Eva Carneiro, the former Chelsea team doctor, has rebuilt her career and finances since her acrimonious departure from the club in 2015, following a public dispute with then-manager Jose Mourinho. Now 52, she runs a private practice, invests in a football club, and her net worth is estimated at around £3.8m.
The 2015 incident and its aftermath
The clash occurred on the first day of Chelsea's 2015/16 season. The defending champions were drawing with Swansea City and down to 10 men after Thibaut Courtois was sent off. When Eden Hazard went down injured, Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn rushed onto the pitch to treat him. Mourinho was furious, as Hazard temporarily had to leave the pitch, leaving Chelsea to defend with nine men. After the match, Mourinho publicly called his medical staff "impulsive and naive."
Carneiro was stripped of her first-team matchday duties and resigned a month later, leading to a legal battle. She filed claims for constructive dismissal against Chelsea and a personal claim against Mourinho for sex discrimination and harassment. Court documents revealed she rejected a £1.2m settlement offer. In 2016, a confidential settlement was agreed, widely reported to be around £5m. Chelsea issued an unreserved public apology, stating Carneiro was following the rules and fulfilling her duty of care.
New ventures and net worth
Since leaving the Premier League, Carneiro established the Sports Medical Group on Harley Street in London. She also acted as a private consultant for the Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital in Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup. In 2024, she became an investor in semi-pro side Lewes FC, known for its equal pay stance, sharing the boardroom with investors including Judy Murray and Kate Nash. Her net worth is estimated at £3.8m, from her practice, investments, and Chelsea settlement.
Response to the Netflix documentary
In a Netflix documentary about Mourinho's career, he refused to apologise, claiming his "eyes know when a player is injured." John Terry added that there was an unwritten understanding that medics wouldn't enter the pitch unless an injury was obviously severe. Carneiro responded on X, quoting General Medical Council (GMC) guidelines on a doctor's duty of care. She wrote, "11 years on and here we are reliving the worst. Hope they made some money," and added, "We are bound by a medico-legal code of conduct. Genuinely it would be healthy for John Terry to learn the rules of the game. It's been long enough mate." She explained that the referee requested her presence, and she had an absolute duty to attend. She noted that referee Michael Oliver called them on twice, and Hazard confirmed he needed assistance. Her final statement: "So IT IS really simple."
