Soccer-Man City owner tops British football rich list

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Manchester City's new owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan is the richest man in British football with Chelsea's Roman Abramovich down to third place in FourFourTwo magazine's annual Rich List published on Wednesday.

The 38-year-old Sheikh, who is from Abu Dhabi and took over at City in September, is estimated to be worth 15 billion pounds ($21.86 billion).

That is more than twice as much as Russian Abramovich, 42, who slips from first to third spot on seven billion pounds.

Another new entry at number two is the Indian-born Lakshmi Mittal, worth 12.5 billion pounds. He joined Formula One's Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore by investing in Championship (second division) side Queen's Park Rangers.

England manager Fabio Capello is also a new entry. The Italian is worth 25 million pounds and is joint 73rd on the list, with a six million pounds a year contract and a 10 million pounds private art collection.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is at number 78 with 22 million pounds while Arsenal's Arsene Wenger is at 92 with 14 million. Top 10 (worth in pounds):

1. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan (Manchester City) 15 billion

2. Lakshmi Mittal and family (QPR) 12.5 billion