In January 2015, Dejphon Chansiri became the owner of Sheffield Wednesday after purchasing the club from Milan Mandaric. Since then, he has presided over a transformative decade for the South Yorkshire team. His investment of around £37.5 million led to some early successes, with the Owls reaching the Championship play-offs in both 2016 and 2017. However, the highs were followed by setbacks, as the team ultimately faced relegation from the Championship in 2021.
Sheffield Wednesday’s fortunes saw some revival the following year, as they secured a League One play-off spot in 2022. Unfortunately, their efforts to return to the Championship fell short after losing in the semi-finals to Sunderland, who went on to secure promotion by defeating Wycombe Wanderers in the final. Yet, in 2023, Sheffield Wednesday’s persistence paid off as they clinched victory in the League One play-off final against South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley, earning their place back in the Championship.
The 2023/24 season was turbulent for the club, as Chansiri made the tough decision to replace former manager Xisco Munoz after a challenging start. Munoz’s tenure saw no wins in his first ten league games, leaving the team in a precarious position. However, Chansiri’s appointment of Danny Rohl proved to be pivotal. Taking over while the team sat at the bottom of the Championship table, Rohl led Sheffield Wednesday on a dramatic turnaround, ultimately managing to keep the Owls in the second tier.
How Chansiri made his money
Dejphon Chansiri built his wealth as part of the Thai Union Group, a global seafood empire chaired by his father, Kraisorn Chansiri, and led by his brother, Thiraphong Chansiri. According to a 2020 Forbes report, the Chansiri family’s net worth stands at approximately $575 million, thanks in large part to the company’s $4.2 billion in revenue.
The Thai Union Group, as noted by The Athletic, includes brands like John West, Fisho, and Chicken of the Sea. Forbes also highlights that the company is the world’s largest producer of canned tuna, with Europe and the United States contributing to 71% of its annual sales as of 2020.
In addition to his role within the family business, Chansiri has had a successful career in other ventures. He previously managed construction and property businesses in Thailand and also owns the Sheffield taxi company D Taxis, as well as Elev8, a brand that previously supplied training kits for Sheffield Wednesday.
Chansiri’s time in charge hasn’t been without controversy
In 2019, The Athletic reported that Sheffield Wednesday faced charges from the EFL for alleged violations of Profit and Sustainability Rules following the sale of Hillsborough Stadium to club owner Dejphon Chansiri. This charge was filed in November 2019, after the team had already been placed under soft transfer embargoes in the prior two summers for failing to meet EFL financial regulations.
By 2023, fan dissatisfaction with Chansiri’s ownership had intensified. As reported by inews, supporters protested after Chansiri requested that each fan contribute £100 to help cover wages and an overdue tax bill. Reflecting on earlier criticism, in 2019, Chansiri defended his transparency with fans in an interview with the Sheffield Star. He expressed frustration that some fans felt he was dishonest, saying, “I am always as honest as I can be with the fans, but some only want to hear what they want to hear… I always say the truth, even when they are not things the fans are going to like.”
Despite the controversies, Chansiri’s ownership is underpinned by substantial family wealth; his family’s net worth exceeded $500 million as of 2020, placing him among the wealthier football club owners.