Chelsea Football Club is one of the oldest teams in England. Their history includes golden ages and periods of dominance, but the club has also had its share of struggles. During the 1980s in particular, Chelsea experienced visible financial distress, and their fears never fully abated until Roman Abramovich’s takeover in 2003.

Abramovich’s arrival and Chelsea’s fate were hardly coincidental. The Russians have invested hundreds of millions over the years, turning the Blues into a superpower in English and European football. Chelsea get their first win since Abramovich took office Premier Leaguethen a few more, as well as two, and so far only of the Champions League.

Unsurprisingly, some players of real quality have represented themselves at Chelsea over the years, but which are the five best players to ever appear at Stamford Bridge?

Although Petr Cech was only 22 years old when he transferred to Chelsea in 2004, he had already gained five years of experience and more than 100 matches. As such, the £7m signing took little time to settle in and became Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper, taking over from Carlo Cudicini, who suffered an injury in pre-season.

Cech would spend 11 years at Stamford Bridge, becoming one of Chelsea’s best-ever players as well as one of the Premier League’s best ever shot-stoppers. No goalkeeper in the Premier League has reached 100 clean sheets as quickly as Cech, who has the most clean sheets in league history.

The talent of Cech and his teammates brought victory. The Czech international played a key role in the Blues winning four Premier Leagues, four FA Cups, three League Cups, one Champions League and one Europa League during his career. Cech, who has received praise from many players and managers past and present, was sold to Arsenal in 2015, with Chelsea making a significant profit from a player who served them heroically for over a decade.

Drogba began his senior career in France and began to attract worldwide attention after transferring to Marseille in 2003. In his only season at the club, Drogba finished as top scorer and helped the team reach the UEFA Cup final. This form led Chelsea to call and Drogba, who moved to Stamford Bridge for £24 million in 2004, became the most expensive Ivorian player of all time.

At his peak, the striker became one of the best players on the continent. Drogba was an outstanding defender, possessed of pace and a lethal finisher, as well as a skilled passer. While at Chelsea, Drogba became known for his performances in big matches. He won 10 major awards at the club and scored 10 goals in 10 finals.

After spending eight years at Stamford Bridge, Drogba left Chelsea in 2012 and was transferred to the Chinese League. Two years later, the club legend returned for one season and helped the team win the 2014/15 Premier League before departing for a second and final time; his name is firmly etched in club folklore.

Making his debut in 1964, Peter Osgood would spend a decade at Chelsea, scoring 150 goals in over 300 appearances for the club. His quality and dedication to the club are immortalized in the Osgood statue outside Stamford Bridge.

Osgood scored Chelsea’s equalizing goal against Leeds United in the 1970 FA Cup final replay, which the Blues won in extra time. Even more impressive was that Osgood scored in every round before and including the final; The striker had played an outstanding tournament.

The striker helped Chelsea qualify for the European Cup Winners’ Cup the following season, but, to the dismay of Blues fans, he would leave the club in 1974 after an argument with then manager Dave Sexton. Osgood returned for one season in 1978, but was not the player he once was. However, this did not detract from the legacy he left behind.

One of the best centre-backs of his generation, John Terry made his debut for Chelsea in 1998 and from then on he spent an astonishing 19 years at the club; The only interruption was a brief loan spell at Nottingham Forest in 2000.

Terry broke into the first team following his time on loan and was indispensable for over 15 years. Known for his leadership and excellent defensive abilities, Terry is, at the time of writing, the only player to have played more than 700 games for Chelsea, with no other active player even remotely close to that tally. In these matches Terry scored 67 goals; This is a high number for a player in his position.

The defender won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, one Champions League and one Europa League with the Blues, and only won the first of those FA Cups without being a captain; He took on this role in 2003 and continued until 2003. He left the club in 2017 and spent just one season at Aston Villa before retiring.

Chelsea’s all-time top scorer, Chelsea’s all-time top assist and third most capped player in history, Frank Lampard is one of the best midfielders ever seen in the Premier League and also leads Chelsea Football Club. The best player ever represented. .

After six years at West Ham United, Lampard moved via London to Stamford Bridge in 2001, where he would spend the next 13 years of his career. A box-to-box midfielder, Lampard has matched his ability to get back and win tackles with going forward and finding the back of the net, providing his team with equal quality in attack and defence.

The only midfielder to score at least 150 Premier League goals at the time of writing, Lampard was a perfect example of a Chelsea team that won multiple Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League and Europa League titles during his tenure. cup. Lampard, who left the club in 2014, had done more than enough to become fondly remembered as a hero among Chelsea fans.