Chelsea 5-1 West Ham, 20 January 2002: Where are the starting Chelsea XI that played then, now?

Chelsea v Arsenal - Premier League
Cudicini during his playing days with Chelsea

Ahead of the Premier League tie between London rivals Chelsea and West Ham this weekend, let's take a look back at the players who were involved in the biggest ever scoreline produced by the London rivals in the Premier League so far.

On the 20th of January 2002, Claudio Ranieri led Chelsea welcomed London rivals West Ham to Stamford Bridge after losing 2-1 to the Hammers at Upton Park during the first half of the season.

After a relatively silent first half that saw Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scoring the opener in the 45th minute of the match, The match turned on its head in the second half resulting in 5 second-half goals and a red card for the mercurial West Ham legend Paolo Di Canio.

Chelsea sprung to life in the second half 4 in the second half courtesy of a brace from Eidur Gudjohnsen and second-half strikes from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mikael Forssel only for Jermain Defoe to pull one back in the final minutes of the match ending it 5-1 in favour of the Blues.


Goalkeeper

Carlo Cudicini - Chelsea Assistant Manager

A former recipient of the Chelsea Player of the Year, Carlo Cudicini joined Chelsea initially on loan in 1999/2000 season before making it permanent the very next season. The former AC Milan keeper enjoyed No1 goalkeeper status after dislodging Ed de Goey before Peter Cech eventually dislodged the Italian after his arrival in 2004.

The Italian made 216 appearances for the Blues in his 10 years stay with the London side winning the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Community Sheild before joining rivals Tottenham in 2009 moving onto LA Galaxy in 2012 and hanging up his boot in the USA in 2014.

Carlos Cudicini is now an ambassador as well as the first team coach for the Blues.

Defenders

Marcel Desailly - Retired

Marcel Desailly of Chelsea running with the ball
Marcel Desailly of Chelsea running with the ball

One of the greatest players of this generation, Marcel Desailly joined Chelsea after 5 seasons with Italian giants AC Milan in 1998/99 season. The Italian spend 6 seasons with the Blues winning the FA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup with Blues before Al-Gharafa and then later Qatar SC in 2004 and 2005 respectively before retiring in 2005 with the Qatar club.

The Euro Cup and World Cup winner made 222 appearances for the Blues scoring 7 goals during his time. The former captain helped in moulding then young centre-back John Terry to the world-class defender he became.

Mario Melchiot - Retired

Mario Melchiot of Chelsea in action
Mario Melchiot of Chelsea in action

Perhaps the least heard-about name in the list of defenders, Mario Melchiot joined the Blues in the 1999/2000 season from Dutch giants Ajax. The Dutch international spend 5 seasons with London side winning the FA Cup being the only major trophy won during his time at Chelsea.

Mario Melchiot made 164 appearances and 4 goals for Chelsea before moving onto Birmingham City in 2004 and then later onto Rennes in 2006 and finally Wigan in 2007 ending his career at the Latics in 2010.

William Gallas - Retired

Chelsea v Manchester United
William Gallas celebrating his goal for Chelsea against Manchester United

More renowned for his fiery and aggressive nature on the pitch, William Gallas joined the Blues in 2001 after 4 seasons with French giants Marseille. The Frenchman 5 seasons with the Blue side of London winning the Premier League and Football League Cup during his time.

The former World Cup runners-up medalist made 225 appearances and scored 14 times before joining London rivals Arsenal in 2006 later moving onto Tottenham and Perth Glory in 2010 and 2013, retiring with the later mentioned club in 2013.

John Terry - Free Agent

Chelsea v Sunderland - Premier League
Captain, Leader, Legend - JT26

Captain, Leader, Legend John Terry is one of the greatest centre-backs to have graced the World as well as the Premier League and an absolute legend of the game. A product of the club's youth system JT26 won every title, except the club world cup, with the Blues in a 19-year long career, joining Aston Villa in 2017.

717 appearances 67 goals, the greatest ever defender and arguably the greatest ever player for Chelsea. John Terry is now a free agent after his contract with Aston Villa expired.

Midfielders

Emmanuel Petit - Retired

Emmanuel Petit of Chelsea looks to strike the ball
Emmanuel Petit of Chelsea looks to strike the ball

One of the few players who is loved by both the Chelsea and Arsenal fans alike, Emmanuel Petit joined Chelsea in 2001 from Barcelona enjoying 3 years with the Blue side of London. The Frenchman retired from football at the end of his Chelsea contract in 2004.

The 1998 World and 2000 Euro cup winner made 76 appearances and scored 3 times for Chelsea during his stay.

Mario Stanic - Retired

Mario Stanic of Chelsea
Mario Stanic in his time with Chelsea

A very versatile capable of playing in the midfield, forward line or defence, Mario Stanic spend 4 seasons with Italian side Parma before joining Chelsea in 2000 spending another 4 years of his professional career with the Blues before calling it quit at the end of his contract with Chelsea in 2004.

A part of the famous 1998 Croatian World Cup squad, Stanic made 69 appearances and scored 7 times for Chelsea in his stay with the club.

Frank Lampard - Derby County Manager

Chelsea v Swansea City - Premier League
The greatest goalscoring midfielder the Premier League has ever seen

Greatest goal scoring midfielder till date in the Premier League, Frank Lampard was one of a kind, a true legend of the game and one of the game's greats. Frank Lampard joined Chelsea at the start of the 2001/02 from West Ham, where he spent 6 seasons.

13 seasons, 648 appearances, 211 goals, 3 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 1 Champions League and 1 Europa League, Lampard won them all with the Blues before joining Manchester City in 2014 and then later MLS side in 2015 later retiring there in 2016.

Frank Lampard is now the Manager of Championship side Derby County.

Forwards

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - Retired

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink of Chelsea...
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink of Chelsea...

One of the greatest ever goal scorers in the Premier League Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink joined in 2000 after a season with La Liga side Atletico Madrid. The Dutch great spend 4 seasons with the club before moving onto to join Middlesbrough in 2004, Charlton in 2006 and finally Cardiff in 2007 where he called an end to his career at the end of the season.

Hasselbaink made 177 appearances for the Blues scoring 88 times in his four-season-long stay with the club

Gianfranco Zola - Chelsea Assistant Manager

Gianfranco Zola of Chelsea
Gianfranco Zola of Chelsea

One of the greatest Italian footballers of his generation, Gianfranco Zola enjoys legendary status with the Blue side of London, joining the club in 1996 from Parma. A key member of the pre-Abrahamovich era Zola spent 7 seasons with the Blues, winning the UEFA Cup Winners Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and the League Cup, before joining Cagliari in 2003 and later retiring in 2004.

"The Magic Box" as he was during his Chelsea days, Zola made 311 appearances and scored 80 times.

Zola is now one of the assistant managers for Chelsea with Maruzio Sarri.

Eidur Gudjohnsen - Retired

Chelsea v Wigan Athletic
The Greatest Icelandic Player ever?

Perhaps the greatest player ever to come from the nation of Iceland, Eidur Gudjohnsen joined Chelsea in 2000 after spending 2 seasons at Bolton. The Icelandic enjoyed 6 successful seasons with the Blues winning the Premier League twice and the League Cup before joining La Liga giants Barcelona in 2006.

The Icelandic footballer then joined French side AS Monaco in 2009 later Stoke City in 2010 and then going on a single season stint with a host of clubs namely AEK Athens, Cercle Brugge, Club Brugge, Bolton, Shijiazhuang Ever Bright before calling it quit in 2016 after a stint with Molde.

Gudjohnsen made 263 appearances and scored 78 times for the Blues.

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Edited by Glenn Joseph
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