Our owner described those days during his recent conversation with Forbes magazine and he went on to talk about his goals for the future, having enjoyed his team’s sustained success.The milestone of 1000 Chelsea games under Mr. Abramovich’s ownership was reached back in November. The first game was back in 2003 and he told Forbes that in the years preceding that, wherever his work had taken him for business meetings, he found himself attending football matches.‘There was so much emotion, so much excitement. I remember thinking, “I want to be a part of this,”’ Mr. Abramovich added.‘The fact that there is no set formula for winning football matches. A coach and his or her squad have to consider many factors when approaching each match. It’s like every few days is a new exam and the work you have put in gets evaluated. I enjoyed, and still enjoy, the unpredictability and seeing how each game plays out.’

That enjoyment led him to Chelsea Football Club and Forbes reports it was with a smile and a laugh that he said: ‘In hindsight, especially with the public profile it would bring me, maybe I would have thought differently about owning a club. But, at the time, I just saw this incredible game and that I wanted to be a part of that in one way or another.’Now, nearly 18 year later, he can review how it has gone so far.‘I think the trophies speak for themselves and show what we as a club have been able to achieve over these years,’ he said, ‘and it’s my goal for us to keep winning trophies going forward and build for the future.

‘Chelsea has a very rich history, and I feel extremely fortunate to a play a part in that. The club was here before me, and will be here after me, but my job is to ensure we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future. That’s why the success of our Academy at Cobham is so important to me.’