London (AP) – With a broad grin, Roman Abramowitsch lifts the silver handle pot in the air, and the Chelsea FC players cheer around the billionaire. Star player Didier Drogba has opened his mouth wide. And the Bayern fans are suffering.
Would Roman Abramovich look at pictures like this one from May 19, 2012 again? With the triumph in the Champions League in the Munich stadium against FC Bayern, the dearest wish of the oligarch, who took over the Blues 19 years ago precisely for this purpose, was fulfilled for the first time.
Russian millions
“FC Chelsea London sold to Russian oil billionaire”, wrote the German Press Agency on July 2, 2003 at 11.15 am. The Russian paid 43.5 million euros for the then middle-class club and thus also took on the debt of over 100 million euros. When asked by a BBC reporter what he thought of Roman Abramovich, a fan outside Stamford Bridge replied by asking if he was a new midfielder.
What followed was an unprecedented stream of payments of Russian millions. “It was never about business or money, it was about pure passion for the game and for the club,” Abramovich wrote in the online letter on Wednesday evening, which the blues published on their website. With the announcement that he would sell the club, the 55-year-old heralded the end of his often controversial era in London. His alleged personal closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin was already an issue 19 years ago.
war in Ukraine
After Russia’s attack on Ukraine and the subsequent severe sanctions against Russians and Russian companies, rumors increased that Abramovich was also under a lot of pressure. MPs in the English House of Commons have repeatedly called for him to be put on the sanctions list. The oligarch is only considered a friend and supporter within the world of the blues. Being part of this is “a privilege,” wrote the Russian.
The well-being of the club was always the focus of his decisions, Abramovich wrote. In the current situation, selling is “both in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees and the sponsors and partners”. He will not demand repayment of the loans, which are said to amount to £1.5 billion.
A sum that makes it clear why so many fans harshly criticize the system of supported football clubs. It’s an unequal competition. According to media reports, Romelu Lukaku’s Chelsea record transfer of 115 million euros took place last Corona summer.
“Hopefully” not much will change for the team “in the short term”, said Thomas Tuchel, the German coach of the Blues, on Wednesday evening. “Maybe it won’t change anything. We’ll do what we can to block out the noise and stay focused, which isn’t always easy.” Tuchel spoke of “Big News”.
Rich backers
Almost 20 years ago, Abramovich was not alone in donating millions to a football club – but he was the most prominent. In the meantime, football has long since been discovered for wealthy backers or even states. The English champions Manchester City practically belong to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, record champions Manchester United are owned by the Glazer family from the USA. The Fenway Sports Group is behind Liverpool FC. Abramovich always provided a face to the millions for Chelsea.
The then German national player Michael Ballack was one of the big transfers in the early Abramovich years in 2006. In contrast to several other stars, the “Capitano” of the DFB selection came from FC Bayern on a free transfer. Money does score goals over a longer period of time – provided the right trainers are in place. Several great coaches tried at Chelsea, including Carlo Ancelotti, José Mourinho and Antonio Conte. And now Tuchel.
Since the takeover, Chelsea have won the English Championship and the FA Cup five times, the League Cup three times and the Champions League and Europa League twice each. The Blues recently triumphed at the Club World Championship for the first time – it was the last major title missing from Abramovich’s collection.