Chelsea is a football club from England who has just recently joined Liverpool, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa as British clubs who have ever won the UEFA Champions League. This club started to win a lot of trophies since it was bought by Russian tycoon, Roman Abramovich, in 2003.
But do you know that before the period of Abrahamovic ownership, there were also a lot of world class players who played for Chelsea? In fact, those players helped The Blues won the UEFA Cup in 1971 and Winners' Cup in 1998. Despite Chelsea's history is not as glorious as Arsenal, Manchester United, or Liverpool; there are still a lot of interesting stories behind it.
10. John Terry
John Terry is one of the best Chelsea's captains ever. His ability to defend the defense area is also very great. He is loved by the fans. Although he failed to score from a penalty kick when they faced Manchester United in the final of the UEFA Champions League 2008, there is no single Chelsea supporter who hates him.
Terry's greatness not only proven in the field, but also off the field. He is a leader and a mentor for the younger players. Terry also acts as a mediator between the players and Chelsea's management. His leadership talent is not only shown in Chelsea, but also in England national team, when he acted as a team captain for several years.
9. Roberto Di Matteo
Not only as a player, Roberto Di Matteo also brought glory for the Blues when he acted as a manager. Di Matteo was transferred from Lazio in 1996, and throughout his career, he played a total of 119 times and scored 26 goals for Chelsea. The Italian player who used to play as a winger also helped Chelsea be the champions of Winners Cup in 1998.
Ten years after declaring his retirement, Di Matteo returned to Chelsea and brought glory by winning the UEFA Champions League in 2011-2012 season. This achievement makes Di Matteo certainly more beloved by the fans and I believe he deserves to be called as one of Chelsea's best players of all time.
8. Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba is one of the best players ever bought by Jose Mourinho. Purchased from Olympique Marseille with a high price, the price paid off when Drogba scored a lot of important goals. In total, he scored 150 goals during his eight-year career at Stamford Bridge.
His ability to score goals cannot be separated from his excellent physical strength. He has good heading skills, fast, and very efficient in converting chances into goals.
The best moment of this Ivory Coast player was when he led Chelsea win the UEFA Champions League 2012. As a final penalty taker, he managed to outwit Manuel Neuer and presented the trophy to the fans.
7. Gianfranco Zola
I am sure there is no Chelsea fans who doubt the quality and contribution of a Gianfranco Zola. Many even consider him as the best player the club has ever had. He was one of the most essential figures who helped Chelsea won Winners Cup in 1998. He also scored a lot of memorable goals for his club.
Being signed from Parma in 1996, Zola immediately showed exceptional quality. His ball control and vision drastically changed the whole team's style of play. At the end of the season, he managed to present an FA Cup title for Chelsea. It was first title the club won after waiting for 26 years. I hope someday Zola could return to Stamford Bridge as a coach.
6. Dennis Wise
When he was transferred from Wimbledon in 1990 with the amount of 1.6 million pounds, Wise broke the record as the most expensive player ever bought by Chelsea. It turns out that the money was well spent. Wise became one of the best midfielders ever for Chelsea.
Playing for 11 years as Chelsea player, he presented two FA Cup, one UEFA Cup Winners Cup, and one League Cup. Wise has also earned player of the year award in 1998 and 2000. Although his behavior is very ornery, his name will still be remembered by Chelsea fans because of his great contribution for this club.
5. Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard is one of the greatest England midfielders of all time. His leadership skills, team balance, ability in regulating the tempo, and his loyalty are the greatest qualities of the player who was bought from West Ham United. Lampard is also known as a great free-kick as well as penalty taker. For most of the goalkeepers in Premier League, Lampard is feared because of his long-range shooting ability. In some occasions, this player is also sometimes played as a second striker.
Being one of the important part of Chelsea's success over the last 10 years does not make him lose his love of the club. He chose instead to remain loyal although he Roman Abramovich was about to sell him. His decision to stay in this club resulted a new history, when Lampard managed to break the record as Chelsea's top scorer of all time.
4. Bobby Tambling
Before Frank Lampard breaking the record as the Chelsea's top scorer of all time, Bobby Tambling was the player who held this record. He scored 202 goals during his 11-year-period as The Blues' player. His record lasted for 40 years before eventually being broken by Lampard. This fact proves that Tambling deserves to be included in this list.
Tambling played for Chelsea from 1959 to 1970. He got his first-squad place after Jimmy Greaves was sold to AC Milan. Although he is a good striker, unfortunately he could only win one major title for Chelsea. However, I believe his name will always be echoed throughout Stamford Bridge.
3. Kerry Dixon
After the era of Bobby Tambling, Kerry Dixon emerged as the greatest striker of Chelsea. He scored 193 goals in 420 matches. This record makes him be the third highest scorer in the history of Chelsea.
In his first season, Dixon helped the Chelsea gained promotion to First Division League after winning the Second Division. Goals for goals that he created immediately made public Stamford Bridge fell in love with Dixon. In his first two seasons, he scored 70 goals in just 101 games.
2. Peter Osgood
If Manchester United has Eric Cantona and Arsenal has Thierry Henry, then Chelsea has Peter Osgood. The player who played for the Blues for ten years is regarded as the king of Stamford Bridge by the fans. His ability to score goals make him become one of the most feared strikers in the history of English football.
One of the best moments of Osgood when he scored diving header that helped The Blues won the FA Cup for the first time in 1970. A year later, he led his club win the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup after successfully defeating Real Madrid.
1. Ron Harris
Ron Harris' golden period lasted about 20 years before John Terry's gained his reputation as a strong defender. His ability to secure the defense line is very good. He also holds the record for most capped players with 795 appearances. Considering this fact, it is natural that many pundits consider Ron Harris as one of the most important Chelsea players. In his career, he managed to present an FA Cup and a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup for The Blues.The centre back who is often nicknamed as "Chopper" was famous because of his good tackling and marking skills. Harris was also the team's captain when Chelsea won the FA Cup in 1970. He has high loyalty, where he spent 18 years of his life as a Chelsea player.
