It’s certainly fair to suggest that Roman Abramovich’s acquisition of Chelsea in June of 2003 represented a monumental turning point for football in England.
The affluent Russian businessman ushered in a new era of financial power in the Premier League, drastically altering the club in numerous ways, from their state-of-the-art training facility in Cobham to an unprecedented level of spending in the transfer market.
A lengthy wait of half a century for league success was soon brought to an end, marking the start of the most fruitful spell in the club’s history, though prior to his involvement, the football community in England remained largely uncertain about what lay ahead.
John Terry on Roman Abramovich’s arrival
John Terry – later ranked as no.23 in FourFourTwo’s enumeration of the finest English players ever – had cemented his place in Chelsea’s starting eleven when Abramovich took over and would later become the club’s captain for over a decade. He has confessed, though, that he didn’t initially grasp the full implications of the Russian’s arrival.
“I wasn’t familiar with Roman at all, but then there were whispers about how wealthy he was, and his grand plans for the club,” Terry told FourFourTwo. “He turned up and the investments started coming in thick and fast – a brand-new training complex and ultra-modern amenities.
“We had previously been sharing facilities with a nearby college. His influence immediately professionalised things.
“Then superstars started arriving, which sounds amazing until very capable centre-backs come in and your team-mates suggest you might be at risk of losing your place!
“It’s all in good humour, but it does make you think, ‘hang on a minute, I’m not entirely happy with this’. However, it spurred me on to improve. I was well aware that world-class players were coming in, and they were after my position.”
Chelsea would go on to secure the Premier League title in Abramovich’s second year at the helm, their first league championship since the 1954-55 season, and Terry attributes this success to the unwavering focus of the former owner.
“Roman’s intentions were quite straightforward: he was after triumph, and he wanted it without delay,” Terry went on to explain. “You were left with the choice of either embracing that vision and competing for your place, or falling by the wayside.
“None of the other owners came close to Roman’s standards when it came to expenditure and drive. I believe he was the best club owner anywhere in the world.”
