Its great to see smiles on the faces of Chelsea FC fans after our team started the season in scintillating form picking up from where they left of last season. A 6-0 demolition of West Bromich Albion was followed by a thrashing of Wigan Athletic by the same scoreline. This has put us in pole position this season and with wins over Stoke and Westham, we surely have every reason to be happy. People might argue that we have played the weak teams in the league but they just seem to forget that we dropped 5 points against Westham and Wigan last term after drawing at Upton park and losing at the DW stadium. We have scored an amazing 17 goals and conceded just one in the league showing how ruthless we have been in front of goal and how tight we have also been at the back. No doubt we will come up against tougher oppositions in time to come but we have every reason to be optimistic following this great start to the season. Lets enjoy the great vein of form while it lasts but I hope we keep improving as the season progresses. Not forgetting that we have started our champions league campaign on a solid note with an away win. Its surely going to be a great season as we await the visit of Blackpool. Lets hope we pick up from where we left off against MSK Zilina.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Who Will Finally End Up At Chelsea For The 2010/2011 Season
Its been a rather quiet transfer market so far and we all believe that this is probably as a result of the greatest event in world football which is the FIFA world cup which is currently going on in South Africa. Virtually all the biggest stars in world football are linked with a move to Stamford Bridge but who among the players linked with us will end up wearing our blue jersey next season? Lets check out the players linked with us and know who we really need in our Chelsea team
Yossi Benayoun : He would be a great addition but do we really need another 30yr old midfielder in our team. Though He is a cheaper option to Joe Cole but we have been clamouring about reducing our average age which is the highest in the league. He has great qualities and can play either on the right or the left or in the middle of the midfield which will make him a great asset to the team
Will he be wearing blue instead of red next season?
Fernando Torres : One of the deadliest strikers in world football. On his day, he can take on any defender and can pose a goal threat to any defence in the world but his love affair with the treatment table will make his acquisition a worrying one because he doesn't really stay fit enough in a season. If he can overcome this injury problem of his, then He would be our greatest signing considering what He and Drogba will do to premier league defences.
Will He also be wearing blue instead of red next season?
David Silva : A quality player that can play across the midfield and He can also play as the second striker. A tricky winger that is technically gifted and at 24, he will help reduce the average age of the entire team and cover the void which Joe Cole's exit will bring into the team. We need a player like him that brings something different into the team. We already have power players, good passers but we lack a quality right winger that can go past his marker with minimum fuss. I believe he will be a great addition but Chelsea cannot buy everyone.
Take a blue shirt and become a blue
Mesut Ozil : A young attacking midfielder that is already doing great even at just 21. He has been one of the best performers for Bremen in the past season and has carried his impressive form into the world cup. He is not only skillful, He is a good passer of the ball and can create something out of nothing. I believe He will do well in blue especially at the tip of the diamond where non of our players excelled last season. Lets watch out for this boy because he has a lot of potentials. We are not the only ones interested in him though as all European heavyweights have been alerted to his talent. Lets hope We can complete a deal for him because it will send out a statement of intent to our rivals.
Great talent waiting to be plucked. I hope We pluck him before someone else does.
Sergio Aguero : A young quality forward once compared to the legendary Diego Maradona who coincidentally happens to be his father-in-law. He has matured into one of the best young forwards in Europe and has formed a formidable partnership with man utd flop Diego Forlan. He can play as a striker or as an attacking midfielder and has shown his talent to us in the champions league second leg at the vicente caldron where He scored to well taken goals against us. With Drogba and Anelka on the wrong side of 30 already, we will need ready made replacements and Aguero will surely fit the bill.
Will El Kun wear blue?
Alexander Pato : Caletto's former pupil at Milan. He was bought from internacional and has grown into a very intelligent forward that can score goals and trouble defences. Just like Aguero, He will help replace Drogba and Anelka but We cannot get two of them. I believe Pato have what it takes to succeed in the premier league because he is pacy, strong and intelligent on the ball. He will represent a good addition to an already strong squad and will also help us in our quest to conquer Europe.
Come on boy, where will you be playing next season?
Friday, June 25, 2010
Ballack Seals Bayer Return
Michael Ballack has returned to the Bundesliga and re-joined former club Bayer Leverkusen after his four-year stay at Chelsea came to an end.
