The Beautiful Game's Chelsea FC Mark Scott writer explains:
The majority of football fans would want Roman Abramovich as the owner of their club. Following the fallout of the failed ‘European Super League’, there has been an outcry of protests from supporters against their owners. Mainly from Man United, Liverpool, Spurs and
Arsenal fans.
Chelsea and City fans protested about participating in a ‘non-competitive’, ‘greed league’ with no meritocracy. However, they stopped short at berating their respective owners, who have run their football clubs impeccably since their tenure.
A month on, most supporters of the ‘rebel six’, apart from Chelsea and City fans maintained the protests. Some may view these as masquerading their displeasure more at the ownership as opposed to the formation of the ESL. Using the hate of the Super League as a vehicle to demand change at their football club.
On reflection Chelsea fans should realise how lucky they are to have Roman in charge. The argument could be that there is no greater owner in world football. Chelsea’s status has become huge. Players want to come to Chelsea because of the chance to compete at the top level for all titles. Chelsea fans have had the times of their lives for two decades. Roman does not want credit, media attention or the spotlight. He loves the beautiful game. He loves Chelsea.
Since he took over in 2003, Chelsea have been the most successful side in England and boast a trophy laden cabinet. Chelsea have created history under Abramovich’s
custodianship. His investment in players over the years is what every Blues fan dream of. They have had the pleasure of seeing the best players in the world play at Stamford Bridge.
According to the latest Forbes list, Chelsea rank 7th in the world of football clubs. Valued at £2.84bn. Not a bad return on the £200m Roman bought Chelsea for from Ken Bates in 2003.
Chelsea won things before Roman Abramovich. But since the club was bought by him, and any previous debt serviced; they have gone on to create consistent, major, historic accomplishments.
A project that has been put on hold is increasing the stadium capacity, to house the growing fan base in London and across the country. Stamford Bridge could become a modern 65,000 world class stadium, with new development projects around the area. It would be a great help to the British economy and provide more jobs.
This on 6 March 2017 full permission was given to redevelop Stamford Bridge by the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who said: “The ‘high quality and spectacular design’ would add to the capital's ‘fantastic array of sporting arenas’.”
At the start of the global pandemic, Abramovich ensured no one was furloughed and paid all staff in full. Other high-profile clubs in the Premier League opted to furlough their non-playing staff. A philanthropist and big on community spirit and support. Roman has always made it his aim to install the ideology of what the club represents locally and worldwide.
Setting up numerous charities and education programs through the club. The Independent states Chelsea and owner Roman Abramovich was praised for supporting anti-domestic abuse charity Refuge during coronavirus lockdown.
Abramovich has gone strong on making it his personal mission to eradicate racial injustice, all forms of discrimination and inequality in sport and society. He does this through public anti-discrimination, anti-racism and anti-Semitism campaigns.
Chelsea Women’s manager Emma Hayes has praised the club and owner Roman Abramovich for supporting domestic abuse charity Refuge during the coronavirus lockdown.
At the height of the Covid 19 pandemic, an idea first raised by Abramovich himself led to those working for the NHS in south London, will be able to stay at the hotel free of charge to avoid long and disrupted commutes home.
The Independent said “The initiative came from club owner Roman Abramovich and, Mr Abramovich will be covering the costs of providing the accommodation.” A Chelsea statement read: “Chelsea Football Club is joining the medical response to the coronavirus outbreak in London with the news the National Health Service (NHS) has accepted the Club’s offer to make the Millennium Hotel at Stamford Bridge available for NHS staff.
Roman Abramovich’s aim was to build a world class women’s and academy team alongside the men’s first team, which he has achieved. According to the Telegraph, Roman Abramovich
personally called Emma Hayes to offer his personal congratulations on the Chelsea ladies WSL 5th title victory.
He took pride in supporting and building a leading women’s football team. As well as winning the title, they were Champions League finalists for the first time in their history. There has been vast Investments in the academy and youth set-ups. while other clubs have neglected this area. This has been fruitful over the years.
Players that haven’t made the first team, have still gone on to make prosperous careers. This is mainly down to the infrastructure, elite level coaches and loan system to gain first team experience. The academy has created players who are ‘made in Chelsea’. They have become established in the Premier League and added extreme value to the club
individually.
Examples of players who can be labelled as ‘one of their own’ include: Andreas Christensen, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Reece James, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, Billy Gilmour, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Mason Mount.
As a ruthless decision maker, Roman may be misconstrued as callous. But it’s just that he doesn’t accept failure and only wants success. Chelsea comes first and he wants to push the team to compete at the very top, for the main trophies.
Throughout his tenure Roman Abramovich has won it all. He is not one to rest on his laurels and demands more for Chelsea. To always compete at the very top, every season and compete for every trophy possible. As a Chelsea fan, what more could you possibly want.
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