'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Chelsea have had many talismanic players dawning the blue jersey over the years. Along with the British players, many legendary foreign players have also played for the London club.We at Sportskeeda list top 5 foreign players to have played for Chelsea.
#1 Didier Drogba
‘King Drogba’ as he is popularly known as among the Chelsea fans, Didier Drogba is one of the most coveted foreign players ever to wear the blue jersey. The Ivory Coast striker joined the London club in 2004 from Marseille and continued to play for the club for the next 8 seasons. He scored his first goal for the club against Crystal Palace in just his third game. The legendary forward had won the Chelsea players’ player of the year award in 2007 and Chelsea player of the year award in 2010. In 341 appearances for Chelsea, Drogba scored 157 goals which include 100 Premier League goals.
#2 Claude Makelele
This talismanic French midfielder joined The Blues from Real Madrid in 2003. He was signed by the then manager Claudio Ranieri who had recognized Makelele as the ‘battery’ of team. Later after Jose Mourinho joined the club as the new manager he too couldn’t ignore the Frenchman’s contribution and soon named him Chelsea’s ‘Player of the Year’.
Although he was regarded as a holding midfielder but he possessed immense caliber of being a prolific passer of the ball. After he left Madrid and Beckham joined the club, Zidane spoke about his countryman saying, “Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you are losing the entire engine?”
#3 Petr Cech
Petr Cech was signed in 2004 by the then Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri. Soon after joining the club, he replaced Carlo Cudicini as the first team goal-keeper.
Since joining the club, Cech has been a phenomenon and had made many records. In 2005 he had set Premier League record of 1,025 minutes without conceding a goal. He had won the Chelsea Player of the Year award in 2011.
#4 Gianfranco Zola
The Italian striker joined Chelsea in 1996. He was signed by the then player manager, Ruud Gullit. Zola proved to be a crucial signing as he became a key player for Chelsea in their resurgence season in 1996-97. He helped them win the FA Cup and Chelsea eventually finished 6th in the Premier League.
Zola is regarded as one the best foreign player to have played for Chelsea. He had scored 80 goals in 309 games for The Blues.
#5 Carlo Cudicini
Eventhough Carlo Cudicini had appeared in very less games for the team, the goal-keeper had always been a fan favourite. Carlo Cudicini joined Chelsea on loan in 1999 and permanently moved to the club the following year. Soon he replaced the then first team keeper, Ed de Goey. He was also voted Chelsea’s Player of the Year in 2001-02 season by the fans.
Cudicini’s fortune changed after Petr Cech joined the club. Cudicini was eventually replaced by Cech as the first choice goal-keeper. In 9 years of his Chelsea stint, He had appeared in 216 games, and managed to keep 98 clean sheets.
