Chelsea is a fascinating sports team. Although they did win a few cups and the first division title in 1955, they were never able to sustain their success for a sustained length of time until Roman Abramovich joined the team in 2003, and then “The Special One,” Jose Mourinho, joined shortly after. But one thing is certain—in their 115-year existence, Chelsea has produced no shortage of outstanding players. The Blues have no trouble drawing the best players to play for them. Find the top 10 Chelsea Players of all time below.
The Top 10 Chelsea Players of All Time
Eden Hazard
Although some may find Hazard’s selection contentious, the Belgium winger’s extremely successful time at Chelsea should not be overshadowed by his somewhat painful exit. In his seven years with the team, Hazard won two Premier Leagues, two Europa Leagues, an FA Cup, and a League Cup, and solidified his status as one of the finest players in the world. Hazard hasn’t yet returned to the form that made him such a menace at the Blues. It is understandable why Real Madrid was eager to sign the player.
Hazard had a wonderful turn of pace, and his dribbling abilities were impressive to see. To put it simply, his highlight reel is ridiculous. Premier League defenders might have been a little pleased if Premier League supporters had been let down by the departure of a star such as Hazard. Remarkably robust and unafraid to confront opponents or engage in physical altercations, Hazard dominated the Premier League’s physical landscape and took home multiple individual honors throughout his tenure in west London.
Although Hazard was best known for his dribbling, he was a serious goal threat as well, scoring more than ten goals in the Premier League in five of his seven seasons as a Chelsea player. Hazard eventually scored 110 goals in 352 Chelsea appearances, ranking eighth in the team’s all-time goalscoring record, which further validates his inclusion on this list. This was on top of the 54 assists the team received in the Premier League alone. Hazard is the first name on our list of the Top 10 Chelsea Players of All Time.
Peter Osgood
You know a player had a significant impact when there is a statue of them outside the location where they established their name. Peter Osgood carried it out. The fact that Osgood’s uncle had to write to Chelsea in order to get a trial is evidence of how things have changed in both soccer and the larger world. Taking his chance, Osgood scored twice on his club debut—a surefire indication of things to come.
Like Didier Drogba many years later, Osgood was gifted with the ability to score in crucial matches. He scored three seasons in a row in Big Cup finals. He scored goals in both the championship match and the championship replay to help Chelsea defeat Real Madrid and win the European Cup Winners’ Cup. The fact that Osgood fractured his leg in 1966 added to the impressiveness of it all.
Ray Wilkins
Ray Wilkins’ sudden death in 2018 shocked the soccer community. Many people remembered his friendly demeanor and skill on the field. Wilkins was only at Chelsea for six years. In that time, he generated a lot of memories that were all the more amazing considering that he was only beginning his career. Wilkins exuded an aura, if you will, and Chelsea’s higher authorities clearly saw it too, selecting the eighteen-year-old captain. Chelsea had more difficult times in the middle of the 1970s, but Wilkins and the youthful Chelsea team around him were able to give the supporters of the club a much-needed lift.
Under Wilkins’ leadership, Chelsea was promoted back to the top division. It was an amazing accomplishment given the youth of the captain and the players surrounding him. The following season, Chelsea maintained their position in the top league. Wilkins was quickly becoming a legend on the team. Wilkins was an excellent passer of the ball and a talented reader of the game. Although he didn’t score many goals, he did score some noteworthy ones. He was called up for England while still in Division 2 speaks something about his skill. During his time at the club and later in his career, he was awarded Chelsea’s Player of the Year.
Ron Harris
In the 1960s and 1970s, soccer was played differently; it was a rough game that would make players cringe. It took a lot to be sent off, and when substitutes were ultimately added to the soccer league in 1965, players were sometimes forced to play through injuries. The legendary Ron Harris of Chelsea, sometimes known as “Chopper,” was a player who was perfect for these circumstances. He was a huge fan of the physical style of soccer. It is very different from the tiki-taka style that many teams now play.
Chelsea supporters still adore “Chopper,” and for good reason. Despite the club’s two relegations, he remained loyal to them and would fill in at any position. With an astounding 795 appearances for the Stamford Bridge club, he holds the record for most appearances made by Chelsea. Regarded as one of the leading hardmen in the game, Ron Harris continues to be a fixture in the Chelsea scene, entertaining both new and returning supporters.
Peter Bonetti
When “The Cat” unexpectedly passed away in April 2020, Chelsea supporters were able to remember one of their all-time favorite goalkeepers. With the aforementioned Ron Harris at the top of the list, Bonetti has made the second-most appearances for the Blues. Bonetti did not resemble the large, menacing goalie that you would often imagine. At 5 feet 10 inches tall, he weighed 11 stone over the majority of his career.
