Marina Granovskaia is the iron lady of Chelsea

Manos Staramopoulos • 1 de febrero de 2022

Marina Granovskaia is the CEO of Chelsea and the "right hand" of the Russian multimillionaire owner of the English team, Roman Abramovich. A wonderful women

Marina Granovskaia Director of Chelsea FC

They say that behind a great man hides an equally great woman. And that goes to Marina Granovskaia, the CEO of Chelsea and the "right hand" of the Russian multimillionaire owner of the English team, Roman Abramovich.


The summer of 2021 was undoubtedly perhaps the best in the career of the beautiful Marina Granovskaia. At first she made every effort to get Borussia Dortmund the tall Norwegian international forward Erling Haaland, but as the negotiations did not end well, she then quickly turned her attention to Inter Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku, and in a very short time closed the deal. securing an agreement within days.


The Italian champion, Inter, asked for 120 million euros, but Granovskaia managed to lower its price to 115 million euros and the international forward to dress in "blue", having in fact great success in his appearances so far.


But it was not just the smart shopping that the "iron lady" of Chelsea has made so far. It is also the sales that have brought in a lot of revenue to its "employer" Abramovich. He sold the talent of the international forward, Tammy Abraham, to Roma in the summer with 40 million euros.


The 21-year-old defender, Mark Guehi at Crystal Palace with 18 million euros. The central defender, Fikanio Tomori with 40 million euros in Milan. In fact, Marina has put a repurchase clause in all three of the above, if the management of the English team deems that they can strengthen it.


The work she has been doing at Chelsea for more than 10 years is fascinating and proves exactly why Abramovich trusts her so much.


Granovskaia studied at the Foreign Languages Faculty of Moscow State University  and graduated in 1997. She started working as Roman Abramovich's PA  at Sibneft  in 1997 In 2003, she moved to London, when Abramovich bought Chelsea. She has also worked for Millhouse Capital, another company owned by Abramovich.


She later became involved in transfers and contractual dealings for Chelsea, becoming the representative of the owner at the club in 2010, then joining the Chelsea board in June 2013. In 2014, she was promoted to chief executive of the club. The Times stated that the promotion made the "most powerful woman in football."



Her task of managing transfers sometimes put her at odds with managers who had their own ideas of whom to sell or buy during the transfer window. She has also been responsible for brokering the team's sponsorship deal with Nike that will fund £60m per year to the club until 2032.


She has been described as 'The Iron Lady' and she is considered one of the best club directors in world football. In 2018, Forbes  ranked her Number 5 in their "Most Powerful Women in International Sports" list.


While Chelsea started growing their presence on the pitch, with back-to-back Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006, Granovskaia started the long-term planning of the club.


She was a fundamental part of establishing a working relationship with Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem, who often provide a temporary home for loaned young Blues stars who develop their game in the Eredivisie, such as Mason Mount and Armando Broja . She also masterminded the building of Chelsea's Cobham training facility.


In 2010, she was appointed as Abramovich's representative, before being added to the board of directors in 2013, becoming influential in transfer dealings. One year later, she was promoted to the role of chief executive at the club following the departure of Ron Gourlay. She now has the final say on transfers, and negotiates the prices of sales and signings.


In short, a lot. Everything business and transfer related goes through her, and she has the full trust of Abramovich.


   Post recientes


French football legends Nicolas Anelka and Claude Makelele in his stages with Chelsea.
Por Manos Staramopoulos 16 de enero de 2025
ds have expressed their admiration for Qatar's achievements in football and the wider sports induFrench football legenstry.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with SC Napoli in 2023
Por Manos Staramopoulos 16 de enero de 2025
The official announcement of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's joining PSG is now a matter of hours. Deal close for transfer.
James Rodríguez as player of Olympiacos in Greece.
Por Manos Staramopoulos 14 de enero de 2025
The international footballer colombian James Rodríguez, one of the most charismatic but certainly a little "strange", signed with Leon, so he will continue his career in México.
James Rodríguez en su etapa en el Rayo Vallecano.
Por Discoveryfootball.com 14 de enero de 2025
El jugador colombiano James Rodríguez, ha fichado por el León mexicano en donde vivirá una nueva aventura como futbolista. Hasta cuándo le durará?.
Altay Bayindir goalkeeper of Manchester United against Arsenal in FA Cup.
Por Manos Staramopoulos 13 de enero de 2025
Turkish goalkeeper, Altay Bayindir, who saved the penalty of the German, Kai Havertz, sent his team to the "32" phase of the FA Cup, throwing out the... chatty Arsenal. Also stopped a penalty from Odegaard and made several saves.
Dutch Defender Virgil Van Dijk, defender of Liverpool FC
Por Manos Staramopoulos 13 de enero de 2025
The dutch defender Virgil Van Dijk is ready to extend his contract with Liverpool once again and remain a resident of England.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia great talent of Napoli SC and objective of PSG for winter market 2025
Por Manos Staramopoulos 13 de enero de 2025
PSG has almost agreed on everything with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and now some formal details remain to complete his transfer. So far, there is a verbal agreement.
FC Barcelona won his 15th Spanish  Super Cup tittle after defeat at Real  Madrid 2-5 in Saudi Arabia
Por Manos Staramopoulos 13 de enero de 2025
In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid and Barcelona "crossed their swords" with the Spanish Super Cup trophy at stake. The Blaugrana were the absolute boss against Carlo Ancelotti's team.
El  Barcelona goleó al Real Madrid y conquistó su titulo 15 en la Supercopa de España.
Por Juan Carlos Quiñonez Bonilla 12 de enero de 2025
Por primera vez en la historia, el Barcelona ha firmado dos goleadas en línea sobre su histórico rival. Ésta noche como hace escasos 3 meses en La Liga, le ha apabullado para conquistar una nueva Supercopa de España.
Share by: