Bates, one of the most influential and divisive figures in English football, bought Chelsea for just £1 in 1982 and spent more than two decades leading the club before selling it to Roman Abramovich in 2003. He later took charge of Leeds United, becoming chairman and owner in 2005.
Chelsea confirmed his death on Saturday and paid tribute to the man widely credited with helping reshape the club during a challenging period in its history.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news of the loss of Ken Bates, former owner and chairman of Chelsea Football Club. The club sends our heartfelt condolences to Ken’s wife Suzannah, the rest of his family and his friends.
“Ken’s determination to fight for Chelsea when times were tough, and drive the team on to winning trophies will never be forgotten.”
When Bates took over Chelsea, the club was struggling in the Second Division and faced an uncertain future. During his 22-year tenure, Chelsea regained top-flight status and lifted several major honours, including two FA Cups, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, the League Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and the Community Shield.
By the time he sold the club, Chelsea had re-established themselves among England’s leading sides, attracting high-profile players and regularly challenging near the top of the Premier League.
Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol described Bates as one of the most significant figures in Chelsea’s history, despite the controversies that often surrounded his time in football.
“Ken Bates is one of the most important and controversial figures in Chelsea’s history. You have to remember that when he bought Chelsea for just £1 in 1982, they were not the kind of club they are now and he was a really important figure in the way the club developed.
“When he bought them, they were in the second division and in danger of being relegated to the third tier. But by the time he sold Chelsea, they had sort of rediscovered their cosmopolitan roots. They’d become one of the most glamorous clubs in English football.
“They had star names playing for them like Gianfranco Zola, Marcel Desailly and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. They were regularly finishing in the top six in the top flight and that is the reason that Roman Abramovich wanted to buy Chelsea. Once he saw Chelsea and saw the potential at the club and also the fact they were based in one of the most expensive residential areas in the world, pretty quickly and infamously – I think he did a deal with Bates in the Dorchester Hotel to buy Chelsea for around £140m.
“Now, at the time Chelsea were in deep trouble financially, they had debts of around £80m. But you have to say overall, Bates did a great job as the Chelsea owner. He was a very colourful, controversial figure who liked doing things his own way.
“Obviously, he was a very, very successful businessman and he had lots of interests in the business world as well as in football. He was involved at Wigan Athletic, Oldham Athletic. After he sold Chelsea, he bought a 50 per cent stake in Leeds United where his ownership was quite controversial as well.
“But the way he developed Chelsea and the way he ran the club ultimately led them to be in a position where somebody like Abramovich would come along and buy them. And we all know what happened next.”
Following his departure from Stamford Bridge, Bates acquired a controlling interest in Leeds United, where his spell in charge also attracted significant attention and debate.
His stewardship of Chelsea is widely viewed as laying the groundwork for the club’s modern success, with the transformation he oversaw making the west London side an attractive proposition before Abramovich’s takeover ushered in one of the most successful eras in the club’s history.
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