Thaksin Shinawatra now owns Manchester City

Thaksin Shinawatra is the ousted Prime Minister of Thailand who was accused of being a corrupt leader.

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra agreed to buy Manchester City football club for a whopping $162 million.

''I am delighted that the board of Manchester City has recommended my bid for the club,'' Thaksin Shinawatra said in a joint statement with the club. ''We share a determination to take the club back to its rightful place at the highest level of competition in both the FA Premier League and European football.''

Manchester City will welcome a new era in the English Premiership with a new owner and new team manager Sven Goran Erikkson.

Manchester City will now be looking to equal or even dethrone their city rivals, defending English Premiership champions Manchester United once the brand new English football season starts.

Thaksin Shinawatra is the first politician to make the transition to sports after being impeached by his own people.

Thai prosecutors filed corruption charges against Thaksin Shinawatra in the Supreme Court, in the first criminal charges ever filed against a former premier in Thailand.

Thaksin was toppled in a military coup last September and was named along with his wife Pojamarn in a case involving allegations of wrongdoing in a land deal.

Here are the odds from Bodog on who will win the 2007-08 English Premiere League title.

Manchester United +150

Chelsea FC +150

Liverpool FC +550

Arsenal FC +650

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for more international football odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

Manchester City Thaksin Shinawatra