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.

Soccer Football - FA Cup Semi Final - Chelsea v Crystal Palace - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - April 17, 2022 Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia and technical & performance advisor Petr Cech before the match REUTERS/David Klein

Who is Marina Granovskaia?

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, including the club's £60 million per year Nike sponsorship deal that runs until 2032.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Jose Mourinho the head coach / manager of Manchester United shakes hands with Chelsea diretor Marina Granovskaia as chairman Bruce Buck looks on after The Emirates FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 19, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Granovskaia's biggest Chelsea transfer deals

During her 12 years at Chelsea, Granovskaia orchestrated some of the club's biggest transfer deals.

In 2021, she secured the signature of Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan for an eye-watering fee of £97.5 million. The Belgian became the club's all-time record signing, eclipsing the £75.8m spent on Kai Havertz just one year before.

Granovskaia also facilitated the move for Kepa Arrizabalaga in 2018, who became the most expensive goalkeeper on the planet after a £71.6m deal was agreed with Athletic Bilbao.

But the Russian didn't need to always splash the cash in order to secure savvy transfer deals. Signing Thiago Silva as a free agent — and both N'Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas for about £30m each — showed she drove a hard bargain when getting world class players over the threshold. She isn't known as 'The Iron Lady' for nothing.

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Eden Hazard of Chelsea celebrates his side's 4-0 victory after the Premier League match between Stoke City and Chelsea at Bet365 Stadium on September 23, 2017 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Granovskaia was also successful in securing the initial £88m sale of club legend Eden Hazard, banking a profit of £56m after Chelsea initially signed him for £32m in 2012.

Following Todd Boehly's takeover of Chelsea in May this year, Granovskaia committed to one last summer transfer window to the club before she departed.

The Granovskaia era ended with the club confirming high profile signings including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Wesley Fofana.

Even though Granovskaia has now departed from Chelsea, her legacy is set to live on through the star names she procured for the club.