Chelsea’s Top 8-13 Present Legends

On paper, Chelsea do not have the most illustrious of histories, which the fans of other clubs have been more than delighted to point out on many occasions, but when the time comes to pick out the legends of a football club, Chelsea has many. These are players who give the fans every reason to sing their name over and over again without getting tired of it. Players who have made themselves immortal in the eyes of the Chelsea faithful and those, who even the glory hunters can remember.

These are my top 8-13 present legends at Chelsea. For the article on Chelsea top 1-7 legends click here. By present I mean the one’s since 2000.

PS : The entire series is best read when you hear Mat Kearney – Ships in the night

13. Paulo Ferreira

One of the most loyal footballers in the present world today where money is everything for them. Never has he complained about wages and playing time but when asked to step up and play he has given his 110 %. He was called up to play against Benfica and gave a solid defensive display. A very reliable player who’s versatility helps him play on both the wings. According to Jose Mourinho, Paulo will never end up as the man of the match but have a rating of 7/10 for his performance.

12. Ricardo Carvalho

With John Terry by his side, they both formed a formidable partnership which attackers just could not break down. One of the main reasons Stamford Bridge became a fortress in the 2005-2006 season. His reading of the game is by far one of the best I’ve seen and the fans loved him ! Scored a scorcher against United as Chelsea clinched the title for the second time in a row. It was heart breaking too see him leave us and as his career hangs on a thread at the moment, I wish he joined us back !

11. Joe Cole

Tipped to be one of the greatest English wingers ever, his career underwent a drastic decline. He had two very successful seasons under Jose Mourinho but was constantly plagued with long-term injuries. Seeing him run past 2-3 defenders is a joy to behold ! He loved the fans and he was deeply saddened when his contract expired and he became a free agent. He plays for Liverpool but not once is he booed by the Chelsea faithful and we wish him all the luck !

10. Nicolas Anelka

Nicolas Anelka was a poacher. A lethal forward, who has played for a number of clubs. In 125 appearances he scored 37 goals. True a very small number of goals for that many appearances but the goals were very important and he got them right when Chelsea needed it the most. He would still be at Chelsea if it was not for Andre Villas Boas’s poor man-management skills. The fans singing “DOO DOO DOO! Nicolas Anelka” is a sight to behold !

9. Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole is the best left back of his generation and arguably one of the best ever. He can play on either wings but is more comfortable on the left. He can attack, cross, cut in and defend admirably. With the absence of John Terry in Munich, he was the master mind at the back and he gave in one of his best defensive performances ever. The way he goes after every ball and defends to the death is what makes the fans just love him !

8. Petr Cech

Arguably the best goalkeeper in the world at the moment. The Czech wall as he is lovingly called has given the blues hope when they least expected it. From shouting at Ivanovic to shout when he is coming for the ball to stretching his body to save a curling shot from Rooney , Petr has given consistent performances from the first day and never given us a headache of having a reliable goalkeeper between the sticks. Every penalty taker has fears of facing Petr Cech one day and Ronaldo and Messi can vouch for that.

Notable mentions: Michael Ballack, Micahel Essien, Carlos Cudicini, Andriy Shevchenko, Salomon Kalou and more if you would like to add them in the comments !