Chelsea FC Players

DIDIER DROGBA

2008-06-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

DIDIER DROGBA
Pace allied to strength and aerial power made Didier the type of forward not seen at Stamford Bridge for quite a while on his arrival and the ingredients all came together to create a memorable 2006/7 season.

His 33 goals, containing many Goal of the Season contenders, made him Chelsea's highest scorer since Kerry Dixon in the 1984/85 season. His 20 in the league won the Premiership Golden Boot. His 60 games tally was the second highest appearances in a season in the club's history.

He delivered on the big occasions, scoring both goals in the 2-1 Carling Cup Final defeat over Arsenal, netting home and away against Barcelona, and becoming the first African to score in an FA Cup Final with his extra-time winner over Man United.

Didier was signed in the summer of 2004 from Marseille where he had been named France's Player of the Year. A reported fee of £24 million was paid.

Didier captained Ivory Coast in their maiden World Cup Finals in 2006 and as the African Player of the Year, he has become Chelsea's all-time highest scoring international. Last season he signed a new deal to keep him at the club until 2010.

ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO

2008-06-17T22:11:00.000-07:00

ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO
Not since Ruud Gullit in 1995 have Chelsea signed a name so admired throughout the world of soccer. It was a sign of changed times that a player like Andriy could be prised away from a club like AC Milan at his very peak.

The then 29 year-old signed before the 2006 World Cup for an undisclosed Chelsea record fee but the goals did not flow at the rate expected. Andriy ended his first English season with 14 in total, four in the league, although there were some stunners amongst them, not least at White Hart Lane in an FA Cup replay.

The 2005/6 season saw milestones passed. He became Milan's second all-time topscorer and a goal against Lyon in the Champions League quarter-finals made it 52 goals in 90 games in that competition, a record including qualification games.

In total he scored 173 times for Milan in 296 games. The pedigree is unquestioned.

PETR CECH

2008-06-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

PETR CECH
A new arrival in the summer of 2004 who at £7 million cost more than all the past goalkeepers in Chelsea history combined, Petr was bought to boost that department of the squad and provide serious and healthy competition to Carlo Cudicini.

He immediately caught the eye with his height, incredible reaction speed and confidence in leaving his goal-line and began his Chelsea career as first choice.

A clean-sheet laden first season at Stamford Bridge was statistically the most accomplished by any Chelsea keeper.

A run of 1,024 minutes without conceding a goal between December and March set a new English top flight record.

A dreadful collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt in October 2006 left Petr with a fractured skull and requiring immediate surgery, 30 stitches and much rest. That his season would resume so soon and end so well with two cup final wins, no-one would have predicted at the time.

Frighteningly for the opposition, he has well over a decade ahead to further improve!

JOHN TERRY

2008-06-17T22:09:00.000-07:00

JOHN TERRY
Chelsea to the core and a true hero to the fans, John is the most successful captain in Chelsea history, he is skipper of his country and in many eyes, he's the best central defender currently in action.

As brave as they come and a superb reader of the game, sound technique and distribution make him more than just a defenders' defender.

Born in east London, John has been with Chelsea since the age of 14 when he was initially a medium-build midfielder. Filling in as youth team center-back one day due to a lack of alternatives, he has never looked back, aided by a rapid growth in physical stature.

With the Carling Cup also lifted, John became one of only four Chelsea captains to lead the club to major honours and he more than played his part on the pitch in 2004/5 with a succession of world class displays and eight crucial goals.

He was voted PFA Player of the Year by his fellow professionals, the first Chelsea winner of the accolade.

Chelsea's first homegrown to be capped by England since Ray Wilkins in the mid 70s has now proudly become our first England skipper of the professional age.

HENRIQUE HILARIO

2008-06-17T12:00:00.001-07:00

HENRIQUE HILARIO

A new third choice keeper was needed when young Lenny Pidgeley moved on in the summer of 2006. Experience was chosen.

Hilário, 30-years-old, agreed to join the Portuguese contingent at Stamford Bridge as a support player, having come to the end of a contract at Nacional, a top flight club in his homeland.

Previously, the former Under 21 international played two spells at Porto where he was a part of domestic league and cup wins. The second spell was under José Mourinho before leaving for Nacional to gain more first team games.

Neither could have guessed what awaited so early in the keeper's first Chelsea year. Head injures to Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini in the same game meant Hilário's Chelsea debut came in the Champions League against European champions Barcelona. He kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win.

