Football clubs owned by Red Bull

Over the years, Austrian energy drink giant Red Bull has used innovative methods of advertising by launching proprietary Xtreme Sports events such as the Red Bull Cliff Diving Series, the Red Bull Air Race, and Red Bull Crashed Ice, to name a few. 

To further diversify its portfolio and establish brand monopoly at a global level, Red Bull owns several sports teams around the globe as well as collaborates with celebrities for brand endorsements. It even has its own music label.

Here, we take a look at the association football clubs owned by Red Bull around the world.

FC Red Bull Salzburg

FC Red Bull Salzburg ply their trade in the Austrian Bundesliga. They were known as SV Austria Salzburg before Red Bull renamed them after taking ownership in 2005. Their kit colours were also changed from the traditional violet and white to the red-and-white combination we associate with all things Red Bull. Based in Wals-Siezenheim, their stadium is called the Red Bull Arena.

Founded in 1993, FC Salzburg have dominated their league ever since coming into being, winning 17 league titles among several other major honours. Such has been their supremacy that they won ten consecutive titles between 2014 and 2023. 

RasenBallsport Leipzig

RB Leipzig play in the top tier of the German Bundesliga. Previously known as SSV Markranstädt, the club were acquired by Red Bull in 2009 and quickly shot through the tiers, reaching the country’s top flight in 2016.

Based in Saxony, Germany, their stadium is also called the Red Bull Arena. Their best result in the UEFA Champions League was achieved during the 2019/20 season, when they reached the semi-finals. Their trophy haul includes two DFB-Pokale in 2022 and 2023.

FC Liefering

FC Liefering currently play in the second tier of Austrian professional football, the Admiral 2. Liga. Based in Grödig, they play their home games at Untersberg-Arena.

Liefering have been RB Salzburg’s reserve team since 2012, having been acquired by Red Bull the year before. Their performances in the Austrian second division haven’t been as impressive as Salzburg’s in the tier above, but they continue to develop talented youth players and were pivotal in Salzburg winning the UEFA Youth League in the 2016/17 season. 

Red Bull New York

This American institution is based in Harrison, New Jersey. Playing their home games at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, the team play in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer.

Established in 1994, the New York Red Bulls were originally called the New York/New Jersey MetroStars before being rebranded to their current guise in 2006 with the change in ownership. 

The New York Red Bulls’ trophy haul includes three Supporters’ Shield titles from 2013, 2015, and 2018. They reached the MLS Cup Final in 2008, the US Open Cup final twice, and the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions League once in 2018.

Red Bull Bragantino

Brazilian football club Red Bull Bragantino ply their trade in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the country’s professional football top flight. Based in Bragança Paulista, São Paulo, they play at the Estádio Nabi Abi Chedid.

Red Bull Bragantino were originally called Clube Atlético Bragantino before the Red Bull takeover in 2019, which also changed their primary colours from black and white to red and white. 

Originally founded in January 1928, they earned their first promotion to the Série A in 1989 but couldn’t sustain at the top level for a long time. After Red Bull came on board, they won the Série B in 2019 and qualified for Round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil a year later.

Red Bull Bragantino II

As the name suggests, Red Bull Bragantino II are Red Bull Bragantino’s reserve team. They play in the Campeonato Brasileiro de Aspirantes.

Red Bull Bragantino II were first established by Red Bull in 2007 as Red Bull Brasil with the aim of promotion to the Série A, but the plan failed, which led to Red Bull reach an agreement for the ownership of Clube Atlético Bragantino. In 2016, Red Bull Brasil were renamed as Red Bull Bragantino II.

Red Bull Ghana

Red Bull established a club and academy in Ghana in 2008, who played in the Ghanaian Division 1 League Zone 3B. They were promoted to the country’s second tier in 2009 but got relegated to Division 2 in 2013.

In 2014, Red Bull decided to shut down the club and merge their academy with that of Dutch club Feyenoord Rotterdam, forming West African Football Academy Sporting Club.

Leeds United FC

In 2024, Red Bull acquired a minority stake in Leeds United Football Club. In the process, it also became the club’s principal front-of-shirt sponsor. 

Leeds United are from West Yorkshire in England, having won three first division titles, four second division titles, a League Cup, and an FA Cup over the course of their storied history, though in recent years they have usually been away from the top flight.

The 49ers Enterprises, which is the investment arm of National Football League franchise San Francisco 49ers, is the majority owner of Leeds United FC. While Red Bull only holds a minority stake, the company maintains that it intends to provide the financial muscle required to bring the club back to upper echelons of English football.