The fact that Bonetti made so many appearances while competing in the tough English leagues in the 1960s and 1970s speaks highly of his skill and his standing as one of the league’s top goalkeepers. Bonetti was bold, nimble, and, based on his quantity of appearances, resilient. He finally brought the trophy to West London with one of the best performances in the competition’s history in the 1970 FA Cup final against Leeds.
Petr Cech
Petr Cech is a goalie legend who has played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s success in the twenty-first century. It’s vital to keep this in mind. Originating from the French league, Cech was a somewhat unknown quantity at first, but he quickly became Chelsea’s first choice. Cech has made a name for himself as one of the greatest goalkeepers in soccer history. He has an astounding collection of team and individual accolades.
There have been four Premier Leagues, four FA Cups, three League Cups, a Champions League, and a Europa League. Cech stopped two penalties in the shootout after saving one in extra time during the Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich. It was a masterpiece performance. Cech had been a major contributor to Chelsea’s ill-fated Champions League triumph after all the Premier League glory.
Didier Drogba
Drogba was a slow starter for Chelsea. It is astounding to consider considering that he was signed for £24 million from Marseille in 2004. He suffered an injury during his debut season and was often accused of diving. Had Stamford Bridge’s manager Jose Mourinho erred in bringing the Ivorian? It turns out that he hadn’t. Drogba was never really prolific—he only scored more than 20 goals in a season twice for Chelsea. He was regarded as a “Big-game player,” someone who scored crucial goals.
In addition to his four FA Cup final goals, he was the star of the 2012 Champions League final. He equalized against Bayern Munich in the 88th minute with a spectacular header. Chelsea went on to win the penalty shootout. The perfect man for the moment was Didier Drogba. He was a Premier League winner at Stamford Bridge. In addition to winning the FA and League Cups, he was a key member of the squad that took home the Champions League.
Like John Terry, Drogba underwent personal atonement following his 2012 triumph. In the 2008 championship game against Manchester United, which the Blues would ultimately lose on penalties, he had been sent off. Abramovich has his Champions League. Drogba, Terry, and Chelsea have finally been able to cast those demons from their lives.
Gianfranco Zola
West London saw a noticeable transformation in the mid-1990s, with a noticeable increase in glamour. Now led by the legendary Dutchman Ruud Gullit, the team signed several continental players. It was a somewhat uncommon move in the Premier League at the time. Among these performers was the small Italian genius Gianfranco Zola, whose influence was immense. It’s important to keep in mind that Chelsea wasn’t always the dominant team in the Premier League.
In his first season with the club, he had a significant influence and helped the team win the FA Cup. It’s a great way to sum up Zola, but the then manager Sir Alex Ferguson called him a “clever little so-and-so” after a remarkable performance in which he scored against Manchester United. In addition, Zola won Player of the Year in his first year, an accomplishment made more remarkable by the fact that he didn’t play the entire year because he hadn’t signed until November 1996.
John Terry
“Leader, Captain, Legend.” I could end this section on John Terry right there since those three sentences encapsulate everything Chelsea supporters value about the player. He was a player who advanced from the youth to the senior divisions, known as “Mr. Chelsea.” At the age of seventeen, he made his debut for the squad in a League Cup match against Aston Villa. Ironically, it is the team where he presently serves as Dean Smith’s assistant manager. Terry would go on to become one of the greatest Chelsea players of all time and one of the best defenders the Premier League has ever seen during his nearly two decades with the club.
Terry won five Premier League championships, four FA Cups, three League Cups, one Europa League, and, most notably, one Champions League, when he helped Chelsea defeat the demons from their 2008 penalty shootout loss. In his own right, Terry won three UEFA Club Defender of the Year awards. He was a five-time member of the FIFPro World XI. Terry just misses out on our list of the Top 10 Chelsea Players of All Time.
Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard was a well-established midfield player in the Premier League when he joined Chelsea. Over the course of an amazing 13-year tenure, he elevated his game to previously unheard-of levels and became the club’s all-time best scorer. Frank Lampard is the first person who should come to mind when you hear the words “goal-scoring midfielder.” The midfielder can score any kind of goal, and late runs into the box are still compared to those of “Lampard.” With a fantastic engine, Lampard was able to cover every position on the field and was also skilled at setting up goals for teammates. During his Premier League career, he racked up 102 assists.
Of the nine players who have accomplished the feat, Lampard is the only midfielder to score at least 150 goals in the Premier League. He is deserving of a spot among the top players in the league. Lampard wasn’t always the most outspoken member of a squad of leaders. He wasn’t afraid to voice his opinions and was a major contributor to Chelsea’s success. All these qualities helped Frank Lampard top our list of the Top 10 Chelsea Players of All Time.
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