By the end of the campaign, Hilário had played 18 games and fulfilled all that was expected of a number three choice thrust unexpectedly into the spotlight.

JULIANO BELLETTI

2008-06-17T11:58:00.001-07:00

JULIANO BELLETTI
Juliano Belletti signed a three-year contract at Stamford Bridge on the 23rd August 2007. The right-back moved from FC Barcelona for an undisclosed fee.

Belletti said on joining : 'It has all been a great surprise,' he said. 'Just yesterday I talked with Chelsea. We reached an agreement and so did Chelsea and Barcelona with no problem.

'I am a typical Brazilian full-back,' he added. 'I like to get forward up the wing.'

The 31-year-old is most famous for scoring the winning goal in the 2006 Champions League Final against Arsenal when he came on as a second-half substitute. It was his first goal for Barcelona.

He was signed by the Catalan giants in 2004 from Villarreal, having moved from his native Brazil to Spain two years earlier. At Villarreal he was a UEFA Cup semi-finalist.

In his first season at Barça he played in both legs of the epic Champions League knockout tie between Chelsea and Barcelona when José Mourinho's side went through with a 4-2 second-leg win at Stamford Bridge.

ALEX

2008-06-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

ALEX
Chelsea's most recent signing joined on the eve of the new Premier League season after three years playing in Holland at PSV Eindhoven. Chelsea held the first option to sign him when he left.

The 25-year-old Brazilian international defender put his signature to a three-year deal and along with Tal Ben-Haim is an important reinforcement in a rearguard that had been holed badly by injuries the previous campaign.

Prior to PSV, Alex played in his homeland at Santos, the São Paulo club made famous around the globe by Pelé.

After moving to Europe, the young player was part of a side that won three consecutive Dutch league titles with a domestic double completed in 2004-5. In the Champions League last season he made the headlines by heading the goal that knocked Arsenal out at the first knockout stage.

Having made his international debut in 2003, he was part of the Brazil side that won the 2007 Copa América in the summer, playing in the 3-0 defeat of Argentina in the Final, his 14th cap. He made his Chelsea debut away to Liverpool in the third game of the season.

SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS

2008-06-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS

With flying wide players key to Chelsea's Championship success in 2004/5, Shaun had originally been bought 2005 as reinforcements in the winger department - but it was as a right-sided player in a midfield diamond that he rediscovered the form that had first marked him down as one of the most exciting young talents in English soccer.

Back on song, in the second half of the 2006/7 season he weighed in with some important assists and goals, among them two high quality strikes at Upton Park.

The youngster showed versatility at Man City; attacking on either flank, playing as a striker and even as wing-back.

Arriving at Chelsea a twisting, turning bag of tricks with a thunderous shot, Shaun was soon declared by his new team-mates to be the fastest sprinter at the club.

He made his Chelsea Premiership debut off the bench against Wigan in August and has established himself as a regular choice for one of the wing places.

CARLO CUDICINI

2008-06-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

CARLO CUDICINI
Chelsea's undisputed first choice keeper between 2002 and 2004, Carlo was many people's pick of the Premiership goalies during that time thanks to super-sharp reflexes, speed off his line, ability with his feet and penalty-stopping excellence.

However the arrival of Petr Cech in the summer of 2004 meant stiff competition between the posts and Carlo has become second choice. He was especially unfortunate during last season when his own injury difficulties coincided with much of Cech's three-month absence.

A bargain £160,000 buy by Gianluca Vialli, Carlo built his reputation in England having been knocked back by injury in his homeland.

He was voted Chelsea's Player of the Year for the 2001/2 season and was sorely missed during spells out with injury the following campaign.

It was little wonder then that Chelsea bolstered the goalkeeping stock with Cech in the summer of 2004. But Carlo signed a contract extension to 2009 to stay and fight for his place. Only John Terry has been at Chelsea longer

TAL BEN-HAIM

2008-06-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

TAL BEN-HAIM
One of three free transfer additions to the squad this summer, Tal is an Israel international defender who is well-adapted to the Premier League having spent three seasons at consistently upper table Bolton.

His versatility in defence and aerial ability won 110 appearances with the Lancashire club where he played both right- and left-back in addition to his more accustomed central defensive role. He was a regular in Bolton's UEFA Cup campaign two seasons ago during which he was captain against Besiktas.

