Assem Allam facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Assem Allam
Allam in 2011
Born	(1939-08-01)1 August 1939 Kingdom of Egypt
Died	2 December 2022(2022-12-02) (aged 83) Kingston upon Hull, England
Nationality	Egyptian, British
Alma mater	Ain Shams University University of Hull
Occupation	Businessman
Known for	Industrial manufacturer

Assem Allam (born August 1, 1939 – died December 2, 2022) was a successful Egyptian-British businessman. He lived in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, since 1968. He was known for owning Allam Marine, a company that makes industrial generators. He also owned the football club Hull City.

Early Life and Education

Assem Allam was born in Egypt in 1939. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1968. He came to the UK during a time of political change in Egypt. He then studied economics at the University of Hull.

Building a Business

After finishing his studies, Assem Allam became an accountant. He started working at a company called Tempest Diesel Limited. In 1981, he borrowed money to buy this company.

Later, in 1992, he faced challenges with Tempest Diesel. But in the same year, he started a new company called Allam Marine Limited. He bought the assets from his old company for this new venture. Allam Marine grew into a very successful international business.

Assem Allam and his son were listed among the richest people in the Sunday Times Rich List 2010. In 2006, he was named the UK Entrepreneur of the Year. This award recognized his great success in business.

Owning Hull City Football Club

In September 2010, there were talks that Assem Allam wanted to invest in Hull City. This was the local football team. The club had financial problems after being relegated from the Premier League that year.

On October 18, 2010, Allam and his son Ehab began talks with the club's owner. Allam said he wanted to "pay back to the area." He felt Hull City was very important to the community.

By November 10, 2010, a deal was agreed. The Allams would take control of the club. The deal was officially completed on December 16, 2010. The club was bought for a very small fee of £1. The Allams promised to invest £30 million into the club. They also offered to provide another £10 million if needed.

After the takeover, Assem Allam became the chairman of Hull City. On May 4, 2013, Hull City achieved promotion. They moved back up to the Premier League.

Club Name Change Controversy

On August 9, 2013, Allam announced a plan. He wanted to change the club's name. He said the club would be "marketed" as Hull City Tigers locally. It would be called Hull Tigers for national and international audiences. He felt "City" was a "lousy identity" and wanted the club to be special.

This plan was met with strong opposition from the club's supporters. Many fans did not want the name to change. Allam said that "nobody questions my decisions in my business." A group called "City Till We Die" formed to oppose the change. Allam responded that these supporters "can die as soon as they want." He said they should leave the club for the majority who just want to watch good football.

On April 9, 2014, the Football Association (FA) rejected Allam's proposal. He then said he would appeal this decision.

Later Challenges and Sale

In early 2016, the club announced new season ticket plans. These plans aimed to reduce costs for fans. However, they removed discounts for certain groups. This led to criticism from fans. Match day attendances at the stadium then fell significantly.

Allam's management of the club faced more criticism in the summer of 2016. Hull City had just been promoted to the Premier League. But the club had very few senior players available. There were no new player signings. Also, there was no permanent manager in place.

In the summer of 2017, Hull City was relegated from the Premier League. Many key players were sold during the transfer window. The team started the new season with a small squad. They had a poor start in the Championship league. The manager was sacked in December.

As of late 2017, the Allam family still wanted to sell the club. Assem Allam said the sale was "no closer." He mentioned issues with the stadium ownership. He also cited fan backlash as reasons for the delay.

Finally, on January 19, 2022, Hull City announced a sale. A company called Acun Medya, led by Acun Ilıcalı, bought the club from the Allam family.

Supporting Other Sports

Assem Allam also supported other sports. In May 2011, he gave £1 million to Hull Kingston Rovers. This is a local rugby league club. The money was for stadium improvements and strengthening the team.

Squash Sponsorship

In October 2011, Allam began sponsoring the British Open Squash Championships. This was a three-year deal. The event successfully moved to Kingston upon Hull in 2013. It was held there again in 2014 and 2015. His sponsorship of the event continued until the 2019 event and was then renewed.

Helping the Community (Philanthropy)

Assem Allam was also known for his generous donations. In 2016, he gave £7 million to the University of Hull. This money helped build a £25 million medical building.

In November 2019, he donated about £8 million to the Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. This donation helped create a diabetes treatment and research center. It is based at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital. He also donated money to the Labour Party.