{{Short description|British businessman}} {{Infobox person | name = Marwan Koukash | image = Marwan Koukash - 2013 Melbourne Cup Parade (10664637735).jpg | caption = Marwan Koukash (2013) | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|12|3|df=yes}}<ref name=whoswho>{{Who's Who | title=BRANSON, Sir Richard (Charles Nicholas) | id = U8562 | volume = 2014 | edition = online Oxford University Press}}</ref> | birth_place = West Bank | occupation = Businessman | alias = | years_active = 1966–present | spouse =Mandy Koukash | children = | parents = | relatives = }}

'''Marwan Koukash''' (born in Palestine, December 1958)<ref name=SalfOL/><ref name=RLWorld/> is a businessman and racehorse owner whose horses have won races including the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte, Cesarewitch Handicap, City and Suburban Handicap, Ayr Gold Cup and Chester Cup.

A 2018 Channel 4 documentary programme, ''My Millionaire Migrant Boss'', stated his wealth at £50 million. Koukash is often referred to as a multi-millionaire by the media,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2018/02/07/millionaire-migrant-boss-review-apprentice-jobseekers-had-tough/|accessdate=13 February 2018|work=AAP|publisher= Telegraph Media Group Limited|date=7 February 2018|title=My Millionaire Migrant Boss, review: This Apprentice for jobseekers had tough life lessons for the unemployed|last1=Hogan|first1=Michael}}</ref> although he was declared bankrupt in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marwan Bedea Qassem Said Koukash {{!}} Bankruptcy Orders {{!}} The Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4161872?mainwebsite=1 |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=www.thegazette.co.uk}}</ref>

==Early life and business career== Koukash was born on the west bank of the River Jordan in December 1958 in Palestine. When he was eight years old, a nearby Jordanian army base was bombed by the Israeli Air Force and fear of the planes made his family leave their farm [12] and the family crossed into Jordan before settling in Kuwait,<ref name=SalfOL/> where his father had already been living for 2 years [12]. Eventually, he moved to Britain to progress his education, and settled in St Helens to study at the local technical college.<ref name=StHStar/>

He graduated from Liverpool John Moores University and progressed to get a PhD in electrical engineering. He taught at the university for five years, and was appointed Director of International Business.

He is also the owner of hotels operated by Hilton such as The Doubletree Hotel in Liverpool.

==Horse racing== He was introduced to horse racing by his bank manager, Dave Matthews, and had his first winner in 2007. In 2012, he had 101 winners, who accumulated over £1m in prize money.<ref name=SalfOL/> His racing silks are grey with a gold star<ref name=LivEcho/> and many of his horses are named after his son, Gabrial and daughters, Lexi and Layla.<ref name=SalfOL/><ref name=RP070513/> He owns a pre-training facility in Knowsley and uses various trainers including Richard Fahey and Kevin Ryan.<ref name=LivEcho/>

It is claimed that he is the biggest owner of race horses in Britain.<ref>{{cite news|title=Billionaire Koukash linked to Newcastle Knights|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/10273963/Billionaire-Koukash-linked-to-Newcastle-Knights|accessdate=4 June 2015|work=AAP|publisher=Fairfax New Zealand Limited|date=16 July 2014}}</ref>

==Rugby League== ===Salford Red Devils=== In 2013, Koukash took over the loss-making Super League club, Salford City Reds. His interest in rugby league began when he went to watch St. Helens matches with his family. He was encouraged to take ownership of Salford by the Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood, who had met Koukash on a flight to Dubai.<ref name=Ind270113/> Koukash aimed to make the club the biggest in Super League, rebranding them as Salford Red Devils in 2013 and signing 14 new players. In 2017, Koukash handed over control of Salford to a community trust.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/58304075|title=Marwan Koukash: Former Salford Red Devils owner aims to return to rugby league with Leigh|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

===National Rugby League=== In 2014, Koukash made public his ambitions of purchasing a team in the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) before the 2015 season. The NRL is considered the world's most competitive rugby league competition, in a country where rugby league is far more popular than rugby union.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/marwan-koukash-i-want-to-own-an-nrl-club-in-time-for-next-years-kickoff-20140826-108lox.html |title = Marwan Koukash: I want to own an NRL club in time for next year's kickoff|date = 2014-08-26}}</ref>

In 2016, he also announced his plans to take a British team (the "British Bulldogs") and have them play in the NRL in Australia, with the help of airline and hotel sponsorship.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Salford owner Marwan Koukash wants 'British Bulldogs' to play in NRL|url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jan/26/salford-red-devils-marwan-koukash-english-team-nrl|newspaper = The Guardian|date = 2015-01-26|access-date = 2016-02-01|issn = 0261-3077|language = en-GB|agency = Press Association}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|refs=

<ref name=Ind270113> {{cite news |title=Saving Salford gives much-needed boost |author=Hadfield, Dave |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/saving-salford-gives-muchneeded-boost-8468476.html |newspaper=The Independent |date=27 January 2013 |accessdate=8 May 2013|author-link=Dave Hadfield }} </ref>

<ref name=LivEcho> {{cite news |title=Horse Power: Merseyside-based owner Dr Marwan Koukash can land |author=Wright, Chris |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/2013/04/13/horse-power-merseyside-based-owner-dr-marwan-koukash-can-land-100252-33164523/ |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=13 April 2013 |accessdate=8 May 2013}} </ref>

<ref name=RP070513> {{cite news |title=Gabrial is my best chance at Chester - Koukash |work=Racing Post |url=http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/very-good-day-gabrial-is-my-best-chance-at-chester-says-marwan-koukash/1263279/top/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616115145/http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/very-good-day-gabrial-is-my-best-chance-at-chester-says-marwan-koukash/1263279/top/%23newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 June 2013 |date=7 May 2013 |accessdate=8 May 2013}} </ref>

<ref name=SalfOL> {{cite web |url=http://www.salfordonline.com/sport.php?func=viewdetails&vdetails=40679 |title=More on Marwan - just who is Dr Koukash anyway? |last1=Roberts |first1=Nigel |publisher= salfordonline.com |date=21 January 2013 |accessdate=8 May 2013}} </ref>

<ref name=StHStar> {{cite news |title=Rainford-based Marwan Koukash set to be unveiled as new Salford rugby league club owner |url=http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/10197151.Rainford_based_Marwan_Koukash_set_to_be_unveiled_as_new_Salford_rugby_league_club_owner |newspaper=St Helens Star |date=31 January 2013 |accessdate=8 May 2013}} </ref>

<ref name=RLWorld> {{cite web|author=Jamie Jones-Buchanan|title=JJB meets Marwan Koukash|url=http://www.totalrl.com/jjb-meets-marwan-koukash/|accessdate=23 February 2015|publisher=Rugby League World|date=7 June 2013}} </ref>

}}

{{Authority control}}

12. The Taming of the Jew, Tuvia Tenenbaum, pgs. 235–236.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Koukash, Marwan}} Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:British billionaires Category:People from St Helens, Merseyside Category:Rugby league chairmen and investors Category:Sports owners Category:Salford RLFC Category:Palestinian emigrants to the United Kingdom Category:Alumni of Liverpool John Moores University