Is Chelsea's Roman Abramovich the Greatest Owner in Football?

Before we begin, let's remove the significant elephant from the room: Chelsea's history, or apparent lack thereof.

We've been here before. It's a stick opposition fans try to beat Chelsea with, but without success.

While Chelsea's pre-2005 history wasn't exactly littered with trophies, silverware was still forthcoming.

Indeed, the club had won every major honour in the English game by the 1970s before Glenn Hoddle helped kickstart a revolution in more recent times—one that has ultimately led Chelsea to where they are now.

Sure, the history of winning trophies isn't as significant as some others, yet Chelsea's traditions and character are etched into the fabric of the King's Road and surrounding areas.

Even now, the anecdotes from the club's golden era in the 1960s and 1970s echo throughout SW6. We need to remind ourselves, too, that before Wembley was the main venue for the FA Cup Final, Stamford Bridge was playing host.

It was the sporting venue of its generation, and Chelsea called the place home.

The statue of Peter Osgood that proudly welcomes fans through Britannia Gate to the West Stand is a reminder of Chelsea's heritage—a man who played with swagger, changed the rules and entertained.

As much as Chelsea's history resides proudly in the past, the club's owner Roman Abramovich is writing a better future.

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Jose Mourinho talks of leaving his mark at Stamford Bridge. He wants to build a legacy that will outdo anything that's been achieved in west London before, winning more trophies and making Chelsea dominant enough that they become an institution in the European game.

Abramovich doesn't give interviews, he doesn't face the media after every game to tell us what he's thinking, what his plans are.

This week, he didn't have to.

"

Just been to the bridge to see the new stadium plans... #ooooof #CathedralOfFootball #Chels

— Jody Morris (@morriskid) June 30, 2015"

If the billions the Russian has already poured into Chelsea didn't already reveal his ambition for the club, his grand designs for a redeveloped Stamford Bridge certainly did.

Charles Sale used his column in the Daily Mail to reveal some of the plans that are being showed to local residents surrounding Stamford Bridge as part of an ongoing consultation for the stadium's redevelopment.

The article describes Abramovich's desire to create a new 60,000 all-seater venue and make it a "cathedral of football" in the process.

It's a breathtaking vision, and given the years of consultation and research into building Chelsea a bigger home, it outlines all we need to know about Abramovich.

Abramovich isn't just an owner—he's a Chelsea fan. He's man who has put Chelsea's future at the heart of everything he has done in the 12 years since he became owner.

He's invested in players, managers—perhaps more than he should have—and the club's infrastructure.

Abramovich's cathedral will be the grandest gesture of all.

They're only plans, yet the intention is clear—Chelsea are going to have the best in everything.

In an age when modern football stadia are one and the same, Chelsea's proposals have been made with total affection and care.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

This vision of Stamford Bridge respects the traditions of the club, yet so does laying out the blueprint for where Chelsea will reside for generations to come.

Every club can call their stadium a church, but what separates a cathedral? It's bigger, it's grander, it's better. It's all-knowing, empowering.

Abramovich was the original sugar daddy in the modern day. He set the precedent that so many others have since followed after his Chelsea takeover in 2003.

Whereas we've seen some owners ignore the fans wishes, Abramovich listens at Chelsea. He hasn't changed the club's shirt colours or moved them miles from their original home in the name of bigger matchday revenue.

Abramovich hasn't hiked up ticket prices at Stamford Bridge or treated Chelsea fans without regard.

Instead, he's given back the club crest many had longed for, he's repatriated legends from the past who had fallen foul of the previous regime; now he's giving Chelsea a new place of worship.

We can point to Sheikh Mansour's impact at Manchester City as a similar case. The Etihad Stadium will be bigger than ever next season thanks to his continued investment, while City's academy complex should be marvelled at.

Abramovich's Stamford Bridge comes with more, however; it's being delivered with a with more flamboyance, more style.

More heart.

The affection for Chelsea is clear, as Petr Cech has discovered.

"

3-5 years from now @ChelseaFC will have the best football stadium on the planet! The plans are out of this world! #CathedralOfFootball ⚽️

— Levine (@_SeanLevine_) June 30, 2015"

Cech's move to Arsenal this week showed that behind the behemoth that Chelsea are becoming under their owner, the heart remains at the club.

Abramovich didn't sign off Cech's transfer for football reasons. Had he decided on those grounds, the Czech would have been left rotting on the substitutes bench for another year.

No, this was personal. It was about doing the right thing for a man who had served Abramovich with everything he has got, a man who starred death in the eye in the name of Chelsea.

When it mattered most, Abramovich didn't overlook it, just as he hasn't overlooked Chelsea's past when contemplating the future.

If he took the easy options in life, Abramovich wouldn't be Abramovich. And for that, Chelsea fans must be thankful.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.