Mike Ashley is a British businessman best known as the founder of Sports Direct, a large sports-goods retailer in the UK. He was born on September 9, 1964, in Walsall, England, and started his career in retail by selling sports equipment. Over the years, he expanded his business, acquiring various brands and stores, making Sports Direct one of the leading sports retailers in the country. In addition to his retail ventures, Mike Ashley is known for his ownership of Newcastle United, a professional football club in the Premier League. He purchased the club in 2007, and his tenure has been marked by both controversy and significant changes within the organization. Ashley's business practices and management style have drawn public attention and debate over the years.