The name Roman Abramovich will gather mixed reactions when spoken of around fans of soccer. Fans of the London-based club Chelsea see him as the Russian Santa Claus, and for good reason. Other fans, though don’t see a red hat with a white ball at the top, but rather devil horns.
The mixed reaction of men like Abramovich aren’t uncommon. Any time a rich billionaire purchases a team like the Russian did with Chelsea back in 2003 the groans of the purists could be heard loud and clear. A similar scenario is happening now in Germany as well. Bundesliga fans are fuming over the rapid rise of Red Bull Leipzig. Founded just six years ago, the team has not only gained promotion from the fourth division to the German top flight, but they are currently in second place and have clinched a Champions League spot next season.
While Leipzig is enjoying a dream debut season, others are fuming at the sight of a brand new team ruining the the status quo. More importantly, they view the idea of supporting a team like Leipzig as sacrilege. How dare people consider themselves soccer fans when they support a team that is younger than some children?
It’s tough to win any argument with a purist that just wants the status quo that’s been around for decades, but this is an request for them to at least see the other side. See, teams like Leipzig and Chelsea are good for the game, if not essential for the future of soccer.
Let’s take a look at Chelsea. Before Abramovich completed the purchase of the Blues, the English Premier League was around for about a decade. In that 10 year span, only three teams lifted the trophy come the end of the season: Arsenal, Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers. The Rovers, however, won it just once in that time span. The league was for the most part predictable, similar to how La Liga is now with fans knowing the only two title contenders are Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Once Abramovich entered the realm, everything changed. Chelsea ended up winning back-to-back Premier League titles. Then, Manchester City gained their own rich billionaire ownership group and gave the fans one of the most thrilling seasons ever when they won their first title in decades. After Abramovich took the team over, five different teams have been crowned champions and the Premier League is now the most unpredictable and entertaining league in the world.
There’s the hope that Leipzig does the seam in Germany. Five teams have won the Bundesliga since the start if the millenia. What’s worse is that Bavarian giants Bayern Munich have been champions for the last four years and look like they’ll make it a fifth this season. While Leipzig aren’t making a serious challenge this season, their rapid purchase of some of the world’s most promising youngsters means the prospect to end the reign of Bayern is high. Leipzig could make the Bundesliga entertaining again by adding another challenger to Bayern.
Look at all the league’s around Europe. Entering the year, most people know who’s going to win the majority of the big leagues. Spain has a duopoly, we already know about Bayern and Juventus is the only team in Italy that has star power. Rich owners save the sport, they break the monopoly teams have. These people aren’t the devil, but rather they are the one shot soccer has to break the boring status quo of the same teams dominating for years.
It will be weird to see teams that have been stuck in irrelevancy for years rise up to be continental powers, but with time people will catch on and see how those teams help make their leagues more competitive. So go on, do a rain dance, pray or do whatever it takes to ensure a billionaire owner purchases your favorite team and leads them to unprecedented heights. Here’s to hoping Bill Gates gains an interest in owning the Colorado Rapids.
