Chelsea’s next manager will inherit Roman Abramovich’s £85million parting gift
Chelsea are searching for a new manager following Liam Rosenior’s departure but whoever takes charge could benefit from an £85m windfall
Roman Abramovich left Chelsea in 2022(Image: Getty)
Roman Abramovich departed Chelsea in 2022, with the club’s current owners completing their takeover exactly four years ago. Yet one of his lasting legacies, helping guide his side to the FIFA Club World Cup which they went on to lift, could continue to serve whoever takes the reins next.
The Blues are enduring a turbulent period. Having begun the campaign under Enzo Maresca, the club swiftly opted for a change in direction, bringing in Liam Rosenior in January. Though his tenure got off to a promising start, a dismal run of five consecutive defeats without finding the net ultimately cost him his job last month.
A loss to Nottingham Forest, with Calum McFarlane stepping in as interim head coach, represented their most recent blow. Attention has now turned to finding Rosenior’s successor as Chelsea bid to recapture the Champions League-winning glory of 2021. That triumph, secured while Abramovich remained at the helm, earned the club a place in last summer’s Club World Cup.
There, defying expectations, Maresca’s Chelsea toppled Paris Saint-Germain in the final, pocketing a remarkable £85million in prize money. That financial boost could prove a handy resource for whoever steps into the dugout at Stamford Bridge.
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With Abramovich still at the controls, Chelsea edged out Manchester City 1-0 in 2021 to be crowned European champions. The Russian oligarch departed shortly afterwards, bringing to a close nearly two decades at the club since his 2003 takeover.
Abramovich had his assets frozen and faced sanctions from the UK Government due to alleged ties to Vladimir Putin and Russia, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. A consortium led by Todd Boehly completed a takeover of the club for £4.25billion on May 7, 2022.
Chelsea secured their place at the Club World Cup as Champions League winners. On American soil, their earnings were split between a guaranteed participation fee and performance-related bonuses accumulated throughout the tournament.
Their group stage wins netted them £3m, while they pocketed £5.6m for progressing to the round of 16. A quarter-final berth added a further £9.7m, and their semi-final triumph brought in £15.6m. Victory over PSG saw their total prize money reach £85m.
Last summer, with Abramovich long departed and Maresca at the helm, the club splashed nearly £200m on new recruits, including Joao Pedro and Liam Delap. Yet it remains entirely plausible that a portion of that £85m Club World Cup windfall is yet to be spent.
Abramovich’s legacy could be handed to whoever takes charge in west London next, with The Independent reporting that Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez is being considered for the role. The Spaniard has been out of work since departing the Catalan club in 2024, and five years earlier he made a candid admission regarding the prospect of managing in the Premier League.
Shortly after being appointed as Barcelona manager, Xavi was quizzed on whether he harboured ambitions of one day taking charge of a Premier League club. Having spoken of his affection for his Spanish employers, he said: “Who doesn’t like the Premier League?
“The football atmosphere, the packed stadiums and the people who play in the Premier League say it’s extraordinary. Obviously, if I had to choose, I would choose a big team.
“(Manchester) City or United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Tottenham. Also, (Jurgen) Klopp and (Mauricio) Pochettino and Unai Emery, many people who have gone there are doing an extraordinary job.”
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