Marina Granovskaia and Leila Pereira, the influential women who took their teams to the Club World Cup

The Club World Cup It was not only a sign that European football is above South American football with a new Champions League title. Chelsea beat Palmeiras 2-1 to maintain a 10-year run of UEFA titles. But also, the appointment in Abu Dabhi made it possible to see two of the most influential women in world football.

At the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium they were together Marina GranovskaiaCEO of Chelsea and Leila Pereira, the president of Palmeiras. Their presence is important because of the role they play in their clubs.

In 2018, the BBC placed Marina Granovskaia in the top 5 most influential women in football. As director of Chelsea, she “is primarily responsible for player transactions,” cites the same blue box website.

He was born in Russia, but also has Canadian nationality. After graduating in 1997, he began working at the Sibneft oil company, which at that time belonged to Roman Abramovich, today the owner of the ‘Blues’.

When Abramovich took control of Chelsea in 2003, Marina moved to London to work at the club and in 2010 she became the tycoon’s representative, as reported on the Chelsea website.

Since 2013 he joined the Board of Directors and until today he is the one who sees the signings on the campus. One of his last merits is having ‘survived’ the FIFA sanction of not being able to sign in the 2019-20 season and after maintaining a positive balance in his accounts despite the pandemic.

“Business woman than a soccer expert. She is very direct. She doesn’t like the repetitive calls and the endless exchange of emails. If she has already made up her mind about what is being discussed, it is difficult for her to change her mind. Either take it or leave it”, quotes “El País” from Spain about her.

The decision to sign Kai Havertz, from Bayer Leverkusen, passed through his hands, a signing that was criticized in Germany since they accused her of spying on the directors of the German team to detect their mistakes in previous sales and thus take advantage of the negotiations. Leverkusen wanted 100 million, but Marina agreed to pay 80.

brazilian power

Leila Pereira She is the president of Palmeiras since December 15, 2015 and the club describes her as “one of the main executives in the Brazilian market today”.

Graduated in journalism and law, she entered the business world promoted by her husband. Thus, she came to work at Crefisa, a banking business group, she presides over the University Center of the Americas (FAM) and manages 11 other companies of the banking group.

Precisely, Crefisa and FAM have been partners of Palmeiras since 2015 and played an important role in the reconstruction of the club, which led them to achieve the two-time Copa Libertadores championship.

She was elected councilor of Palmeiras in 2017, as the most voted (248) and re-elected in 2021 with even more support (387 votes). Until, in November of last year, she was elected as president, being the first woman to assume that position in the history of Palmeiras.

In its board of directors, it has two female vice presidents: María Tereza Bellangero and Neive de Andrade. Without a doubt, a sign that they have a lot of decision-making power at Palmeiras.