Top 10 Greatest Players Of All-Time: Chelsea

The modern era of the Premier League has been incredibly successful for Chelsea Football Club, 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 cut-throat mentality and some of the best managers in the world coming onboard, took the club to a whole new level.

However, what some of these modern day fans forget, is that the club had a proud history pre-Abramovich era. During the 1960s and 1970s, the Blues 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 three names who are considered to be up there with the best in the history for the club.

Thus, in this article, we have decided to come up with a list of the 10 best Chelsea players ever, and to do so, we’ve taken a very specific set of criteria into account, which are as follows:

• 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, Eden Hazard was one of the most sought-after players in the world. Seven years later, he left with the status of one of the best players to ever wear the famous Blue shirt.

He helped the club win two Premier League titles, the Europa League twice 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. 

His 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 the top 10 list, it says a lot about the caliber of the player we’re dealing with. Better known as a Spurs and England legend, it was for Chelsea whom Greaves was most prolific, scoring at nearly a goal a game in his four seasons – 132 in total for what was largely a struggling First Division.

Greaves combined pace and dribbling ability with deadly finishing – a true phenomenon. It’s no wonder he went onto set a seemingly uncatchable tally of 357 goals in English football, making him the highest goalscorer in the history of top-flight football in the country. 

#8  Ron Harris

Nicknamed ‘Chopper’ for his no-nonsense style of defending, Ron Harris was an integral figure in Chelsea’s defense 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 ’71 respectively. His performance in the 1970 FA Cup final, a notoriously physical battle, holds its own spot in club folklore.

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to put on the 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. The Englishman deserves a place in the top 10 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. His 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, even winning the World Cup with England in 1966.

Peter Bonetti played 729 times for the club, making him the second-highest appearance-maker in the side’s history.

#6 Petr Cech

Not only is Petr Cech thought of as the greatest Chelsea goalkeeper of all time, but many regard him as one of the best in Premier League history. The former Czech 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 making saves, dominating their box and using their feet, he won two Premier League titles and every other major domestic and European trophy before joining Arsenal in the swansong of his career. 

#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 Zola was best known for his close ball control and his skillful dribbling ability. 

A real headache for defenders during the peak of his powers, the former Italy international won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Super Cup, two FA Cups and the League Cup with the west London giants.

Aside from trophies and accolades, he was a rare combination of genius and gent, loved by his own fans and admired by everybody else. 

#4 Peter Osgood

A club legend, Peter Osgood was the star of the Chelsea sides of the 1960s and 1970s. He had remarkable control, strength, and positional awareness and his finishing was second to none. For 10 seasons, the former striker was an automatic choice in the team. He famously scored in every round of the side’s FA Cup triumph in 1970. In 354 games for the club, he bagged 139 goals.

Osgood was resilient, too, proved by his return from a broken leg in 1967 where 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 him stands outside the West Stand at Stamford Bridge. The only reason why he features so low down on this list is because he didn’t win many titles during his time at the club.

#3 Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba ticked just about every box that made him 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 the debate about Chelsea’s best players in their history.

The man for the big occasion, Drogba was not always the most prolific forward – although he does have 164 Chelsea goals – 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 10 cup finals he played for Chelsea, including the equaliser he scored in the 2012 Champions League final.

#2 Frank Lampard

An £11 million 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 broke double figures for 10 straight seasons, scoring 20-plus in five of those. 

The fact that he’s the club’s all-time scorer, won many honours and enjoyed a long and successful career at Stamford Bridge makes him one of the greatest players this club has 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, he led the Blues to numerous trophies. The Cobham graduate donned Chelsea blue on 717 occasions and is among the Premier League greats. The centre-back won five Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League with the Blues, all as a captain. His consistency and performances cemented his place as one of Premier League’s greatest defenders.