Chelsea FC’S GREATEST 11!
Chelsea FC’S GREATEST XI!
Choosing a ‘Best 11’ for any top Premier League side is difficult.
But picking the right men for a Chelsea side, is always going to provoke discussion and a variety of opinions. But after discussions with many Chelsea fans, a lot of research, and some difficult decisions, here is Chelsea FC’S GREATEST 11!
NUMBER 1 – PETR CECH – GOALKEEPER
Many people will feel that there is a chance that Thibaut Courtois not only has the potential to become Chelsea’s best ever goalkeeper; but potentially one of the best in the modern game. For now, though, the man he knocked off as the Blues’ undisputed No1 deserves his place above any other Stamford Bridge hero. Petr Cech has given his all when in a Chelsea shirt, including putting his body at risk after the horror clash that caused him serious harm in Chelsea’s fixture with Reading, way back in 2006. Since then, despite a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal, Cech has cemented himself in Chelsea history, racking up an impressive 333 appearances under various managers during his time in West London, and truth be told; the only man even close to the Czech Republic international’s legendary status is “The Cat”, Peter Bonetti. But after pulling off a list of world class stops, and helping Chelsea along to Premier League trophies, a Champions League triumph in Munich, FA Cup swoops, and more; most Chelsea fans will tell you theres only one man who’d be between the sticks in a Chelsea dream-team: Big Pete.
NUMBER 2 – PETER SILLETT – RIGHT BACK
Chelsea fans love a tough bloke, and that’s exactly what tough-tackling championship-winning right-back Sillet was. He also had a cracking shot on him, netting plenty of free kicks and penalties during his time at Stamford Bridge. On Easter Saturday 1955, top of the league Chelsea hosted defending champions Wolves, who were five points behind in second-place but with three games in hand. The game was goalless for 75 minutes until Chelsea managed at last to beat then England keeper, Bert Williams, only for Billy Wright to handle the ball and send it over the bar; In front of 75,000 people, Sillet stepped up and hammered home the resulting spot-kick, just one of the reasons that the man once described by Sir Stanley Matthews as the best full-back in the world is immortalized in Chelsea folklore.
NUMBER 3 – MARCEL DESAILLY – CENTER BACK.
Another choice met with very little debate, nicknamed “The Rock”, due to his consistency, strength, and hard-tackling playing style, and after forming a solid partnership with Frank Leboeuf. Desailly is widely viewed as one of the most accomplished players of his generation, and one of the best defenders ever produced by the French, making 158 appearances for Chelsea, and captaining the club to a UEFA Super Cup, an FA Cup, and an FA Charity Shield. A quick and powerful player, he combined both world class ability, and aggression; to land himself an easy place in most Chelsea fan’s best 11.
NUMBER 4 – JOHN TERRY – CENTER BACK.
Was there ever any doubt? Mr. Chelsea, Captain, Leader, Legend, a man that epitomizes “Proper Chels”, a term that fans in West London don’t use lightly. Terry has described multiple times how he used to clean boots for Chelsea senior players, and constantly ask them questions on how he could improve his game and become a world class player; fast forward to now and JT is the most successful captain to ever wear a Chelsea shirt, being chosen by José Mourinho as the new Chelsea captain following the retirement of the aforementioned Desailly, and since his break-through with Chelsea Terry has lifted 4 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, 2 FA Community Shields, 1 UEFA Europa League, and of course, the UEFA Champions League. Along side these achivements Terry has found himself in FIFPRO’S World 11 5 times, and UEFA’s Team of the Year 4 times. A favourite among all Chelsea fans, there was never going to be any dispute about the former England Captain’s place on this list.
NUMBER 5 – ASHLEY COLE – LEFT BACK
In 2006, Chelsea and Arsenal reached a deal to bring English Left-Back Ashley Cole to Stamford Bridge, with a fee of £5 million, plus William Gallas. At his peak, Cole was considered by many as the best left back in the world, let alone in the Premier League. Racking up 229 appearances for Chelsea, Cole became renowned for making goal-line clearances, cutting out the slightest sniff of danger to the Chelsea back line, and played with an intensity that helped The Blue’s to a Premier League title, 4 FA Cups, 1 League Cup, 1 Community Shield, and both the UEFA Europa League and Champions League. There is no doubt that England’s most capped full-back was a force to be reckoned with during his time with Chelsea, and despite facing stiff competiton for this spot from 1955 League Winner, Stan Willemse, Cole has without a doubt earned his place in Chelsea’s best 11.
