Roman Abramovich and Chelsea football club: A sportswasher’s guide
Roman Abramovich is not an unfamiliar name to football lovers. He is known as a Russian-Jewish oil billionaire and former owner of the famous Chelsea football club playing in the English Premier League.
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| Abramovich (right) holding Chelsea’s first Champions League trophy in 2012. (Photo: Getty Images) |
From their founding in March 1905 until June 2003, Chelsea football club was never a powerhouse. Before their first (and only, before 2003) league title in 1955, they were known as well-supported underachievers, as illustrated when comedian Norman Long wrote the following verse for his 1933 song “The Day Chelsea Won the Cup”:
Now a little while ago I dreamed the most amazing dream.
It tickled me to death when I woke up.
Now you know just how impossible the things we dream of are.
But I dreamed that Chelsea went and won the Cup.
Even after 1955, financial crises involving their stadium, Stamford Bridge, meant that the club could never cement their status as consistent title contenders. At the height of their issues in the early 80s, they were relegated to the Second Division, flirting at times with a drop to the Third.
Despite this chequered past, Chelsea currently stands as one of the biggest clubs in world football. Since June 2003, they’ve won five Premier Leagues, five FA Cups, three League Cups, and two Champions Leagues. They’ve become the 6th most supported club in the world, with a collective 102 million followers on social media as of 2022. So, what happened in June 2003 that caused Chelsea to explode as they have?
Even after 1955, financial crises involving their stadium, Stamford Bridge, meant that the club could never cement its status as a consistent title contender. At the height of their issues in the early 80s, they were relegated to the Second Division, flirting at times with a drop to the Third.
Despite this chequered past, Chelsea currently stands as one of the biggest clubs in world football. Since June 2003, they’ve won five Premier Leagues, five FA Cups, three League Cups, and two Champions Leagues. The London team became the 6th most supported club in the world, with a collective 102 million followers on social media as of 2022. So, what happened in June 2003 that caused Chelsea to explode as they have?
It was the purchase of the club by one Roman Abramovich.
Immediately after Abramovich’s purchase, Chelsea immediately got busy in the 2003 summer transfer window. The club spent around £120 million — champions Arsenal and third-place Manchester United spent only £15 million and £20 million respectively) — bringing in big names like Hernán Crespo of Inter Milan and Claude Makélélé of Real Madrid. This big spending continued throughout Abramovich’s reign: from 2003 to 2022, Chelsea spent £1 billion on transfers, third only to Manchester United and Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City.
Abramovich has also invested heavily in the club’s youth academy, building the new Cobham facility which produced England internationals Mason Mount and Reece James, among others. In the 2021 Champions League final, £72 million import Kai Havertz scored the winner for Chelsea. Abramovich, with his spending, has made modern Chelsea.
Abramovich, then, is living proof that sportswashing works. The success he brought to Chelsea, the joy he brought to the fans have made some forget his shady origins. He’s drawn up the blueprint: take over an ailing, well-supported club; inject millions to bring success; become loved.
