Marina Granovskaia: 'Football's most powerful woman' who signed Chelsea superstars

Marina Granovskaia, the former director of Chelsea Football Club, was once named the “most powerful woman” in the sport.

During her 12 years with the Blues, she brokered some of the biggest business deals football has ever seen, including player transfers and sponsorships.

The former chief executive has recently been in the headlines, but not for her pedigree as a successful businesswoman.

Police are currently investigating a threatening email sent to Granovskaia during her time as Chelsea director.

According to The Times, a British football agent sent the Russian-born businesswoman a threatening email demanding payment of £300,000 from the West London club.

The payment was reportedly for what the agent viewed as his help in securing a big-money transfer. He was arrested but later released on bail.

But GiveMeSport Women wants to ensure Granovskaia’s impressive tenure at Chelsea is not overshadowed by the disturbing report.

Granovskaia is a Russian-Canadian business executive who struck up a close partnership with Roman Abramovich.

She first started working for the oligarch in 1997 after graduating from Moscow State University with a degree in Foreign Languages.

Granovskaia joined the Russian oil-producing company now known as Gazprom Neft as a graduate and worked as Abramovich’s personal assistant.

She followed him to London in 2003 when he bought Chelsea Football Club and took on the role as his representative seven years later.

In 2013, Granovskaia joined the club board and was named chief executive the following year. The promotion made her the “most powerful woman in football” according to The Times.

She spent eight years in the role and was responsible for brokering multiple lucrative business deals,