NUMBER 6 – FRANK LAMPARD – MIDFIELD
Chelsea’s all-time leading goal scorer, and stand-in captain on the night the Blues finally hoisted the Champions League, was a sure thing for this list, making the jump from East London and West Ham to Chelsea back in 2001. He became a fixed part of a Chelsea side that won countless honors, and was recognised world wide as one of the best midfielders the English had ever produced. Another man that is loved by the fans at Stamford Bridge, and considered one of the best players to ever pull on the blue shirt, there is no doubt that almost every Chelsea fan would include him in a list of Chelsea’s best, and after knocking off Bobby Tambling as Chelsea’s record goal scorer, he solidified his place in Chelsea history, scoring some incredible goals along the way.
NUMBER 7 – CHARLIE COOKE – MIDFIELD
Dribbling maestro of the Tommy Docherty/Dave Sexton era King’s Road buccaneers, the Scottish Charlie Cooke played a vital part in the victorious FA Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup campaigns of 1970 and 1971. His skillful dribbling and incredible faints on the ball led Chelsea fans to really appriciate the ability of the man from Aberdeen, and to many, he was the closest the capital ever got to their answer to George Best.
NUMBER 8 – GIANFRANCO ZOLA – MIDFIELD
Nicknamed “Magic Box” while at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s own little wizard, Gianfranco Zola signed for the Blue’s in 1996, remaining in West London until 2003, and making 229 appearances, with a formidable 59 goals to his name. due to his ability to create chances and provide assists for team-mates; he was occasionally used as a winger, or even as a striker due to being an incredibly creative and technically gifted player, Zola was renowned for his ball control, his skillful dribbling ability, vision, and passing ability, as well as his tactical intelligence and eye for goal; Due to all of these outstanding traits, Zola is regarded as one of the best Italian creative forwards of his generation, and as one of the best players in Premier League history.
NUMBER 9 – PETER OSGOOD – FORWARD
The king of Stamford Bridge was his title, and his royal highness lived up to his title with a tremendous chest of ability, including touch keen eye for the oppositions defensive weaknesses. Symbolising the arrogance of a brash and unhurried forward, ‘Ossie’ never failed to entertain the Chelsea faithful, and will forever live on in the memory of the older fans; who pass down their experiences of watching the fantastic Osgood to their children, keeping the king’s memory – and royal status, very much alive.
NUMBER 10 – JIMMY GREAVES – FORWARD
A goalscoring phenomenon who joined Chelsea at the age of 16, bagged 114 youth team goals in his first 18 months at the club then proceeded to score 22, 37, 30 and 43 in his four seasons in the first-team before the cash-strapped board took the highest of many offers for the prolific marksman and sold him to AC Milan in the summer of 1961. No one in English football history has been such a cold-hearted and deadly finisher, he almost seemed to take sadistic pleasure in placing the ball a tantalising inch or so beyond the goalkeeper’s grasp at full stretch. He scored 100 league goals before he turned 21, and for Chelsea hit five in a game three times, four three times and seven ‘lesser’ hat-tricks.
NUMBER 11 – DIDIER DROGBA – FORWARD
Voted Chelsea’s greatest ever player in 2012 via a poll in the club’s magazine, the ultimate talisman, an uncompromising, tough, and incredibly talented Ivory Coast international may well be one of the best strikers to ever step foot in Stamford Bridge. Single handily pulling Chelsea through games on the way to the 2012 UEFA Champions League triumph in 2012, the power-house netted over 100 times for the Blues during his two stints at the club. A relatively unkown force when he was brought in to Chelsea from Marseille, Chelsea manager José Mourinho was questioned on the decision to purchase such an unproven talent, but his response to the media was a candid; “Judge him when he leaves the club.” And they did; and he was judged one of the best strikers to ever grace the Premier League.