Ex-Chelsea physio Eva Carneiro becomes club owner years after bust-up with Jose Mourinho that led to legal battle

Former Chelsea physio Eva Carneiro is now the part owner of Lewes FC, based out of East Sussex, according to the Metro. While their men's team play in the Isthmian League, the female side play in the Championship. The Rooks were founded in 1885 and tennis coach Judy Murray is also a co-owner.

Carneiro first came into prominence with the Blues, where she was the first-team doctor for the men's team from 2009 to 2015. However, she became a household name in 2015, following a controversial incident involving then-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

The Blues started their 2015-16 campaign with a visit to Wales to face Swansea City in the opening fixture. The two teams played out an edge-of-the-seat encounter, with Thibaut Courtois receiving his marching orders.

With the game poised at 2-2, Eden Hazard suffered an injury after being on the receiving end of an Ashley Williams tackle in the final minutes of the game. Eva Carneiro and Jon Fearn rushed onto the pitch to attend to the Belgian, earning Mourinho's wrath.

The London giants were pushing for an equalizer and taking Hazard off meant that Chelsea were briefly down to nine men. The Portuguese manager later publicly criticized his medical team, claiming that Hazard's injury wasn't serious.

Carneiro left Stamford Bridge that September and sued the club, citing workplace harassment. The two parties ultimately reached a settlement in 2016 worth £5m, as per reports. She briefly lost interest in football but is now back in the fold.

Speaking about her involvement with Lewes, Carneiro insisted she was proud of how the club were run.

"Love the beautiful game and football has such power. Imagine using it for good. Imagine finding a club with values as the centre of its ethos. I’m a proud owner...," said Carneiro.

Carneiro also worked in Qatar as part of the build-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

How have Chelsea fared under Enzo Maresca this season?

Chelsea have enjoyed a decent start to the season under Enzo Maresca, who took charge at the club this summer. The Blues have registered seven wins in their first 10 games across competitions this season, losing twice, and drawing once. They have scored 27 goals so far, and let in 11.

On Thursday night (October 3), the London giants secured a 4-2 win over Gent in the UEFA Europa Conference League. Goals from Renato Veiga, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall marked another fruitful night for Maresca.

Chelsea will next face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, October 6. The Blues have won four of their six games in the league so far and are fourth with 13 points.