Previously Tal played for Maccabi Tel Aviv in his homeland and he had made 22 appearances for the Israeli national team by the time of his signing for Chelsea.

He completed a memorable close season by getting married just a couple of days after putting pen to his new contract.

SALOMON KALOU

2008-06-17T11:43:00.000-07:00

SALOMON KALOU
A first season of steady progress is under the belt of the young striker who signed in the summer of 2006 when an undisclosed transfer fee was paid to Dutch club Feyenoord.

Ivory Coast-born, Salomon had performed in the Dutch league for three seasons. In 2003/4 he made two appearances for Feyenoord but played the bulk of the season on loan at another Rotterdam club, second division Excelsior, where he netted four goals in 11 appearances.

The 20 goals he scored in 2004/5 was the second best total in the Dutch top division that season. He was selected as the winner of the Johan Cruyff Award for Young Talent playing in Holland.

Quick and skilful, he can perform anywhere across the front line and made his debut in the Community Shield against Liverpool in August and scored his first goal in a Carling Cup tie away at Blackburn in October 2006.

In total he scored nine goals in his first Chelsea season as he understudied Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko, playing a part in 58 of the 64 games.

PAULO FERREIRA

2008-06-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

PAULO FERREIRA
In 2004, José Mourinho paid a British record £13.2 million fee for a full-back to purchase the defender who had walked the road to Champions League glory with him at Porto.

With consistent and solid defending, the young Paulo had become an international within six months of signing for Porto from lower table side Vitória Setubal - although his nation's big party in the summer of Euro 2004 fell flat for him.

He made 18+3 league appearances on the way to a second title and remained a full-back of choice in the Champions League. He played in midfield in FA Cup semi-final defeat by Liverpool.

In August 2006, Gallas departed with new competition arriving in the shape of Khalid Boulahrouz. Paulo was just as likely to be found at stand-in center-back as right-back in the early part of 2006/7 but he came back strongly.

In the second half of last campaign he regained the right-back shirt regularly and capped a return to his best form by playing a big part in subduing the celebrated Ronaldo in the FA Cup Final. Currently, he's Portugal's first choice at left-back

WAYNE BRIDGE

2008-06-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

WAYNE BRIDGE
Wayne responded perfectly to the arrival at Chelsea of his long-time rival for the England left-back shirt by producing his best form since his debut season at Stamford Bridge.

Ashley Cole and he shared the 2006/7 season appearances between them but Cole's injury problems ensured Wayne started both the FA Cup and Carling Cup Final wins. The comeback from a broken ankle suffered in February 2005 was complete.

He signed for Chelsea for £7 million on the same day as Damien Duff, the long-serving Graeme Le Saux going in the other direction to Southampton where Wayne had come through the ranks and progressed to international standard.

Possibly his best moment to date came as he scored a late Champions League winner at Highbury. His goal that destroyed Arsenal's Champions League dream is one of the great Chelsea moments.

Steady in defence and a bundle of energy going forward, his crossing was a potent weapon last campaign. Unfortunately a hip operation, carried out in the United States during the club's pre-season visit there, ruled him out at the start of the 2007/8 season.

SCOTT SINCLAIR

2008-06-16T15:57:00.001-07:00

SCOTT SINCLAIR
A new permanent member of the first team squad for the 2007/8 season, the promotion is reward for progress the teenager made the previous campaign, both on loan in the Football League Championship and when tested for the first time in the top flight during the closing matches.

Scott is a speedy, direct-running attacking player who was signed at 16 from Bristol Rovers in July 2005 having made his debut for his previous club aged just 15. A tribunal set an initial £200,000 fee with further payments depending on progress.

He was the reserves' leading marksman with seven goals from 11 appearances plus one goal from six in the youth side.

Proving he could take the dribbling skills seen at junior level onto the bigger stage, a solo spectacular from inside his own half against Barnet was voted the goal of the FA Cup 4th round and he followed it with one from the same mould against Crystal Palace and another in the Cup.

An exciting and genuine prospect his progress this season will be watched with interest.

CLAUDIO PIZARRO

2008-06-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

CLAUDIO PIZARRO
The signing of the Peruvian international in the summer of 2007 increases the number in the squad accustomed to playing as a central striker; important ahead of a campaign that will see Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou attend the African Cup of Nations in January and February.

