was appreciated by everyone in the organization. We sincerely appreciate his contributions to the Montreal Canadiens during his time as owner.”

Gillett’s three-year stewardship of Liverpool remains a defining — and divisive — chapter in the club’s modern history, ultimately paving the way for the Fenway Sports Group era under Henry that would later deliver the club’s first league title in 30 years.