Roman Abramovich – Chelsea’s Owner
Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich (Russian: ?????? ??????????? ??????????, pronounced [r??man ?r?kad??v??t? ?br??mov??t?]; born 24 October 1966) is a Russian billionaire and the main owner of the private investment company Millhouse LLC. According to Forbes magazine, as of 11 March 2009, he had a net worth of US$8.5 billion, ranking him as the 51st richest person in the world.[2] Prior to the financial crisis, he was considered to be the second richest person living within the United Kingdom.[3] Early in 2009, The Times estimated that due to the global economic crisis he has lost £3 billion from his £11.7 billion wealth.[4]
In 2003, Abramovich was named Person of the Year by Expert, a Russian business magazine. He shared this title with Mikhail Khodorkovsky. He is known outside Russia as the owner of Chelsea Football Club, an English Premier League football team, and for his wider involvement in European football.
Source: English Premier League, Chelsea F.C., Roman Abramovich information at wikipedia.org.
Petr Cech – Chelsea’s Goalkeeper
Petr ?ech (born 20 May 1982 in Plze?, Czechoslovakia, now Czech Republic) is a Czech international football goalkeeper who is currently contracted to English Premier League football club Chelsea, for whom he has played since July 2004. Petr ?ech has previously played for Viktoria Plze?, Chmel Blšany, Sparta Prague, and Rennes. He was voted into the all-star team of Euro 2004 after helping his country reach the semi-finals.[1] ?ech also received the individual award of Best Goalkeeper in the 2004/2005, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 seasons of the UEFA Champions League. In addition, he was named in the FIFPro and UEFA Champions League teams of the season in 2006.
He currently holds one record: a Czech professional league record of not conceding a goal in 855 competitive minutes (he previously held a record for the most clean sheets accomplished in a single Premier League season (25), set during Chelsea’s 2004–05 title-winning campaign). He also has a club record at his former team Sparta Praha, having gone 928 minutes unbeaten in all competitions in 2001–2002, when his unbeaten run in Czech league competition was combined with his performances in the UEFA Champions League. During the 2004–05 season, ?ech went 1,025 minutes without conceding a goal – a former Premier League record until Edwin van der Sar of Manchester United broke it on 27 January 2009.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 May 1982 (1982-05-20) (age 27) | ||
| Place of birth | Plze?, Czechoslovakia | ||
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Chelsea | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
Source: English Premier League Football Club, Chelsea F.C., Goalkeeper, Petr Cech information at wikipedia.org.
Chelsea transfer ban is suspended
English Premier League News : Chelsea transfer ban is suspended
Chelsea’s transfer ban has been temporarily suspended by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) pending a final decision on the matter.
Fifa had ruled the club could not sign players until 2011 after inducing Gael Kakuta to break his Lens contract.
But Chelsea appealed to Cas, which said on Friday: “Such sanctions are now stayed until the Cas renders its final decision in this matter.”
The decision means Chelsea will be able to sign players in January.
No date has been given for a final decision from Cas.
Fifa had banned the Premier League leaders in September from any activity during the next two transfer windows after they were found guilty of inducing Kakuta, now aged 18, to breach his contract with French club Lens in 2007.
Under the terms of the original Fifa punishment, French teenager Kakuta was ordered to pay compensation of 780,000 euros (£710,000), for which Chelsea were “jointly and severally liable”.
Chelsea were also told to pay Lens “training compensation” of 130,000 euros (£118,000).
Story from BBC SPORT.