“Things would all change in the following months ” Marina Granovskaia make two returns to Chelsea after Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital takeover
Marina Granovskaia, the former director of Chelsea, has reportedly made two returns to the club in the past year after her departure from Chelsea in the summer of 2022. She is a Russian-Canadian business executive who played a significant role at Chelsea during her tenure.
Granovskaia joined Chelsea in 2010 and became a board member in 2013 before being appointed as the director in 2014. During her time at the club, she was responsible for overseeing transfer activities and contract renewals, which often sparked debates and discussions among fans and pundits. Some of her signings, like N’Golo Kante, Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa, and Antonio Rudiger, are considered successful, while others, such as Danny Drinkwater, Tiemoue Bakayoko, and Romelu Lukaku, raised questions.
In 2021, Granovskaia received the Best Director award after Chelsea’s Champions League triumph.
However, her time at Chelsea came to an end amid a turbulent period for the club. Sanctions were imposed on owner Roman Abramovich by the UK government due to his alleged ties to Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The club was placed under special sporting regulations, and eventually, it was sold to a consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, resulting in significant changes throughout the organization.
Granovskaia, who had a close relationship with Abramovich, was among those who departed as part of this transition. In a message to a fan last year, she expressed her sadness about leaving the club but also her gratitude for the experiences she had during her 20-year association with Chelsea.
Despite her departure, Granovskaia has made two returns to Chelsea in the past year, with her most recent appearance at the Chelsea legends game at Stamford Bridge, which was a fundraiser in memory of Gianluca Vialli. It has been reported that these visits were not extended on behalf of the new ownership.
The future plans of Marina Granovskaia, whether they involve football or other endeavors, remain uncertain.
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