Into the Top 10 we go and we’ve finally reached the stage where each of the players mentioned deserve legendary status at the club. The five players we release today include one current blue, one current red and three retired Englishman. They each have Chelsea records to their name, but not all of them have won silverware during their time at the club.
10. Petr Cech
One particular goalkeeper has won it all. Cech is the highest-ranked goalkeeper on this list so he can be regarded as Chelsea’s greatest ever Number 1. He joined in 2004 with Jose Mourinho and success followed immediately. Despite the presence of Carlo Cudicini, a 23-year-old Cech started 35 Premier League games in his first season as the established first choice keeper. Chelsea went on to win the league three times with Cech between the sticks, and once more with him as second choice in 2015. After the Blues’ maiden Champions League triumph in 2012, even Didier Drogba said that Petr Cech was the reason Chelsea won the cup, even though the Ivorian had scored the crucial equaliser and the winning penalty. Cech saved a penalty from Arjen Robben in extra time to force more spot-kicks, he saved Ivica Olic’s effort in the shootout and Chelsea were champions. Along with Premier League and Champions League success, he boasts FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League winners’ medals as well as a Chelsea Player of the Year title.
9. Ron Harris
A throwback here for the more senior Chelsea fans this one. Ron Harris, or ‘Chopper’ as he was known because of his combative playing style, played in a whopping 795 games for the Blues. I can tell you that that’s the highest of any Chelsea player in history. He won both domestic and continental trophies during his 19-year spell at Stamford Bridge, including an FA Cup, a League Cup and a Cup Winners’ Cup – not bad for a player playing during the period where Chelsea ‘had no history’. After 5 years in the Chelsea defence, Harris became club captain and became a hugely influential leader. His strong performances in big games earned him a reputation for being one of the toughest opponents around, teams feared him right up until his retirement in 1985.
8. Eden Hazard
Quite possibly the most technically gifted player ever to grace Stamford Bridge in a Chelsea shirt. The tricky Belgian winger decided to join the Blues after their Champions League triumph in 2012, already showing his intent on success. He’s gone on to win the Premier League twice, being Chelsea’s Player of the Year on both occasions and the PFA Player of the Year in 2015, the Europa League and the League Cup. Hazard clinched the 2014/15 Premier League title with the winner against Crystal Palace while also winning the title for Leicester a year later with a wonder strike against Spurs at Stamford Bridge. Perhaps his most famous moment in Chelsea blue came in February 2017, where he dribbled past a host of Arsenal players to score a stunning solo goal in a 3-1 win over the Gunners.
7. Kerry Dixon
A brilliant goal-scorer but one who never got the silverware success he deserved. Dixon was Chelsea’s striker in the 1980s and early 1990s, scoring 193 goals in all competitions for the Blues – a tally that earns him 3rd spot in Chelsea’s record goal-scorer list. After a few successful seasons in England’s top flight, Chelsea were relegated in 1988 but Dixon’s 25 goals in the Second Division saw Chelsea promoted at the first time of asking. He followed that up with another efficient year in front of goal and led the Blues to their highest finish in 20 years as they finished 5th. With Chelsea playing two up-front, Dixon formed formidable and profitable partnerships with the likes of David Speedie. His importance in helping Chelsea get back to the top flight cannot go unnoticed as it’s set up the years of success that have followed.
6. Bobby Tambling
Before Frank Lampard scored those two goals against Aston Villa in 2013, Tambling had held the record for Chelsea’s highest goal scorer for around four decades. He netted 202 goals in 370 games during his Chelsea career in the 1950s and 1960s, boasting a much better ratio than Lampard as a result. Tambling was one of the most prolific strikers around, he once netted 5 times in a 6-2 win at Villa Park. Upon Chelsea’s relegation to Division Two in 1962, Tambling was named as club captain by Tommy Docherty. He netted in both an FA Cup and a League Cup final, the latter of which proved to be his only major honour during his time at the club. He wasn’t involved as Chelsea won the 1970 FA Cup having fallen out of favour in the team and so left as a Chelsea legend that summer.