Ken Bates, the former owner and chairman of Chelsea Football Club, has died at the age of 94. Chelsea announced that Bates passed away peacefully in Monaco, surrounded by his wife Suzannah and family.

Bates is notably remembered for purchasing Chelsea in 1982 for a symbolic fee of £1, taking control of a club struggling in the second tier of English football. At the time, Chelsea faced significant financial difficulties, including around £2 million of debt. Under his leadership, the club was promoted back to the top flight and moved towards becoming a regular contender in the higher ranks of the Premier League.

During his 22-year tenure as Chelsea chairman, Bates oversaw a period of transformation. The club secured multiple trophies, breaking a long drought that had lasted 26 years without major silverware. Chelsea won the FA Cup twice, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Super Cup, League Cup, Community Shield, and the Full Members’ Cup—a competition he helped establish—twice. In 2003, Bates sold the club to Roman Abramovich for around £140 million.

Following his departure from Chelsea, Bates became co-owner and chairman of Leeds United in 2005, a position he held for seven years. Earlier in his career, he had also served as chairman of Oldham Athletic and vice-chairman of Wigan Athletic, demonstrating a long-standing involvement in English football management and administration.

Chelsea issued a statement expressing condolences to Bates’s family and friends, highlighting his determination to sustain the club during challenging times and his role in driving the team to success. The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust also acknowledged the lasting impact Bates had on the club’s history and legacy.

Bates’s stewardship is widely regarded as pivotal in ensuring Chelsea’s survival and resurgence, laying much of the groundwork for the club’s future achievements in subsequent years.