Former Chelsea chairman Ken Bates passes away at 94

Ken Bates, the former chairman of Chelsea, has died at the age of 94. The Premier League club shared this news on Saturday.

In a statement, Chelsea said Bates "passed away peacefully in Monaco this morning surrounded by his wife and family."

The club honored Bates, calling him a key figure in its history.
"Ken’s determination to fight for Chelsea when times were tough, and drive the team on to winning trophies will never be forgotten," the club added.

"Rest in peace, Ken."

Bates made headlines when he bought Chelsea for just £1 in 1982. At that time, the club was deep in debt, owing about £1.5 million and playing in England’s Second Division.

During his 20 years at Stamford Bridge, he helped Chelsea get back to the top flight. He also laid the groundwork for the club to become a major force in English football.

In 2003, Bates sold Chelsea to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich for £140 million. This deal began a new era of success for the club.

Bates stayed involved with Chelsea for a while after the sale. Eventually, he stepped down as chairman.

In 2005, he became the main owner of Leeds United after buying a 50 percent stake in the club.

He ran Leeds for seven years before the club was sold to GFH Capital in 2012.