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Chelsea Football Club is one of London's most famous and successful football teams. In the early years after their establishment in 1905, success has been sporadic as they found themselves either in mid-table ambiguity or dropping down to the second division of English Football. The trend continued throughout the 20th century with small periods of success embedded in between.
All that changed when Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003. The Russian oligarch transformed the club almost overnight into a domestic and European giant. The star signings of Didier Dorgba, Michael Essien and Petr Cech, among other stars formed a spine for continued success. The era of Roman signings have continued with the likes of Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Kai Havertz the latest star to join Chelsea.
However, it is not like Chelsea were short of club legends before the Roman era. There were those who were adored and celebrated by the Stamford Bridge faithful. Here are 5 iconic players before the Roman Abramovich era:
#5 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Before the arrival of Didier Drogba, Chelsea's legendary center forward of 2000s was Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. He arrived for a then club-record fee of 15 million pounds from Leeds United. In his very first season he bagged 23 goals in 35 appearances, establishing himself as a dependable and clinical striker.
Blessed with impressive pace and a powerful shot, the Dutchman was a renowned and consistent goalscorer in an era where Chelsea punched above their weight domestically and in Europe.
The prolific finisher with 70 goals in 136 games in the league. He is remembered dearly as one half of one of the greatest strikers in the Premier League for Chelsea.
#4 Peter Osgood
Peter Osgood was a key member of the 1970s golden team at Chelsea. His exploits in the title-winning FA Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup seasons have gone down in the history books.
During the 1969-70 season, he was the top scorer in the First Division, with 31 goals, and scored in every round of the FA Cup. It included a goal in the final against the great Don Revie's Leeds United, who were dominating European and domestic football back then.
At 6'2 with impeccable sideburns and movie star looks, Osgood was imperious in the air and a renowned hunter in the penalty box. He scored 105 goals in 289 games. Osgood remains the only Chelsea player to receive a statue at Stamford Bridge.
#3 Peter Bonetti
The man nicknamed "the cat" was the goalmouth guardian for Chelsea's first golden era of the early 1970s. Whilst some would place Petr Cech as the undisputed greatest goalkeeper in Chelsea's history, Bonetti is a close contender.
He has made close to 700 appearances for Chelsea in 19 years. His electrifying acrobatics and agility made him one of the bonafide greats in an era where goalkeepers found little protection. He was part of the Blues side in the early 70s that won an FA Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup.
#2 Ron Harris
Before John Terry, the Chelsea faithful recognized Ron Harris as their Captain, Leader and Legend. Over the course of 795 appearances in Chelsea blue, Ron "Chopper" Harris gained an infamous reputation for his hardman style and tough tackling.
His most famous contribution was in Chelsea's famed 1970 FA Cup final where his quick free kick led to a replay which Chelsea won. It was the Blues' first ever domestic cup.
His teammate from early 1970s, John Hollins, famously said:
"Ron was an incredibly consistent player. He barely ever missed a game and if he ever got an injury - and he did get a few - he would just say, "I'm fine, i'll be alright, don't worry." Such was his love of football, he wanted to play every game and the number of times he played for Chelsea speaks for itself."
Harris is the leading Chelsea appearance holder in the club's history and led the club to three honors in its 1970s heyday, including the European Cup Winner's Cup, the first ever piece of continental glory.
1. Gianfranco Zola
The man Chelsea fans belovedly call the "Little Magician" was voted the greatest player in the club's history in 2003. This is despite the fact he spent a large part of his 30s at Chelsea, having joined them in 1996 from Parma on the recommendation of manager Ruud Gullit.
The guile and agility of the diminutive Italian won the adoration of Chelsea fans and English fans alike. In 312 appearances, he scored over 80 goals and bamboozeled defenses with his ball control and precise free-kicks.
His unique jersey number 25 was retired as a testament to his genius and love at the club. He added a layer to his legacy on his coaching return as an assistant to Marizio Sarri, helping the team win the Europa League in 2019.