The 28-year-old is a physically imposing player who moved from South America to play in Germany in 1999, first at Werder Bremen for two seasons where he scored 28 goals in 76 appearances.

His past six seasons have been spent at Bayern Munich where he three times won the league and cup double, in 2003, 2005 and 2006. Michael Ballack was a team-mate in all three seasons.

Before that in 2001, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup was won. Out-of-contract, Pizarro left the Bavarian club on a free transfer having found the net 101 times in 254 appearances.

He missed the start of this campaign's pre-season training due to involvement in the Copa America where his aerial strength was on display with two goals before Peru succumbed to Argentina in the quarter-finals.

MICHAEL BALLACK

2008-06-16T15:47:00.000-07:00

MICHAEL BALLACK
An ankle operation before the climax to the 2006/07 season denied Michael a place in the FA Cup winning side but he had made a mark in Chelsea's earlier triumphant Carling Cup Final, slipping the perfect pass through for Didier Drogba's important equaliser against Arsenal in Cardiff.

That was a high point in a season of acclimatisation for the German international captain. Another was the extra-time FA Cup semi-final winner against Blackburn that sent Chelsea to the new Wembley and although Michael's seven goals from midfield was lower than his seasonal average, his overall contribution frequently drew commendation from José Mourinho.

Just one week after the close of the previous season, Chelsea announced our intention not to sit on the laurels of back-to-back championship wins when we signed the biggest name in the German game.
An ankle operation before the climax to the 2006/07 season denied Michael a place in the FA Cup winning side but he had made a mark in Chelsea's earlier triumphant Carling Cup Final, slipping the perfect pass through for Didier Drogba's important equaliser against Arsenal in Cardiff.

That was a high point in a season of acclimatisation for the German international captain. Another was the extra-time FA Cup semi-final winner against Blackburn that sent Chelsea to the new Wembley and although Michael's seven goals from midfield was lower than his seasonal average, his overall contribution frequently drew commendation from José Mourinho.

Just one week after the close of the previous season, Chelsea announced our intention not to sit on the laurels of back-to-back championship wins when we signed the biggest name in the German game.

JOHN MIKEL OBI

2008-06-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

JOHN MIKEL OBI
A powerfully-built young man, with exceptional ball skills, his standing as one of the brightest young talents in the game had been confirmed at the African Cup of Nations earlier that year, his senior international debut having come in August 2005.

Previously Mikel had starred in the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Youth Championships where he was voted the tournament's second best player as Nigeria made the final. The player trained with Chelsea for one week in the winter of 2004 and José Mourinho had seen enough to wish to sign him.

Following on from the transfer of Kalou the same summer, the arrival of Mikel confirmed Chelsea's determination to add exciting young talent as well as established stars to the squad.

Having smoothed out some rough edges both on and off the pitch, Chelsea increasingly used Mikel's talent in the holding midfield role, especially when requiring a long range of passing.

Named Chelsea Young Player of the Year, he survived an injury scare the week before to play the whole of the 2007 FA Cup Final win.

JOE COLE

2008-06-16T15:40:00.000-07:00

JOE COLE
The best season of Joe's Chelsea career was followed by his most frustrating as two spells of lengthy injury ate away the months during 2006/7.

Yet his return for the final two months came as the quadruple was still being chased and he played the first-half of the Wembley FA Cup win over Man United.

Joe had turned his long admired potential into genuine achievement during the previous two seasons at Chelsea. Regularly played on the left or right of an attacking three, he weighed in with crucial goals and assists.

A born Londoner, Joe watched Chelsea from the stands as a boy but it was to West Ham he went as a junior where the spotlight found him at a ridiculously early age.

His dazzling goal on back-to-back championship-winning day versus Man United was his favourite for the club so far and signed-off an excellent season in the perfect way. He had played 26+8 of the 38 Premiership games, scoring eight times.

STEVE SIDWELL

2008-06-16T15:38:00.001-07:00

STEVE SIDWELL
The first announced of this summer's free transfers was born almost within earshot of a Stamford Bridge goal although it was at Arsenal where he developed, winning the FA Youth Cup twice.

However, the industrious young midfielder found his way into the first team impeded by the presence of Patrick Vieira et al so dropped down a division to join Reading in January 2003.

Two full seasons later he was at last playing regularly in the top flight after the Berkshire club were promoted to the Premier League for the first time as champions.

