- published: 15 Jan 2012
- views: 3103
Samir "Sam" Hammam (Arabic: سام همّام) (born 1948) is a Lebanese business man, most notable for his high profile involvement in British football clubs.
Hammam was born in Beirut. Having trained as a civil engineer, he made his fortune as a building contractor in the Middle East. After emigrating to Britain in 1975, Hammam bought a majority stake in his local football team Wimbledon, becoming Chairman of the club.
Originally moving to the area due to being a keen tennis fan Hammam soon became involved in football by buying £40,000 worth of shares at Wimbledon in two years. Hammam was in charge of the unfashionable South London club during its meteoric and record-breaking rise through the football league to the top flight and the infamous 1988 FA cup victory.
While the club's on-the-field success during Hammam's tenure as Chairman was undeniable, the situation off the pitch however was more colourful. Typically, merely hours after the club's FA Cup final victory, Hammam announced that the entire first team was up for sale. Hammam fostered the "Crazy Gang" image at the club, encouraging bizarre 'rewards' and initiation ceremonies for new players - Hammam pledged to buy leading striker Dean Holdsworth a camel should he score 20 goals in a season, while at his first day at the club record signing John Hartson had his kit set on fire by his new team mates. Unfortunately however these eccentricities were not the extent of Hammam's controversial chairmanship, which led to him being dubbed "Sam the Sham" by Wimbledon supporters.
Dream Team in sport, often only as a nickname, may refer to:
Dream Team in television and film may refer to:
Dream Team may also refer to: