These are the best Blues stars of the last 25 years, with numerous legends from the 2012 Champions League title. They are a legend as is the latest Koi Fortune casino.
Chelsea FC has experienced some major upheavals over the past 25 years. In 2003, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich took over and made big name and enormous success for the Blues with mega-redeemations.
When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Abramovich had to give up the club. A consortium led by American Todd Boehly struck, investing even more absurd sums in players who had not yet proven themselves.
But coach Enzo Maresca is currently shaping the wild and young Chelsea team into a top team. Will a player from the current squad also be in the top 25 blues of the 21st century so far?
Our List
John Obi Mikel
John Obi Mikel has gone from being a liability to one of the most respected defensive midfielders in eleven years at Stamford Bridge. He filled his role as a substitute like a team player.
His masterful performance in the 2012 Champions League final against FC Bayern Munich, when he kept Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos at bay, enjoys legendary status at de Blues.
Nemanja Matic
Matic was already under contract with Chelsea between 2009 and 2011, but was loaned to Benfica Lisbon.
The defensive midfielder then returned to Chelsea in 2014 for €25 million and formed an impressive midfield partnership with Cesc Fabregas. He won the Premier League twice and scored some dream goals with his strong left foot. José Mourinho in particular held the Serb in high esteem.
Arjen Robben
Robben is of course best remembered as a Bayern player (among the best Bundesliga players). However, from 2004 to 2007, the Dutchman played and shone at Chelsea, winning two PL titles under coach José Mourinho.
Before he mastered the art of moving from the right to the center and finishing, Robben was active as a left winger. The light-footed Dutchman was a constant threat for three seasons in West London. He then moved to Real Madrid.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Before the takeover by Abrahmovich and big money, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was the Blues’ star striker.
The Dutchman, who was signed by Atletico Madrid in 2000 for what was then a record transfer fee of 19 million euros, scored 87 goals and provided 35 assists in 177 matches. He remains one of the top ten goalscorers in the club’s history.
Thiago Silva
No one expected Thiago Silva to play so well for Chelsea when, at the age of 35, he joined from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer at the end of his great career.
He already knew coach Thomas Tuchel from PSG – and now won the long-awaited CL title with him at the Blues in 2021.
The Brazilian central defender’s experience was invaluable at a time of upheaval. At the age of 39, he left London to go home.
Juan Mata
Mata joined from Valencia CF in 2011 for €26.70 million. The petite Spaniard shone with his technical skills.
He was one of the heroes in Chelsea’s run to Champions League triumph in 2012 – one of three titles he won in just two and a half seasons. He scored 86 goals in 135 games before joining Manchester United for €45 million.
Ricardo Carvalho
Ricardo Carvalho is an unsung hero of Chelsea FC. You forget that he impressed calmly and cleverly in central defense for six years.
The Portuguese was a key figure in the Blues’ league titles under compatriot José Mourinho in 2005 and 2006 in central defense alongside John Terry. Last year he scored a decisive goal to win the title and also secured another league title and three FA Cups.
Joe Cole
Joe Cole, one of the most technically gifted players England had produced in a long time, played in his prime at Chelsea FC.
During these seven years, the attacker delivered numerous top performances, including a goal against Manchester United in 2006 to win the league title, one of eight major trophies he won with Chelsea.
Gary Cahill
Gary Cahill has proven to be a real stroke of luck for Chelsea FC. The Blues paid just €8.4 million for the Bolton Wanderers central defender in 2012. In seven and a half years, he became one of England’s best defenders and a fixture in the Blues’ defense.
The former England international won the Champions League and the Premier League twice.
Willian
Although his numbers don’t always reflect this, Willian has been consistently good in the seven years he has played as a winger or number 10 at Chelsea.
He came from Russia in 2013 and remained with the Blues until 2020. In more than 330 games, he contributed 120 goal participations. The Brazilian won the Premier League twice.
Diego Costa
Chelsea FC probably never really replaced Diego Costa, Didier Drogba’s successor.
The center forward was difficult to defend during his three seasons at Chelsea, rising above the 20 PL goal mark in two seasons as the Blues won the title in 2014/15 and 2016/17 – before his fiery temper led to his abrupt and premature departure.
Cesar Azpilicueta
Virtually no one expected Cesar Azpilicueta to become a Chelsea legend when the relatively unknown and unpolished full-back was signed by Olympique Marseille in 2012.
In eleven title-rich years at Stamford Bridge, the ever-reliable defender won every possible title – including the 2021 Champions League as captain, as well as the 2015 and 2017 Premier League.
Branislav Ivanovic
Branislav Ivanovic was a player who seemed to come out of nowhere and had to be very, very patient to get his chance at Stamford Bridge. In his nine years at Chelsea, he ultimately became a fan favorite.
The aggressive and versatile player was feared both in defense and on offensive excursions. In the 2013 Europa League final, he scored the last-gasp winner, one of eight major titles he won with Chelsea.