The 33-year-old, who was unable to lead Germany at the FIFA World Cup™ through an injury picked up in the FA Cup final victory, was released by Chelsea when the season ended.
The midfielder reached the Champions League final with Bayer in 2002. "With my transfer to Bayer Leverkusen a circle is complete," Ballack said on www.bayer04.de. "I had a beautiful and successful time here, on which I like to look back a lot. That was a factor in my decision.
"But above all the good sporting potential of this young and attractive team were persuasive."
Steve McClaren's Wolfsburg were also believed to have been interested in him, but Ballack opted to return to old haunts. "I am especially looking forward to the great fans, who naturally have been key in my decision to return to Bayer," he added.
''With Michael Ballack our team is getting an enormous boost in quality. Especially our many young players will benefit from his abilities and his experience'' Rudi Voller, Bayer sporting director
The 33-year-old, who was unable to lead Germany at the FIFA World Cup™ through an injury picked up in the FA Cup final victory, was released by Chelsea when the season ended.
The midfielder reached the Champions League final with Bayer in 2002. "With my transfer to Bayer Leverkusen a circle is complete," Ballack said on www.bayer04.de. "I had a beautiful and successful time here, on which I like to look back a lot. That was a factor in my decision.
"But above all the good sporting potential of this young and attractive team were persuasive."
Steve McClaren's Wolfsburg were also believed to have been interested in him, but Ballack opted to return to old haunts. "I am especially looking forward to the great fans, who naturally have been key in my decision to return to Bayer," he added.
''With Michael Ballack our team is getting an enormous boost in quality. Especially our many young players will benefit from his abilities and his experience'' Rudi Voller, Bayer sporting director
Ballack, who spent three years with Bayer before leaving for Bayern Munich in 2002 and then moving on to Chelsea in 2006, will reportedly earn around 12million euros over a two-year stay.
Bayer sporting director Rudi Voller is delighted to have signed a player of Ballack's experience, and believes he will help the development of the club's crop of young players.
"With Michael Ballack our team is getting an enormous boost in quality," he said. "Especially our many young players will benefit from his abilities and his experience.
"We did everything to convince Michael. That his preference was for Bayer despite our limited financial possibilities in comparison to the competition, shows his emotional attachment to the club."
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Chelsea Trying To Steal Silva From City
David Silva could leave Manchester City disappointed and instead opt for a move to Premier League champions Chelsea, according to the Valencia star's agent.
The silky Spanish winger is being tracked by a whole host of Europe's top clubs including English sides Manchester United and Liverpool.
City are thought to have agreed a £28million fee for the Spanish winger and have been given permission to open contract talks.
The silky Spanish winger is being tracked by a whole host of Europe's top clubs including English sides Manchester United and Liverpool.
City are thought to have agreed a £28million fee for the Spanish winger and have been given permission to open contract talks.
However it appears that the 24-year-old would prefer a move to Stamford Bridge after his agent, Julio Llorente, suggested that the Blues could yet hijack the deal.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Llorente said: "We're weighing up offers from three clubs and one is Chelsea."
"If Silva doesn't want to go to City, the transfer isn't possible."
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Llorente said: "We're weighing up offers from three clubs and one is Chelsea."
"If Silva doesn't want to go to City, the transfer isn't possible."
Let us hope Chelsea can knock City out and complete the deal because I believe Silva will be a great addition to our Stamford Bridge setup.
Anelka Signs New Deal
France international Nicolas Anelka has pledged his immediate future to Chelsea by signing a one-year contract extension with the reigning Premier League champions.
The 31-year forward will now stay at Stamford Bridge until the end of the 2011-12 campaign.
Anelka said:"When I first came to Chelsea I wanted to stay much longer than what I did in the past with other clubs.
"It is a big club, you play with big players and I like this club, I like London. There is no need to move anymore and so I am very glad to sign a new contract and I know we will play in big games and win titles. I am very glad."
Manager Carlo Ancelotti added:"Nicolas is a fantastic player who has good technical qualities and movement.
"When I was coach at Juventus I wanted to buy him, so it is good now he has signed for me and I think Chelsea is his home. I look forward to working with him for one year more."
Anelka, who has also played for Paris St Germain, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers and Fenerbahce during a nomadic career, has found the net 42 times in 123 appearances for Chelsea since arriving at Stamford Bridge in January 2008.
