Chelsea Owner Reveals Reasons For Hiring And Firing Coaches

Roman Abramovich has broken a long public silence about Chelsea’s policy of hiring and firing managers.

Under his reign Chelsea have had 15 managers in the 18 years since Abramovich took over in 2003.

With his huge investment on and off the pitch, Chelsea have won 16 major trophies since his £140million takeover.

Within two years of his arrival, they were champions of England for the first time in 50 years and, in 2012, they became the first London club to be crowned champions of Europe.

Reflecting on his time as owner at Stamford Bridge as he spoke to Forbes magazine in his first full-scale interview for nearly 15 years Abramovich said: “I think the trophies speak for themselves and show what we as a club have been able to achieve over these years, and it’s my goal for us to keep winning trophies going forward and build for the future.

“Chelsea has a very rich history, and I feel extremely fortunate to play a part in that. The club was here before me, and will be here after me, but my job is to ensure we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future.

“I think we are pragmatic in our choices. And we are comfortable making the right changes at the right time to ensure we can achieve our long-term ambitions.

“I hope it also says something about the clarity of the long-term ambition of the club. Those who join understand the objectives both on the pitch, as well as the wider positive role the club plays in the community.”

On his only regret about his Chelsea project:”In hindsight, especially with the public profile it would bring me, maybe I would have thought differently about owning a club.

“At the time, I just saw this incredible game and that I wanted to be a part of that in one way or another.”