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#3 Peter Bonetti
The man nicknamed "the cat" was the goalmouth guardian for Chelsea's first golden era of the early 1970s. Whilst some would place Petr Cech as the undisputed greatest goalkeeper in Chelsea's history, Bonetti is a close contender.
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He has made close to 700 appearances for Chelsea in 19 years. His electrifying acrobatics and agility made him one of the bonafide greats in an era where goalkeepers found little protection. He was part of the Blues side in the early 70s that won an FA Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup.
#2 Ron Harris
Before John Terry, the Chelsea faithful recognized Ron Harris as their Captain, Leader and Legend. Over the course of 795 appearances in Chelsea blue, Ron "Chopper" Harris gained an infamous reputation for his hardman style and tough tackling.
His most famous contribution was in Chelsea's famed 1970 FA Cup final where his quick free kick led to a replay which Chelsea won. It was the Blues' first ever domestic cup.
His teammate from early 1970s, John Hollins, famously said:
"Ron was an incredibly consistent player. He barely ever missed a game and if he ever got an injury - and he did get a few - he would just say, "I'm fine, i'll be alright, don't worry." Such was his love of football, he wanted to play every game and the number of times he played for Chelsea speaks for itself."
Harris is the leading Chelsea appearance holder in the club's history and led the club to three honors in its 1970s heyday, including the European Cup Winner's Cup, the first ever piece of continental glory.
1. Gianfranco Zola
The man Chelsea fans belovedly call the "Little Magician" was voted the greatest player in the club's history in 2003. This is despite the fact he spent a large part of his 30s at Chelsea, having joined them in 1996 from Parma on the recommendation of manager Ruud Gullit.
The guile and agility of the diminutive Italian won the adoration of Chelsea fans and English fans alike. In 312 appearances, he scored over 80 goals and bamboozeled defenses with his ball control and precise free-kicks.
His unique jersey number 25 was retired as a testament to his genius and love at the club. He added a layer to his legacy on his coaching return as an assistant to Marizio Sarri, helping the team win the Europa League in 2019.