Anelka was sent home last weekend from France's disastrous World Cup campaign after arguing with boss Raymond Domenech at half time in the 2-0 loss to Mexico.
Youngster Heading To Chelsea?
Chelsea are set to re-ignite their interest in Real Madrid youngster Alipio after he was made a potential makeweight in Angel Di Maria's Benfica move, according to Marca.
The Brazilian youth international has been a long-term target for the Blues and they came close to landing him before he moved to the Spanish capital a year ago. Despite being only 17, he is already a star performer in the club's Castilla side and had been earmarked for a future role in the first team.
A return to Portugal was on the cards for the ex-Rio Ave forward to ease Di Maria's £22 million move to the Santiago Bernabeu. Carlo Ancelotti will now reportedly attempt to derail this move with a bid of his own.
The Brazilian youth international has been a long-term target for the Blues and they came close to landing him before he moved to the Spanish capital a year ago. Despite being only 17, he is already a star performer in the club's Castilla side and had been earmarked for a future role in the first team.
A return to Portugal was on the cards for the ex-Rio Ave forward to ease Di Maria's £22 million move to the Santiago Bernabeu. Carlo Ancelotti will now reportedly attempt to derail this move with a bid of his own.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Fenerbache Signs Miroslav Stoch
Slovakia international Miroslav Stoch is the latest player to leave Chelsea after joining Turkish side Fenerbahce for an undisclosed transfer fee on a four-year deal.
The 20-year-old striker moved to Stamford Bridge from FC Nitra four years ago but struggled to break into the first-team picture.
He made only five first-team appearances for the Blues, all from the substitute's bench, and spent last season on loan at FC Twente.
He found the net 12 times in 39 appearances for a side that was then managed by Steve McClaren who guided them to the Dutch League title in 2009-10.
Stoch, who was also linked with PSV Eindhoven, Ajax and Galatasaray, is the fourth player to leave Chelsea this week, following the revelation that Joe Cole, Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti will not be handed new contracts when their current ones expire at the end of this month.
Avatar (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray]
Ballack Blames Abramovic For Exit
Michael Ballack has pointed accusing fingers at Roman Abramovic stating that he believes the Russian billionaire is responsible for his Chelsea exit.
Ballack said: 'It's unfortunate we couldn't come together, but I have to put it behind me.
'I've known for a while that the negotiations had stopped and it's time to move on. I have to find a new club and carry on with my career.
'Chelsea was always my first choice as I had four great years at the club and enjoyed every minute, but it was not to be. It's still my first choice, even now, but it was not up to me. The decision was down to Roman.'
He added: 'I loved the club. They always made me feel welcome and there was a special atmosphere in the team. We won three FA Cups and the Premier League in four years, but winning the Double this season was unbelievable as it was a real piece of history.
'Chelsea do not have the history of Liverpool or Manchester United but are growing as a club. I wish them well for the future.'
Apart from leaving Chelsea against his wish, He has also been denied an opportunity to play what is supposed to be his last world cup by an ankle injury He sustained in the FA Cup final against Portsmouth.But Ballack is not ready to quit international football and is setting his sights at the 2012 European championships.
'To end my career like this is not an option,' Ballack said. 'I want to play for at least two more years at the highest level so I can play for Germany at the European Championship.
'I've played in three Euros and two World Cups so know how special they are and can't end like this. I'm even more determined to carry on since I've been injured and the motivation is growing inside me every single day.
'I'm not yet ready to 'retire' by going to the United States or Dubai and want to stay in Europe. I'm a proud German who always enjoyed living there, so have some options back home.'
We wish Ballack all the best. Its a pity He had to leave this way.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Chelsea FC The Pride Of London
Chelsea Football Club are an English professional football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four times. They have also been successful in Europe, winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup twice.
The club had their first major success in 1955, when they won the league championship. Chelsea won several cup competitions during the 1960s and 1970s, but after that did not win another major title until 1997. The past decade has been the most successful period in Chelsea’s history, capped by winning Premier League titles in 2005, 2006 and 2010, and reaching their first UEFA Champions League final in 2008.
