# Ken Bates, former Chelsea owner, dies at 91

Ken Bates, the former chairman and owner of Chelsea Football Club, has died at age 91. He transformed Chelsea from a struggling club into a modern force before selling to Roman Abramovich in 2003. His outspoken style and stewardship left a lasting mark on English football.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Sports
- [The Guardian Sport](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/12/ken-bates-obituary) — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 16:19:05 GMT