Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has come under attack after failing to recognize club great Ruud Gullit at a recent meeting. Gullit, who played and managed the Blues in the 1990s, explained what happened on the Stick to Football podcast.
He had greeted Boehly and introduced himself, but was greeted by questions regarding what he had done for Chelsea. Gullit explained:
“Todd said, ‘What do you do?’, ‘Well I played football, also played and coached for Chelsea.’ Todd said, ‘Oh yeah, when did you play for Chelsea, what did you do for Chelsea?’, He didn’t know. Can I blame him? No, I don’t think so.”
The fiasco has also led to criticism from football experts, as talkSPORT’s Andy Goldstein termed Boehly’s ignorance “disgusting”. Former striker Darren Bent also explained:
“But if one of your club legends walks in and you go, ‘Oh, sorry, what do you…’, It’s not so much about ego, that’s just a big level of disrespect.”
“If you’re stepping into a football environment, or a soccer environment in Todd Boehly’s world, you have to know who this person is. Especially at the club that you now own. You have to know who that is. There’s no excuse for that.”
Gullit’s role in Chelsea has been important. He signed in 1995, eventually turning player-manager and taking the side to an FA Cup win in 1997. At the time, it was their biggest honor in nearly a quarter century.
Chelsea Fans Have Been Frustrated With Todd Boehly
Todd Boehly’s time as Chelsea co-owner has been characterized by huge issues and increasing fan outrage. Since 2022, Boehly has presided over massive spending of over £1.2 billion on player signings. The team, though, has not won big trophies, which has generated outrage among the fans.
One particularly contentious fact has been Boehly’s involvement with Vivid Seats, an online ticket resale platform on which he serves as a director. Supporters have referenced cases where tickets for top games were available at inflated prices, well beyond face value.
Also, Boehly has made recent statements that Chelsea could possibly relocate away from their legendary Stamford Bridge headquarters. This has only added fuel to the fire.
