Source: Telegraph
Chelsea's Peter Kenyon: profile
Born: Stalybridge, Cheshire, 1954.[LNB]Educated: West Hill School, Tameside.[LNB] Related ArticlesKenyon's ups and downsKenyon leaves ChelseaBrian Moore: Keynon's Chelsea dream still distantAncelotti content to win uglyJoe Cole in line for returnSport on televisionBusiness career: Production director and chief executive of sportswear firm Umbro.[LNB]Football career: Having seen United win the European Cup final in 1968, he joined the club as deputy chief executive in 1997 and helped them secure huge deals with Vodafone and Nike. Also set up a merchandising arrangement with the New York Yankees and played a major role in helping club tap into the huge Asian market.[LNB]Took over from Martin Edwards as chief executive in 2000 and persuaded the club to abandon its rigid wage structure and cautious approach in the transfer market, leading to such high-profile purchases as Ruud van Nistelrooy (£19 million), Juan Sebastian Veron (£28 million) and Rio Ferdinand (£30 million). He also oversaw the £25 millin sale of David Beckham to Real Madrid. In three seasons, United won two league titles, during which time Kenyon persuaded Sir Alex Ferguson to drop his plans to retire.[LNB]He also sparked controversy by suggesting that lower division clubs should go semi-professional, but caused an even bigger storm when he decided to leave United in 2003 to take over as chief executive at Chelsea, despite being a keen United fan and having said months earlier about Roman Abramovich's billions being pumped into Stamford Bridge: "Having money is not necessarily a route to automatic success."[LNB]Controversy followed him to Chelsea, including an attempt to persuade the manager of the England national team Sven-Göran Eriksson to become manager of the club and the tapping-up of former Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole.[LNB]Despite Abramovich's largesse, Kenyon was not able to realise one of his main ambitions in helping guide the club to Champions League success.[LNB][LNB]
