Chelsea have confirmed the departure of Bruce Buck, who served as their chairman since 2003 and was a key part of the revolution under Roman Abramovich. He is set to leave the club and end his duties on 30 June. Moreover, Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia is also set to leave the club imminently, reports The Telegraph.
Chelsea Executives Set to Leave
Bruce Buck Reacts to Chelsea Departure
Buck, who has been a key part of the club for the last two decades, will stay on as a senior advisor to the club as it undergoes changes under Todd Boehly. Speaking on his departure, he said: “I am proud to have helped Chelsea realize great success on the pitch and make a positive impact in the community.
“Now is the right time to step down and let new ownership build on the strong foundations we have in place. The owners have a compelling vision for Chelsea’s future, and I look forward to helping them achieve it in this new role alongside our incredible staff, players, coaches and supporters.”
Marina Granovskaia to Follow Suit In Leaving
Marina Granovskaia is one of the most prominent executives in world football after orchestrating some of the biggest transfers for Chelsea. She has been their lead transfer negotiator since 2013, being responsible for looking into players’ contract extensions as well as signing new faces.
But Granovskaia is ready to move on from Stamford Bridge after the change in ownership. She could leave Chelsea before the end of the summer transfer window in August. In fact, Chelsea owner Boehly could negotiate all their summer signings himself going forward.
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The Russian-Canadian executive was the one to secure the signing of Romelu Lukaku for a club-record fee last summer. She’s made a number of major signings for the Blues, including the likes of N’Golo Kante, Kai Havertz, Edouard Mendy, Timo Werner and more. She was once described by Roman Abramovich as ‘football’s best club director’.
Buck’s Legacy at Stamford Bridge
Since assuming his position as Chairman in 2003, when Roman Abramovich took over the club, Buck was responsible for overseeing the transformation of the entire team. The Russian owner had a lot of trust in him and allowed him to handle the day-to-day activities at Chelsea while he maintained a more hands-off role at the club.
During Buck’s period as Chairman, Chelsea became one of the major heavyweights in Europe. They won 18 major trophies under him, including two UEFA Champions League titles as well as the Premier League title 5 times in the last two decades.
Not just that, but Buck also helped form Chelsea’s Women’s team in 2004. The Chelsea Ladies have since gone on to become a dominant force in Europe as well, winning 5 Women’s Super League titles since 2015.
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The departing Chelsea Chairman was also very active in creating a respectable reputation for the club off the pitch as well. In 2010, helped establish the Chelsea Foundation. This foundation helps in a variety of charitable causes and initiatives like promoting youth athletics and anti-discrimination campaigns.
Chelsea are yet to announce a replacement for Buck or give a hint on who will be their next Chairman. Irrespective of whatever happens, this is another sign that major changes are taking place within the club under Todd Boehly’s ownership.
