Ken Bates, the former owner of Chelsea and Leeds United, has passed away at the age of 94.
Chelsea Football Club confirmed Bates’ death on Saturday, stating that he “passed away peacefully in Monaco this morning, surrounded by his wife and family.
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Bates acquired Chelsea for just £1 in 1982 when the club was struggling in the old Second Division and was burdened with debts of £1.5 million. He set about revitalizing the club’s fortunes.
He eventually sold the club to Roman Abramovich in 2003 for £140 million, at which point Chelsea had returned to the top tier of English football.
At the time of the sale, Chelsea was still grappling with significant debt; however, Bates continued as chairman at Stamford Bridge until stepping down in 2004.
Chelsea released a statement expressing their sorrow over Bates’ passing: “With great sadness, we share the news of the loss of Ken Bates, former owner and chairman of Chelsea Football Club. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Ken’s wife, Suzannah, and to his family and friends.”
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“Ken’s commitment to Chelsea during challenging times and his efforts to lead the team to victory in various competitions will always be remembered.”
During Bates’ tenure, several managers including John Neal, John Hollins, Bobby Campbell, Ian Porterfield, David Webb, Glenn Hoddle, Ruud Gullit, Gianluca Vialli, and Claudio Ranieri worked with the club. It was under Gullit’s leadership that Chelsea ended a 26-year trophy drought by winning the FA Cup in 1997.
The club also secured the League Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup, and another FA Cup before Bates sold the team to Abramovich.
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust expressed their deep sadness at the news of Bates’ death, calling him “one of the most significant figures in Chelsea Football Club’s modern history.” They added that his leadership helped secure the club’s future during some of its toughest times and laid the foundation for its subsequent success. “His legacy at Chelsea will be cherished for generations.”
Following a failed investment attempt in Sheffield Wednesday, Bates served as Leeds United’s owner from January 2005 until December 2012. Leeds faced several challenges, including a loss in the Championship play-off final in 2006 and subsequent relegation to the third tier of English football in 2007 after going into administration.
Bates was part of a consortium that repurchased the club from administrators, leading to Leeds’ return to the Championship in 2010. Although he sold the club at the end of 2012, he remained as chairman and later as honorary president until leaving Leeds in July 2013.