Despite their name, the club are not based in Chelsea, but in neighbouring Fulham. The club's home is the 41,841 capacity Stamford Bridge football stadium in Fulham, where they have played since their establishment. In 2003, they were bought by Russian oil magnate Roman Abramovich.
Chelsea's regular kit colours are royal blue shirts and shorts with white socks, the combination used since the 1960s. The club crest has been changed several times in attempts to modernise or re-brand; the current crest, featuring a ceremonial lion holding a staff, is a modified version of one first adopted in the 1950s.The club has sustained the fifth highest average all-time attendance in English football.Their average home gate for the 2009-10 season was 41,423, the fifth highest in the Premier League.
History
Chelsea were founded on 10 March 1905 at The Rising Sun pub (now The Butcher's Hook), opposite the present-day main entrance to the ground on Fulham Road, and were elected to the Football League shortly afterwards. The club's early years saw little success; the closest they came to winning a major trophy was reaching the FA Cup final in 1915, where they lost to Sheffield United. Chelsea gained a reputation for signing big-name players and for being entertainers, but made little impact on the English game in the inter-war years.
Former Arsenal and England centre-forward Ted Drake became manager in 1952 and proceeded to modernize the club. He removed the club's Chelsea pensioner crest, improved the youth set-up and training regime, rebuilt the side, and led Chelsea to their first major trophy success – the League championship – in 1954–55. The following season saw UEFA create the European Champions' Cup, but after objections from The Football League and the FA Chelsea were persuaded to withdraw from the competition before it started.
The 1960s saw the emergence of a talented young Chelsea side under manager Tommy Docherty. They challenged for honours throughout the decade, and endured several near-misses. They were on course for a treble of League, FA Cup and League Cup going into the final stages of the 1964–65 season, winning the League Cup but faltering late on in the other two. In three seasons the side were beaten in three major semi-finals and were FA Cup runners-up. Chelsea were FA Cup winners in 1970, beating Leeds United 2–1 in a final replay. Chelsea took their first European honour, a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup triumph, the following year, with another replayed win, this time over Real Madrid in Athens.
The late 1970s through to the 1980s was a turbulent period for Chelsea. An ambitious redevelopment of Stamford Bridge threatened the financial stability of the club, star players were sold and the team were relegated. Further problems were caused by a notorious hooligan element among the support, which was to plague the club throughout the decade. In 1982 Chelsea were, at the nadir of their fortunes, acquired by Ken Bates for the nominal sum of £1, although by now the Stamford Bridge freehold had been sold to property developers, meaning the club faced losing their home. On the pitch, the team had fared little better, coming close to relegation to the Third Division for the first time, but in 1983 manager John Neal put together an impressive new team for minimal outlay. Chelsea won the Second Division title in 1983–84 and established themselves in the top division, before being relegated again in 1988. The club bounced back immediately by winning the Second Division championship in 1988–89.
After a long-running legal battle, Bates reunited the stadium freehold with the club in 1992 by doing a deal with the banks of the property developers, who had been bankrupted by a market crash. Chelsea's form in the new Premier League was unconvincing, although they did reach the 1994 FA Cup Final. It was not until the appointment of former European Footballer of the Year Ruud Gullit as player-manager in 1996 that their fortunes changed. He added several top-class international players to the side, as the club won the FA Cup in 1997 and established themselves as one of England's top sides again. Gullit was replaced by Gianluca Vialli, who led the team to victory in the League Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup in 1998, the FA Cup in 2000 and the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in 2000. Vialli was sacked in favour of another Italian, Claudio Ranieri, who guided Chelsea to the 2002 FA Cup Final and Champions League qualification in 2002–03.
In June 2003, Bates sold Chelsea to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich for £140 million, completing what was then the biggest-ever sale of an English football club. Over £100 million was spent on new players, but Ranieri was unable to deliver any trophies, so he was replaced by Portuguese coach José Mourinho. Under Mourinho, Chelsea became the fifth English team to win back-to-back league championships since the Second World War (2004–05 and 2005–06), in addition to winning an FA Cup (2007) and two League Cups (2005 and 2007). In September 2007 Mourinho was replaced by Avram Grant, who led the club to their first UEFA Champions League final, in which they lost on penalties to Manchester United. Grant was fired days later and succeeded by Luiz Felipe Scolari in July 2008.
