In this article, we present to you our pick of the ten greatest-ever male players to ever represent Chelsea Football Club.
The modern era of the Premier League has been incredibly successful for the Blues, particularly after Roman Abramovich took over in 2003. The money he invested early on in his reign ushered in a long list of world-class talent, which when combined with a cutthroat mentality and some of the best managers in the world took the club to a whole new level.
However, what some of the modern-day fans forget is that the club had a proud history well before the Russian billionaire came on board. During the 1960s and 1970s, Chelsea had their fair share of accolades on the domestic front. Players such as Ron Harris, Peter Bonetti, and Jimmy Greaves were particularly influential during that period and are very much considered some of the club’s best-ever.
In order to make this list, we’ve taken a very specific set of criteria into account, which factors in the following:
- Impact
- Longevity
- Statistics
- Trophies
#10 Eden Hazard
Who knows what might have been had Eden Hazard had the same discipline as some of football’s other greats. In the summer of 2012, when he joined Chelsea, Hazard was one of the most sought-after players in Europe. Seven years later, he left as one of the best players to ever wear the famous Blue shirt.
Hazard helped the club win two Premier League titles, two Europa League titles, as well as the FA Cup and League Cup. Dubbed one of the best players in the world during the peak of his powers, the Belgian scored 110 goals in 352 games during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Hazard’s genius won him the adoration of the Stamford Bridge crowd and he consistently got supporters on the edge of their seats with his skills, speed, and mazy runs.
#9 Jimmy Greaves
The fact that someone with only four years of football with the club can make a list like this says a lot about the calibre of said player. Better known as a Spurs and England legend, it was Chelsea for whom Greaves was most prolific, scoring nearly a goal a game in his four seasons—132 in total in what was largely a struggling First Division side at the time.
Greaves combined pace and dribbling ability with deadly finishing—a true phenomenon. It’s no wonder he went on to set a seemingly un-catchable tally of 357 goals in English football, becoming the top goalscorer in the history of topflight football in the country.
#8 Ron Harris
Nicknamed the “Chopper” for his no-nonsense style of defending, Ron Harris was an integral figure in Chelsea’s defence for the best part of 18 years.
Having won the League Cup in 1965, Harris led the Blues to FA Cup and Cup-Winners’ Cup victories in 1970 and 1971, respectively. His performance in the 1970 FA Cup final, a notoriously physical battle, holds its own spot in club folklore.
Harris is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to put on the Chelsea shirt simply because he’s played more games for the side than any individual—a whopping total of 795. The former Blues star could play anywhere along the backline and deserves a place here because of his loyalty and longevity with the West London outfit.
#7 Peter Bonetti
Regarded as one of the best English goalkeepers of all time, the former Blues shot-stopper is one of the truly legendary figures at Stamford Bridge. Bonetti’s outstanding reflexes and elegant agility were a joy to watch during the peak of his powers.
Bonetti spent 13 years with Chelsea and won plenty of silverware in West London, including the FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup. The nimble goalkeeper was a top stopper. He even won the World Cup with England in 1966.
In total, Bonetti played 729 times for the club and is the second-highest appearance maker in Chelsea history.
#6 Petr Cech
Not only is Petr Cech thought of as the greatest Chelsea goalkeeper of all time, but many also regard him as one of the best in Premier League history. The former Czechia international enjoyed an 11-year playing career at Stamford Bridge, winning every domestic and European club honour possible during that time.
Among the very best of a new generation of stoppers who were equally adept at dominating their box and using their feet, Cech won two Premier League titles and every other major domestic and European trophy before joining Arsenal in the swansong of his career.
Also read: Arsenal FC’s top 10 greatest players of all time
#5 Gianfranco Zola
Before the Roman Abramovich era took off, there was Gianfranco Zola. Once voted as the club’s greatest-ever player, Zola was an absolute gem to watch. The creative and technically-gifted diminutive Italian was best known for his close ball control and skilful dribbling ability.
A real headache for defenders during the peak of his powers, the former Italy international won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, two FA Cups, and the League Cup with the West London giants.
Aside from trophies and accolades, Zola was a rare combination of genius and gent—loved by his own fans and admired by everybody else.
#4 Peter Osgood
Peter Osgood was the star of the Chelsea sides of the ’60s and ’70s. He had remarkable control, strength, and positional awareness, and his finishing was second to none. For ten seasons, the former English striker remained a first-choice pick for the first team. He famously scored in every round of Chelsea’s FA Cup triumph in 1970. In 354 games for the Blues in total, he bagged 139 goals.
Osgood was resilient, too, proved by his return from a broken leg in 1967 as he adapted his game to become a central midfield player. Such was his quality, he lasted seven more years at Stamford Bridge until he left for Southampton in 1974.
Due to his glittering career with the West London outfit, a statue of Osgood stands outside the West Stand at Stamford Bridge today. The only reason why he features so low down on this list is because he didn’t win as many titles during his time at the club as the ones we are about to see below.
#3 Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba ticked just about every box to be a defender’s worst nightmare, and during his time with the club he earned a deserved reputation as the ultimate big-game player. One of the best African stars to ever play in the Premier League, Drogba will always be one of the first names mentioned when it comes to discourses regarding Chelsea’s best-ever players.
A man for the big occasions, Drogba was not always the most prolific forward—though he did score 164 goals at Chelsea—but he was the player that the Blues would turn to when they needed an important goal. He scored a staggering nine goals in the ten cup finals for Chelsea, including the equaliser he scored in the 2012 Champions League final that ultimately saw his side lift the Big Ears.
#2 Frank Lampard
An £11m signing from West Ham, where his time was overshadowed by accusations of nepotism and taunts about his weight, Lampard proved his class and professionalism over the next decade and more at Stamford Bridge.
Becoming Chelsea’s all-time top goalscorer from midfield is no mean feat. With a great understanding of the game both on and off the field, Lampard was everything a modern midfielder should be. He was an intelligent player with impressive passing ability and a tireless work rate, but it was his goalscoring ability that stood out. He comfortably reached into double figures for goals for ten straight seasons, scoring 20-plus goals in five of those.
The fact that he’s their all-time top scorer, won many honours, and enjoyed a long and successful career at Stamford Bridge makes Lampard one of the greatest players Chelsea have ever seen.
#1 John Terry
Known for his exceptional understanding of the game, tenacity, and physical strength, the former England international was equally adept at tackling, intercepting, and heading. The epitome of a model professional, John Terry spent 19 years at Chelsea and was the backbone of their defence for the majority of his career.
As the club’s most successful captain, Terry led the Blues to numerous trophies. The Cobham graduate donned the Chelsea blue on 717 occasions and is considered one of the Premier League greats. The centre-back won five Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, and the Champions League and Europa League once each—all as captain. His consistency and performances cemented his place as one of the Premier League’s greatest defenders.
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