A brief history of Chelsea Football Club in pictures

Chelsea Football Club turned 110 on 10 March 2015. A club having a rich history, the Blues have come a long way from winning their first League title in 1955 to winning the Capital One Cup recently. From its inception in 1905 to present day 2015, a lot has happened with players, managers and owners changing.The club also has won many trophies during this time and today it is one of the most widely followed clubs around the world. The fan-base has been built through the performances of the team in recent years, which is imperative for a club who strives to be at the top. Many players have exhibited their craft here at its iconic Stamford Bridge stadium and have become legends in their own right.Here is a look at some of the most important moments in Chelsea’s colourful history till the present day where the legacy continues.

#1 The beginning

This playing XI from 1905 consisted of names like goalkeeper-captain William Foulke, nicknamed Fatty Foulke because of his huge figure, who made 35 appearances during the first season, Jimmy Windridge who scored 16 goals, thus making him the club’s second highest goalscorer in all competitions after Frank Pearson who had 17, and midfielder Martin Moran who contributed 5 goals in total.

Chelsea finished in a pretty decent third position in its first season behind Bristol City and Manchester United in the Second Division of the Football League. In that season, they lost their debut match 1-0 to Stockport County but won their next two games against Blackpool 1-0 and a thumping 5-1 win over Hull City in which Windbridge scored a hat-trick.

Chelsea also had the record of the biggest home win when they absolutely trounced Burslem Port Vale 7-0 (3 March 1906) and the biggest away win as well when the club triumphed over Lincoln City 4-1 (23 December 1905).

#2 The capture of 1955

Chelsea 2 — Picture Courtesy: mullocksauctions.uk

1955 was the year Chelsea unexpectedly won the First Division title. This was largely due to manager Ted Drake, a former Arsenal and England striker who was appointed as the club’s new manager. He brought wholescale changes to the club in an attempt to modernise the club.

In 1954/55, which was also the club’s jubilee year, captain Roy Bentley who scored 21 goals lead a team of players such as goalkeeper Charlie 'Chic' Thomson, Derek Saunders and Jim Lewis, central midfielder Johnny 'Jock' McNichol, wingers Eric "Rabbit" Parsons and Frank Blunstone, defenders Peter Sillett and Ron Greenwood in central defence.

With four consecutive defeats in their opening games, their title charge did not have a smooth start. A run of 25 games after that with 3 defeats in the process saw them lift the title.

A notable event was the guard of honour given by Matt Busby and his Busby Babes to the Chelsea players in the final game of that season. They finished the season as champions with 52 points, one of the lowest title securing points tally after the First World War.

#3 Zola\'s magic and the Renaissance

Gianfranco Zola of Chelsea celebrates his goal with team mates Gustavo Poyet and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink — Gianfranco Zola (C) of Chelsea celebrates his goal with team mates Gustavo Poyet (L) and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (R)

Gianfranco Zola, a club legend arrived at the club during Ruud Gullit’s tenure in charge of Chelsea in 1996. He was a firm favourite among the Stamford Bridge faithful because of his skill and technical abilities with the ball. Several top players were brought in and Chelsea gained a reputation of being one of the top sides in England.

Under Gullit, the players played a neat, entertaining and attractive passing game performed by technically gifted players. Some other players who contributed to this were Italian striker Gianluca Vialli (who later became player-manger after Gullit’s sacking), French defender Frank Leboeuf and Roberto Di Matteo (who later steered the club to its first ever Champions League crown in 2012.)

Ruud Gullit ended the club’s 26-year wait for a trophy when his team won the FA Cup by beating Middlesbrough 2-0. Under Viall, Chelsea won trophies which included the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, the European Super Cup (with victory over Real Madrid) and a second FA Cup in which they beat Aston Villa in the final. Vialli was hailed as Chelsea’s most successful manager then.

#4 Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho

A Russian owner and a Portuguese manager then shaped the modern-day Chelsea that exists today. Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire acquired Chelsea with an intention of challenging for more silverware and be among the top clubs in the world. He went on a spending spree and splashed 100 million pounds for players like Claude Makélélé, Hernan Crespo, Joe Cole and Damien Duff.

After a brief spell with Claudio Ranieri he recruited Jose Mourinho, the Portuguese manager who had won two Portuguese league titles, a Portuguese Cup, a European Cup and a UEFA Cup with FC Porto. The 2004-05 season was an amazing season for the club and it also ushered in an era of dominance over the subsequent periods. The likes of Frank Lampard and Arjen Robben were crucial to Chelsea’s title capture along with their defence which was rock solid consisting of the pairing of captain John Terry and William Gallas.

Goalkeeper Petr Cech was in sublime form keeping 25 clean sheets and setting a record of a playing time of 1025 minutes without conceding a goal. The domestic double was completed thanks to the League Cup win when Chelsea beat Liverpool 3-2. Mourinho also oversaw the last League Cup final at the Millenium stadium which his team won and the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley where Chelsea won again beating Manchester United 1-0 by a Didier Drogba goal. Chelsea also bagged a win in the last FA Cup final that was played at the old Wembley.

#5 Present day

After Mourinho left, the club had successes in parts with league titles, league cups and FA Cups in different seasons. The managerial merry-go-round was in full swing with managers facing the axe for not producing the results. In the process, the club also became champions of Europe in succession, winning the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League in consecutive seasons. Mourinho came back to the club following his stint with Spanish giants Real Madrid and failed to deliver any silverware in his first season in charge after returning. He stated transition phase as the main reason for failing to do so.

But in the current season he has delivered the Capital One Cup and is well on course to winning the Premier League. Mourinho’s current bunch of players have finesse, hunger to win and the physicality required in the modern-day game. He has astutely developed the side to have the winning mentality always and wear the opposition out. His players are now gunning for more silverware in the future.