Scolari spent only seven months in the job before being dismissed after a string of poor results. Russia coach Guus Hiddink was appointed caretaker manager until the end of the 2008–09 season, and guided Chelsea to a second FA Cup triumph in three years.[21] Two days later former Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was confirmed as Chelsea's new manager. In his first season, Ancelotti led Chelsea to their first league and FA Cup "Double"; in addition, Chelsea became the first English top-flight side to score over 100 league goals in a season since 1963.
Stamford Bridge
Chelsea vs. West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge on 23 September 1905; Chelsea won 1–0.
Chelsea have only ever had one home ground, Stamford Bridge, where they have played since foundation. It was officially opened on 28 April 1877. For the first 28 years of its existence it was used almost exclusively by the London Athletics Club as an arena for athletics meetings and not at all for football. In 1904 the ground was acquired by businessman Gus Mears and his brother Joseph, who had previously acquired additional land (formerly a large market garden) with the aim of staging football matches on the now 12.5 acre (51,000 m²) site.
Stamford Bridge was designed for the Mears family by the noted football architect Archibald Leitch. They offered to lease the stadium to Fulham Football Club, but were turned down. As a consequence, the owners decided to form their own football club to occupy their new ground. Most football clubs were founded first, and then sought grounds in which to play, but Chelsea were founded for Stamford Bridge. Since there was already a football club named Fulham in the borough, the founders decided to adopt the name of the adjacent borough of Chelsea for the new club, having rejected names such as Kensington FC, Stamford Bridge FC and London FC.
Starting with an open bowl-like design and one covered terrace, Stamford Bridge had an original capacity of around 100,000. The early 1930s saw the construction of a terrace on the southern part of the ground with a roof that covered around one fifth of the stand. It eventually became known as the "Shed End", the home of Chelsea's most loyal and vocal supporters, particularly during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. The exact origins of the name are unclear, but the fact that the roof looked like a corrugated iron shed roof played a part.
During the late 1960s and early 70s, the club's owners embarked on a modernization of Stamford Bridge with plans for a 50,000 all-seater stadium. Work began on the East Stand in the early 1970s but the project was beset with problems and the cost almost brought the club to its knees, culminating in the freehold being sold to property developers. Following a long legal battle, it was not until the mid-1990s that Chelsea's future at the stadium was secured and renovation work resumed. The north, west and southern parts of the ground were converted into all-seater stands and moved closer to the pitch, a process completed by 2001.
When Stamford Bridge was redeveloped in the Ken Bates era many additional features were added to the complex including two hotels, apartments, bars, restaurants, the Chelsea Mega store, and an interactive visitor attraction called Chelsea World of Sport. The intention was that these facilities would provide extra revenue to support the football side of the business, but they were less successful than hoped and before the Abramovich takeover in 2003 the debt taken on to finance them was a major burden on the club. Soon after the takeover a decision was taken to drop the "Chelsea Village" brand and refocus on Chelsea as a football club. However, the stadium is sometimes still referred to as part of "Chelsea Village" or "The Village".
The Stamford Bridge pitch, the freehold, the turnstiles and Chelsea's naming rights are now owned by Chelsea Pitch Owners, a non-profit organization in which fans are the shareholders. The CPO was created to ensure the stadium could never again be sold to developers. It also means that if the club moves to a new location, they could not use the Chelsea FC name.
The club plans to increase its capacity to over 50,000. Owing to its location in a built-up part of London on a main road and next to two railway lines, fans can only enter the stadium through the Fulham Road entrances, which places severe constraints on expansion due to health and safety regulations. As a result, Chelsea have been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge to sites including the Earls Court Exhibition Center, Batter sea Power Station and the Chelsea Barracks. However, the club have reiterated their desire to keep Chelsea at their current home.
Chelsea's training ground is located in Cobham, Surrey. Chelsea moved to Cobham in 2004. Their previous training ground in Harlington was taken over by QPR in 2005. The new training facilities in Cobham were completed in 2007.
Crest
Since the club's foundation, Chelsea have had four main crests, though all underwent minor variations. In 1905, Chelsea adopted as their first crest the image of a Chelsea pensioner, which obviously contributed to the "pensioner" nickname, and remained for the next half-century, though it never appeared on the shirts. As part of Ted Drake's modernization of the club from 1952 onwards, he insisted that the pensioner badge be removed from the match day programme in order to change the club's image and that a new crest be adopted. As a stop-gap, a temporary emblem comprising simply the initials C.F.C. was adopted for one year.
