For Todd Boehly, Chelsea at Brentford is unlikely to rekindle romantic memories from that time he tried co-owning a Premier League club, even if he is a little richer for the experience now.

It was in March 2024 when his side were trailing 2-1 there as the away end turned on both him and his manager, Mauricio Pochettino. First, Chelsea’s fans sang ‘Roman Abramovich’. Then, ‘Boehly, you’re a ****’. Next came ‘Jose Mourinho’. Followed by ‘F*** off, Mauricio’.

As the face of the original 2022 takeover, Boehly became a target when the times were bad, and no matter how good his intentions may have been, the American billionaire cannot say he helped himself. An astute business leader – clearly, for he has made a minor profit by selling his Chelsea shares to Clearlake Capital – but a man who made more than a few faux pas.

As Chelsea’s supporters return to Brentford on Friday, they may recall their hostile hymn sheet from two years ago, while remembering the other times their old co-owner indulged in the odd misadventure.

Remember that time he suggested the Premier League set up a north-versus-south all-star game? Remember that time he asked Ruud Gullit what it was he did for Chelsea?

Remember that time he named himself interim sporting director and asked Thomas Tuchel if he could sign Manchester United’s 37-year-old striker Cristiano Ronaldo? Remember that time he revealed he signed Marc Cucurella because he had heard Manchester City liked him?

Todd Boehly became a target when times were bad at Chelsea – now, he has left the club

Remember that time he brought in Raheem Sterling on a £325,000-per-week, five-year contract?

Remember that time he told Chelsea’s players their season was ‘embarrassing’ in a dressing-room speech to Frank Lampard’s squad after a demoralising defeat by Brighton? Remember that time he was involved in a website which resold Premier League tickets at a premium?

Remember that time he took Pochettino for ‘a very nice dinner’ which resembled more of a last supper because the Argentinian was out of the job within the week?

Remember that time seven blokes dressed in green stood up behind the dugout and started brushing their teeth while Chelsea were playing Fulham to promote that flop of a film called Argylle?

Boehly caught hell for that one. He was the Hollywood investor who could do no right in the eyes of English football, ridiculed online for turning up at one game against Tottenham looking like the club shop had thrown up on him with his blue and white scarf and beanie.

That scrutiny will now fall on Clearlake, or, more specifically, Behdad Eghbali. Officially, he is the most powerful person at Chelsea. Sources close to Eghbali say he is determined to deliver success to the club, which means competing for the game’s grandest prizes. Those same insiders accept they will ultimately be judged on their actions, not words. It will take time to win over the naysayers, and despite the apparent civil war at ownership level that unfolded, Clearlake have expressed their gratitude to Boehly for his contribution ever since they succeeded Roman Abramovich.

To Eghbali’s credit, he is invested in Chelsea, and not only financially. While Boehly was there to collect the Club World Cup trophy from Donald Trump in his guise as Chelsea chairman, Eghbali is the owner who is forever there, home and away. Billionaires do not attend a Carabao Cup third-round tie away at Lincoln’s Sincil Bank on a Tuesday night unless they truly fancy it. Eghbali did.

Boehly did not. He became a regular on the worldwide conference circuit, but his attendance at Chelsea matches turned into a rarity over time, despite those within his camp insisting he had a skin thick enough to take any and all flak. It was needed.

All that criticism will now fall on Clearlake, or, more specifically, Behdad Eghbali (right)

The mockery was arguably at its most blatant in February 2024 when the Sky comedy show Fantasy Football League unveiled a sketch called ‘Who Wants To Be A Blue Billionaire Bottle Job?’

It was a week after Chelsea had lost the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool. Boehly was the contestant mimicked by Matt Lucas, and Gary Neville the presenter played by Elis James.

Boehly had already wasted £980million and only had to nail the final question for the confetti shower as he was asked by Neville: ‘There’s a 19-year-old Dutch winger who’s not that good. How much do you spend on him? Is it…’

A: Get him on a free.

B: Loan with option to buy.

C: Nothing, you desperately need a striker.

D: £135m.

Of course, Boehly chose D, and it was correct. To the very end, he was still the target, an AI video surfacing on social media last week showing Boehly punching Xabi Alonso because Chelsea’s manager had asked for Enzo Fernandez to stay despite City offering a whopping £120m.

Rightly or wrongly, he was persistently the punchline. At least Boehly could tune in on Friday safe in the knowledge that his name will not be chanted by the Chelsea fans at Brentford this time.