Last season Steve started all but three of Reading's league games, scoring four goals before his contract expired.

FRANK LAMPARD

2008-06-16T15:35:00.000-07:00

FRANK LAMPARD
Eyebrows raised over an original £11 million transfer fee paid six years ago have long been forgotten now Frank has an impressive collection of winners' medals; is Chelsea's top scoring midfield player ever; is the club's tenth highest scorer of all-time and is only the second player to win 50 international caps while a Chelsea player.

Last season, his 62 games was the highest total by any Chelsea player in a single campaign as Frank continued to drive Chelsea on from midfield game after game after game. No-one of his age has enjoyed more Premiership soccer and no-one plays more at Chelsea.

In December 2005, he finally missed a game with a virus and so brought to an end a new Premiership record of 164 consecutive appearances.

The performances continued to come, as did the goals, Frank's powerful shooting firing Chelsea to the 2004/5 Championship as he top-scored from midfield with 13 in the League and 19 overall.

He created more goals than any Chelsea player in recent memory and there was no-one more appropriate to score the magical goals at Bolton to clinch the title.

RICARDO CARVALHO

2008-06-16T15:28:00.000-07:00

RICARDO CARVALHO
An important part of Chelsea's rock-solid defence in his first two Chelsea seasons when back-to-back championships were won, Ricardo took his performances onto a new level last campaign.

Rising to the challenge of a holding together a rearguard in danger of being blown apart by injury, he was the outstanding defender of the year, also making vital contributions when striding up the pitch.

The new man's reputation as a central defender dominant with both feet and head was enhanced at Euro 2004 where he was selected for UEFA's All-Star Squad of the Tournament.

A remarkable 2004 was capped by the winning of UEFA's European Football Award for Best Defender.

MICHAEL ESSIEN

2008-06-16T15:26:00.001-07:00

MICHAEL ESSIEN

Voted last season's Chelsea Player of the Year by supporters, the award recognised not just Michael's trademark steam train performances in midfield but also his ability to provide solutions to a multitude of problems elsewhere in the team. That he was outstanding in central defence during a clean sheet FA Cup Final display tells the tale well.

Then there were the special goals! The thunderbolt against Arsenal, one of two equalisers against the Gunners, was voted Chelsea Goal of the Season and was there a more dramatic moment in the campaign than the charge and angled drive in Valencia that sent the Blues into the Champions League semi-final.

A powerhouse player who finds no difficulty in getting around the pitch, he earned the nickname 'The Bison'. Mourinho used the word 'multifunctional' and the reported £24.4 million price tag reflected this versatility. He is the most expensive African footballer in the world.

ASHLEY COLE

2008-06-16T15:23:00.000-07:00

ASHLEY COLE

Chelsea's transfer deadline day signing in August 2006 took the total of England internationals in the squad to six and the number of England left-backs to two.

The Blues had lost a world class defender in William Gallas to Arsenal on the same day but made sure that was adequately compensated by the player frequently described as the best in his position.

He made his Chelsea debut against Werder Bremen at Stamford Bridge in September. His transfer had involved £5 million plus William Gallas going the other way.

A fabulous athlete who loves to go forward, he admitted at the season's end that Blues fans had yet to see him at his very best, a series of small injures having hindered the settling process. Healthy competition with Wayne Bridge for the Chelsea and England left-back shirt is set to continue

BRANISLAV IVANOVIC

2008-06-16T15:21:00.000-07:00

BRANISLAV IVANOVIC

Branislav Ivanovic, signed from Lokomotiv Moscow on a three-and-a-half year contract, became Avram Grant's second January 2008 signing following the arrival of Nicolas Anelka.

The 23-year-old Serbian international is a versatile addition to the squad. He can play right back, centre back or defensive midfield.

Having begun his career in his native Serbia at local club Sremska Mitrovica, he soon moved to the Serbian capital Belgrade to play for OFK Beograd where he remained for three seasons, signing for Lokomotiv in the summer of 2006. He appeared for the Russian side in this season's Uefa Cup.

A star of Serbia's Under 21s in both the 2006 and 2007 European Championships, Ivanovic was voted into last summer's Uefa Team of the Tournament, and has successfully graduated into a regular for the full national side.

He made his Serbia and Montenegro debut in June 2006, and is now a regular in the Serbian line-up alongside Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic.