In his latest article for the Fancast, Dan Silver discusses his Chelsea heroes.
Hero – a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.
Cult hero – a writer, musician, artist, or another public figure who is greatly admired by a relatively small audience or is influential despite limited commercial success (including goals against Spurs)
It all started with Clive Walker; there’s something about wingers and strikers that young children all enjoy. Who would want to be Micky Droy, no disrespect to Micky! As a kid on the playground, despite having zero talent, I was always pretending to be a Chelsea striker. Fortunately by the time Fleck and then Sutton arrived I was too old to pretend that I was a Chelsea player. Although, I might have done a better job than those two!
My brief love affair with Clive Walker ended when he came back on that infamous night vs Sunderland and knocked us the League Cup and if memory serves he was chased by an irate Chelsea fan in turn chased by a police horse across the hallowed turf.
Kerry Dixon soon took over hero status and was for a long time; Pat Nevin ran him close as did Paul Canoville but Kerry, what a player, what a striker. In his first season banging goals into the orange goal nets we had and who can forget the goal in front of the Clock end on our return to Division One. When he left just a few goals short of the record and having just had my heart broken by a girl for the first time, it was a double heartbreak that summer.
Early 90’s was a bit barren regarding heroes, John Spencer was a cult hero and obviously Wisey, the exception to the rule. Along came Roberto Di Matteo, that goal vs Middlesboro, the iconic celebration. That team was packed full of legends and cult heroes. To that point and perhaps to the current day this was the team I loved, and the football was brilliant. Super Dan Petrescu, the list is endless. World stars playing for us, all upgrades on the Craig Burleys of the worlds. We came so close that season and until Steve Guppy came along.
We had George Weah… last minute winner vs Spurs, always a sure-fire way to please a Chelsea fan.
I loved Vialli. Vialli Vialli Vialli Vialli Vialli, the chant that echoed around Stamford Bridge. The Champagne and semi-final win over Arsenal just after he took over from Ruud. Another wonderful moment.
Gullit, the best player I had seen at the bridge. That team and the FA Cup win in 1997, is still up there, with Munich and winning the league for the first time as my Chelsea greatest moments. The cool suave deadlocked genius smiling on the pitch, what a memory. Glad the board stuck George Graham where the sun doesn’t shine. Possibly the last time they listened to fans as well!
Mark Hughes, a cult hero, hated at United but once he became a blue, the Vicenza goal and starting the comeback vs Liverpool in the FA Cup in one of our most pivotal games in recent years.
The Cup winners cup when a half-fit Zola smashed in the winner. Zola who could not love the little magician, an absolute joy to watch. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink? Cult hero, I would say, the perfect hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Spurs. The partnership with Eidur was sensational. Eidur is one of my all-time favourites as well. At the same time, a young Frank Lampard and JT making strides to becoming two of the greatest players to pull on a Chelsea shirt and they’re undoubted heroes.
Along came a certain Russian and the Chelsea landscape change overnight.
Drogba? Hero for sure. That night in Munich being the pinnacle, he took a while to settle but cup final goals, big goals in big matches, a cast iron hero.
Ashley Cole – once the Arsenal was washed away – became a key player for us and without a doubt one of the greatest left backs in history. 15 trophies since Roman arrived and the spine of that first team Cech, JT, Super Frank, Drogba, greatest era in our History.
The current team heroes? Azpilicueta and Kante? Yes, the rest no. Cult hero? Alonso for sure. Hazard is a joy to watch. However, he’s still not quite a hero but that goal to give Leicester the league vs Spurs, cult hero status secured. A theme throughout the article – goals vs Spurs = Cult hero or hero status even if you did nothing else. Also, a shout for Michy vs WBA, a cult hero for that goal.
So, my team based on heroes rather than ability would be:
Written by Dan Silver – @dansilvs73
What are your thoughts? Let us know!
