10 THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE BILLIONAIRE CHELSEA FC.OWNER, ROMAN ABRAMOVICH.

 The name Roman Abramovich would never sound strange to committed football lovers around the world especially in the continents of Europe and Africa.  He is a very significant figure in the English Premier League not just for his position as the owner of the world class Chelsea Football Club, but also for his role in the revolution of football across Europe. The Russian Billionaire who bought Chelsea FC in 2003 transformed the European transfer market and contributed immensely to the total transformation of the 21^st century football across the whole of Europe.

Everyone knows some of these facts about the billionaire, but how about some of the hidden and not frequently pronounced details about him? In this piece, we have outlined 10 facts that are probably not very known about the billionaire business tycoon for your reading pleasure.

#1.Did you know that Roman Abramovich was orphaned at age 2?

Roman Abramovich was birthed in 1966 into a poor Jewish home in the then Soviet Union. His mother died when he was barely a year old. She is believed to have died during a medical procedure.He also lost his father Arkady before he was three years old. The poor man was accidentally killed at a construction site where he was employed. Roman ended up not having any brothers or sisters and was painfully orphaned at age two. He spent his early childhood years with Leib, his father’s brother. What a excruciating way to start off a life!

#2. Did you know that Roman Abramovich is Jewish?

Being born into a Jewish family, Abramovich embraces his Jewishness with strong faith and has funded several projects in Israel and has also donated a lot of money to Jewish causes around the world.

#3.Did you know that Roman Abramovich was once a soldier with the Soviet Army?

The future oligarch was held two years military service in the Soviet Army in 1984-1986. According to reports, the ordinary Abramovich served in autozone artillery regiment in the military N11785 in the city Kirzhach Vladimir region of the Soviet Union.

#4.Did you know that Roman Abramovich has seven legitimate children and has been married thrice?

The Russian oligarchy has been married three times so far in his lifetime. In December 1987, he got married to Olga Yurevna Lysova but they unfortunately divorced three years later. He quickly remarried in October 1991 to Irina Vyacheslavovna Malandina but their 16 year old marriage crashed in 2007 after they got divorced. He had five children with Malandina. Abramovich married his third wife Dasha Zhukova in a private ceremony in 2008 and they had two children together. On the 7^th of August 2017, Abramovich, one of the world’s richest men announced his separation from his socialite wife Dasha in what is described as one of the world’s most expensive divorces. It’s clear that the billionaire Chelsea first man indeed hasn’t had a fair share of luck in marital matters!

#5.Did you know that Roman Abramovich owns the most expensive home in England?

Abramovich bought nine apartments in east London and converted them into a mansion.  By the time renovations were complete,the nine apartments which is reportedly worth up to £150 million, became a 30,000 square-foot estate and stood as the most expensive home in the country. For the stylish and classic Abramovich, whose fortune makes him one of the richest persons in the planet, the house will be a measure of his vast wealth and an opulent expression of his overwhelming personal style.

 #6. Did you know that Roman Abramovich initially wanted to buy Tottenham Hotspur in 2013?

Roman Abramovich initially wanted to buy Tottenham Hotspur in north London before he finally resolved to buy Chelsea Football Club back in 2003. At the time, the Spurs chairman Daniel Levy didn’t think it was a serious bid and quoted an outrageous price of £50 million just to get the Russian off his back. Abramovich then decided it was not worth it and proceeded to buy Chelsea even though it cost him £60 million – £10 million more than Tottenham’s price. But in return, he had a developed stadium ready and also two hotels – a better bargain than buying Tottenham. Chelsea was also ready to sell because of the debts, which Abramovich duly paid off.

#7. Did you know that Roman Abramovich was once the Governor of a Province in Russia?

Abramovich was the Governor of the Russian region of Chukotka from 2003 – 2008 and spent $1.3 billion of his own money on the region. Under Governor Abramovich, living standards improved, schools and housing were restored and new investors were being drawn to the region. He later resigned as Governor in 2008.

#8. Did you know that Roman Abramovich owns seven yachts?

Even though Abramovich is a Russian who lives in London, he spends most of his time in his personal yacht, and his yachts are a thing of beauty and pride for the billionaire. His favourite yacht Eclipse is the second-largest yacht in the world (At 162.5 metres long, it is 17.3 metres short of the largest in the world). Its estimated cost is €340 million and has two helicopter pads, two swimming pools, a total of 24 cabins for guests and even a disco hall.The yacht also has its own mini-submarine and a missile defence system! The yacht requires around 70 crew members for both operations and serving guests. 

#9.Did you know that Roman Abramovich spends $2 million a year on his 40 security personnel?

Abramovich has a security staff of 40 people that costs him $2 million a year. Abramovichis said to have wanted better protection because of increasing concerns about the risk of kidnap. It is reported that a similar number are employed to protect him for outings in his yachts, trips to Russia and his stays in his overseas properties.

#10.Did you know that Roman Abramovich had strong influence on the Russian National team?

The success of the football team of Russia at the European championship-2008, where the Russians won the bronze medal would not have been possible without Abramovich. The billionaire acted as the main initiator of the invitation for the post of coach Dutchman Guus Hiddink. Hiddink’s salary, and all expenses of the coaching staff, was funded by the Foundation “National Academy of Football”, created by Abramovich in 2004.