Over the years, many players have been and gone. With millions upon millions being spent on a whole range of players from around the world. Roman Abramovich has put Chelsea on the map, providing the players and the facilities to make the club one of the greatest in the world. Here are my top five signings during Abramovich’s time at Stamford Bridge.
5. Branislav Ivanovic
The Serbian may have been over looked by a number of fans if they had been asked the same question. However, since signing in 2007, Ivanovic has been an integral part of the Chelsea squad. Ivanovic joined for £7m from. Now at the age of 31, he is becoming one of the stand out defenders in the Premier League. Over the years Ivanovic has been famous for his goal scoring ability. He has scored a total of thirty goals in his Chelsea career and a number have come on big stages.
Most recently, Ivanovic scored in stoppage time in the second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final against Liverpool. The goal sent Chelsea to Wembley, were Chelsea eventually ran out 2-0 winners against Tottenham. That was not Ivanovic only stoppage time winner, the right back smashed home in Chelsea’s dramatic Champions League last sixteen tie against Napoli.
Despite struggling in the early stages of his Chelsea career as a central defender, Ivanvoic has come on with age. When Jose Mourinho was asked about whether Ivanovic would be one of the clubs best signings after his fantastic start to the season, he replied: “I think so. He came just after I left [in 2007] and after that he made a fantastic contribution for this club.”
4. Claude Makelele
After signing from Real Madrid for £16m back in 2003, Makelele was a sign of where Chelsea were heading as a club. The French midfielder went on to become one of Chelsea’s most iconic players. During his time at Chelsea, Makelele impressed everyone in and across the Premier League.
His performances were at such a level, the position he played has been nicknamed after him for a number of years. Makelele was known for being a more defensive midfielder, a player that would keep the game as simple as possible, creating ‘the Makelele role’.
He was very effective for Chelsea and it was his dominance in midfield that resulted in bringing the best out of the Blue’s more attacking players. During his five years at Chelsea, he won back to back Premier League titles, two League Cups and a FA Cup.
3. Ashley Cole
Arguably one of the best left backs in the Premier League’s history and possibly at times, the world. Ashley Cole joined from Arsenal in 2006 for a fee of £5m and William Gallas also moved in the other direction. The move caused massive amounts of controversy and but friction between his relationship with the Arsenal fans.
Cole spent seven years at Chelsea and eventually left for AS Roma in 2014. During his time at Stamford Bridge, Cole contribute to large parts of the clubs success. He won a Premier League, four FA Cups, League Cup, Champions League and Europa League during his time. Before leaving for Italy, Cole made 229 appearances for Chelsea.
Cole also surpassed over a hundred national team appearances for England, many believe he was the best English left back of his generation.
2. Petr Cech
Unlike Cole, Cech joined Chelsea in the earlier stages of Abramovich’s time at Chelsea. Having a deal agreed back in 2003, the goalkeeper joined Chelsea in 2004. Since then, Cech has been at the heart of the Chelsea team. He has Chelsea’s number one goal keeper for over a decade, despite suffering a fractured skull early in his Chelsea career.
Now at the age of 32, Cech looks set to be on his way out of the club. The Czech Republic international has been limited to only a handful of appearances this season, thanks to the fine form of Thibaut Courtois.
During his time at Stamford Bridge, Cech has been instrumental in the clubs success. He has won three Premier League trophies, four Fa Cups, three League Cups, Champions League and a Europa League. As well as a host of individual awards, Cech has endured a glittering career at Chelsea and will go down as one of the greatest players ever.
He will be most famous for playing a crucial part in the most famous night of the club’s history. Cech starred in the Champions League final, pulling off a number of important saves in the penalty shoot-out.
1. Didier Drogba
Once voted as Chelsea’s best ever player. Drogba was another signing that did struggle in his early days at Stamford Bridge, being ridiculed for diving and simulation. Despite the tough start, Drogba has gone on to become one of the most lethal strikers in Chelsea’s and the Premier League’s history. His goals drove Chelsea to endless amounts of trophies throughout his Chelsea career, which has seen him pick up three Premier League winners’ medals, four FA Cups, three League Cups and one Champions League winners’ medal.
As well as a host of individual awards to his name, Drogba is Chelsea’s fourth highest ever goal scorer. He broke record after record and soon became the man to call upon on the biggest stage of them. Drogba broke the record for most goals in finals (9) and it was fitting that his Chelsea send-off was the greatest moment in Chelsea’s history.
In his final game for Chelsea Drogba did what he does best and scored a late equaliser against Bayern Munich and converted the winning penalty. Since re-joining the club in 2014, Drogba may not have hit the heights of his younger self, however his legacy will forever live on at Chelsea Football Club.
Do you agree with my top five? If you don’t let us know who makes yours in the comments and on Twitter @TheStamfordShed. We’d love to know!
