Petr Cech to leave Chelsea amid exodus following Todd Boehly takeover

Cech follows chairman Bruce Buck and sporting director Marina Granovskaia out of Stamford Bridge after the club was taken over by a Boehly-led consortium

Lawrence Ostlere
Monday 27 June 2022 15:10 BST
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Petr Cech will leave his post as Chelsea’s technical and performance adviser this summer as the club’s new ownership continues to pursue a clean break from the Roman Abramovich regime.

The former goalkeeper spent 11 seasons as a player at Stamford Bridge before returning after a spell at Arsenal to take up his current role in 2019.

Following the takeover by the Todd Boehly-led consortium there have been a number of key departures announced, including former chairman Bruce Buck and sporting director Marina Granovskaia.

Cech said: “It has been a huge privilege to perform this role at Chelsea for the past three years. With the Club under new ownership, I feel now is the right time for me to step aside. I am pleased that the Club is now in an excellent position with the new owners, and I am confident of its future success both on and off the pitch.”

Boehly, chairman and co-controlling owner, said: “Petr is an important member of the Chelsea family. We understand his decision to step away and thank him for his contributions as an adviser and his commitment to the club and to our community. We wish him the best.”

The news comes as all the top Boehly-Clearlake Capital consortium figureheads have been added to Chelsea’s new board, as the west London club’s new era continues to gather pace.

“As custodians of Chelsea FC, we now begin executing our long-term vision and plan for the club, creating an outstanding experience for its passionate, loyal fans, and continuing to challenge for top honours in line with Chelsea FC’s dedicated history,” said Boehly.

“Working together, side by side, we are firmly committed to winning, both on and off the pitch. For us, that effort has begun.”

Clearlake chiefs and Chelsea co-controlling owners Behdad Eghbali and Jose Feliciano have also been added to the Blues’ new board.

Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter, Swiss magnate Hansjorg Wyss and British tycoon Jonathan Goldstein have all been officially named on the Chelsea board.

Music industry supremo Barbara Charone and Tory peer and columnist Daniel Finkelstein have also been added to the board, along with Clearlake Capital partner James Pade.

“As the new era of the Boehly-Clearlake ownership begins, we are excited to build a championship organisation and grow Chelsea FC as a global platform,” said Eghbali and Feliciano.

“We look forward to backing Thomas Tuchel, Emma Hayes and their teams, and will provide proactive, unbending support to make Chelsea’s loyal fans and our partners proud.”

Cech will leave his role on 30 June.

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