Entertainment Sports Eli Manning Says His Daughters Inspired Him to Become a Part-Owner of Gotham Women's Soccer Club "As a dad, I want to make sure that my daughters have all the athletic opportunities that I was blessed with," Eli Manning said after becoming a minority owner of the franchise By Jason Hahn Jason Hahn Jason Hahn is a former Human Interest and Sports Reporter for PEOPLE. He started at PEOPLE's Los Angeles Bureau as a writer and reporter in 2017 and interviewed the likes of Kobe Bryant, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Brady. He has a B.A. in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. He previously worked for Complex Magazine in New York City. People Editorial Guidelines Published on August 10, 2022 04:12PM EDT Eli Manning with his family. Photo: Photo by Al Bello/Getty The National Women's Soccer League is welcoming a New York legend into its owners' club. On Wednesday, Gotham FC announced that Eli Manning, the former New York Giants quarterback, has joined the New York and New Jersey-based team as a minority owner. "I have lived and worked in this community for almost two decades," Manning, a two-time Super Bowl champion, said in a statement. "It's home to me, and Gotham FC is my family's favorite soccer club," he continued. "Combine that with the organization's strong leadership, talented roster, and sustained growth, and it became clear that joining this great group was a fantastic opportunity." Along with Manning, WNBA star Sue Bird, former USWNT and Gotham FC player Carli Lloyd and Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant all joined the team as minority owners. In a video released by Gotham FC, Manning said his daughters — Ava Frances, 11, Lucy Thomas, 9, and Caroline Olivia, 7 — helped inspire his decision to invest in the club. Eli Manning Is Sending a Bartender to Super Bowl—and Will Work Her Shift!—in Stella Artois' New Campaign "As a dad, I want to make sure that my daughters have all the athletic opportunities that I was blessed with," said Manning, who also has son Charlie, 3, with his wife Abby. He added: "We're driving what happens next in the world's game with some of the greatest athletes in the game, and I can't imagine what's more exciting than being a part of that." In an interview with the New York Post, Manning said it was important for him to find role models for his girls. Peyton Manning on the 'Second Chapter' of His Career — Manning Cast, Super Bowl Ads and Maybe a 'Cameo' on Emily in Paris "You put them in different things, and you want them to find things that they're passionate about," he explained. "It creates such great life lessons and work ethic and teamwork and dedication and commitment and those type of things." "I got to do that a little bit growing up with my dad [former NFL player Archie Manning] around the Saints, and meeting some of those players and kinda be able to look up to them, so I thought it would just be great to kind of support the local teams and to have something that's gonna be fun to be involved in to be part of the ownership and have something that my kids just enjoy the experience of it as well," Manning continued. RELATED VIDEO: Snoop Dogg Gifts Eli Manning Gold and Diamond-Encrusted Chain on His Birthday: I'll 'Look Good' Manning, a native of Louisiana, played his entire career with the Giants after he was picked by the San Diego Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft. He won each of his Super Bowls against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.