Chelsea Football Club have been the home to some of the world’s best ever players. John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Eden Hazard, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank, Gianfranco Zola, and countless others.
While there are numerous defenders, midfielders, and strikers that have played for the club that many know, Chelsea have also been the home to a few world class goalkeepers, keepers that played parts in some of the biggest upsets, or had the ability to keep Chelsea in the game at important times. This list will go through the best players to put on the gloves for the team.
Henrique Hilario
Some may think Hilario might be a strange choice to add to this list considering he only made a coupe dozen starts for the Blues. Either way, he became a sort of cult figure due to a series of unfortunate events.
During a match against Reading, Petr Cech suffered an horrendous challenge to the head, putting him on the sidelines, after which substitute keeper at the time Carlo Cudicini came on, who also ended up being injured in the same game.
John Terry had to put the gloves on as there were no subs left for Chelsea, but after that, Hilario became the first choice keeper for the team, and put in some very impressive performances. He may not have been on the same level as Cech, but he made the effort to try.
Peter Bonetti
A name that younger fans might not recognise, but Peter Bonetti is one of the longest serving players Chelsea have ever had. Playing for the Blues between 1960 and 1979, as well as playing for England. Bonetti finished his career with a staggering 208 clean sheets in 729 appearances across all competitions.
He was also a key figure in Chelsea winning numerous championships during his time, and he was also the club’s first ever World Cup winner. Bonetti died earlier this year, but “The Cat” cemented his place as a clean sheet king decades ago already.
Carlo Cudicini
Another name that many Chelsea and football fans will recognise, Cudicini was either the number 1 or number 2 keeper behind Petr Cech during his 10 year spell at the club. With incredible reflexes and serious prowess when faced with a penalty, his inclusion on this list is a no brainer.
Cudicini was Petr Cech level great before Cech got to that point. Cudicini was also voted the Player of the Year in the 2001-2002 season, and at £160k, he was also the bargain of the century considering how his career turned out.
Cudicini is also on the list for the most clean sheets in a Chelsea jersey, with 101 clean sheets in 216 appearances. As mentioned, he had a 50% success rate facing penalties, and a move to rivals Spurs after his time at Chelsea wasn’t enough to taint his time at Stamford Bridge.
Sam Millington
A player that may have drifted from the annals of Chelsea history. Sam Millington was a serious brick wall in front of goal during his time at the club. Playing for the team during the early 30’s, he kept 14 clean sheets and was an integral part of Chelsea gaining promotion in 1930.
He unfortunately had to retire early, at the age of 30 due to injury, but before that he had made 245 appearances in 6 seasons at the club, and finished his time off at the club with 78 clean sheets. Not a huge number by today’s standard, but who knows where Chelsea would have been without Millington in goal.
Thibaut Courtois
Even though his current form can be seen as not brilliant, Courtois without any doubt stepped up to the plate after Cech stepped away from the game. He demonstrated his incredible ability for Atletico Madrid, and carried it on through his time at Chelsea.
Courtois won the Golden Glove for most clean sheets during his time at Chelsea, and he finished his Chelsea career off with keeping Manchester United out of Chelsea’s goal during the 2018 FA Cup Final.
He ended with 58 clean sheets in 154 appearances for the club, and will most definitely go down as a shot stopping legend with the Blues.
Petr Cech
There is no goalkeeper who has played for Chelsea that would have taken the top spot from Petr Cech. He was easily one of the most reliable goalkeepers to ever put on the gloves, and his incredible clean sheet record in a Chelsea jersey is going to be difficult to beat.
Whether it be the three penalty saves during the 2012 Champions League final, or stopping shot after shot in any final that Chelsea were in, if you needed a clean sheet, Cech was your man.
When he finally moved on from the club, he finished with 228 clean sheets, an absolutely staggering number in this day and age in football. Also, considering he is not back on the books at Chelsea, in a back up keeper role, it would be silly to suggest that he has lost his touch.
As you can see, Chelsea have had some incredible goalkeepers between the sticks in their long history, and were also the home to probably the best goalkeeper the world has ever seen in the form of Petr Cech.
With Kepa Arrizabalaga on the out, and Eduard Mendy in serious form, who knows if he will be the next Cech, only time will tell.