In 1953, Chelsea's crest was changed to an upright blue lion looking backwards and holding a staff, which was to endure for the next three decades. This crest was based on elements in the coat of arms of the Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea with the "lion rampant regardant" taken from the arms of then club president Viscount Chelsea and the staff from the Abbots of Westminster, former Lords of the Manor of Chelsea. It also featured three red roses, to represent England, and two footballs. This was the first club badge to appear on shirts, since the policy of putting the crest on the shirts was only adopted in the early 1960s.
In 1986, with Ken Bates now owner of the club, Chelsea's crest was changed again as part of another attempt to modernize and to capitalize on new marketing opportunities. The new badge featured a more naturalistic non-heraldic lion, yellow and not blue, standing over the C.F.C. initials. It lasted for the next 19 years, with some modifications such as the use of different colours. With new ownership, and the club's centenary approaching, combined with demands from fans for the club's traditional badge to be restored, it was decided that the crest should be changed again in 2004. The new crest was officially adopted for the start of the 2005–06 season and marks a return to the older design of the blue heraldic lion holding a staff. As with previous crests, this one has appeared in various colours, including white and gold.
Colours
     |
| Chelsea's first home colours, used from 1905 until c.1912. |
Chelsea have always worn blue shirts, although they initially adopted a lighter shade than the current version, and unlike today wore white shorts and dark blue socks. The lighter blue was taken from the racing colours of then club president, Earl Cadogan. The light blue shirts were short-lived, however, and replaced by a royal blue version in around 1912. When Tommy Docherty became manager in the early 1960s he changed the kit again, adding blue shorts (which have remained ever since) and white socks, believing it made the club's colours more distinctive, since no other major side used that combination; this kit was first worn during the 1964–65 season.
Chelsea's traditional away colours are all yellow or all white with blue trim, but, as with most teams, they have had some more unusual ones. The first away strip consisted of black and white stripes and for one game in the 1960s the team wore Inter Milan-style blue and black stripes, again at Docherty's behest. Other memorable away kits include a mint green strip in the 1980s, a red and white checked one in the early 90s and a graphite and tangerine edition in the mid-1990s.
Chelsea's kit is currently manufactured by Adidas, which is contracted to supply the club's kit from 2006 to 2011. Previously, the kit was manufactured by Umbro (1968–81), Le Coq Sportif (1981–86), The Chelsea Collection (1986–87) and Umbro again (1987–2006). Chelsea's first shirt sponsor was Gulf Air, agreed midway through the 1983–84 season. Following that, the club were sponsored by Grange Farms, Bai Lin tea and Italian company Simod before a long-term deal was signed with computer manufacturer Commodore International in 1989; Amiga, an off-shoot of Commodore, also appeared on the shirts. Chelsea were subsequently sponsored by Coors beer (1995–97), Autoglass (1997–2001) and Emirates Airline (2001–05). Chelsea's current shirt sponsor is Samsung.
Supporters and rivalries
Chelsea have the fifth highest average all-time attendance in English football and regularly attract over 40,000 fans to Stamford Bridge; they were the fifth best-supported Premier League team in the 2009–10 season, with an average gate of 41,423. Chelsea's traditional fanbase comes from working-class parts of West London, such as Hammersmith and Battersea, from wealthier areas like Chelsea and Kensington, and from the Home Counties. In addition to the standard football chants, Chelsea fans sing songs like "Carefree", "Blue is the Colour", "We all follow the Chelsea" (to the tune of Land of Hope and Glory), "Ten Men Went to Mow", "Zigga Zagga", "Hello! Hello!" and the celebratory "Celery", with the latter often resulting in fans ritually throwing celery.
Chelsea do not have a traditional rivalry on the scale of the Merseyside derby or the North London derby; their West London derby with Fulham has not been as prominent over the years, with the two clubs often spending time in separate divisions. A 2004 survey by Planetfootball.com found that Chelsea fans consider their main rivalries to be with (in order): Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. Their rivalry with Tottenham Hotspur is said to have developed following the 1967 FA Cup Final, the first cup final held between two London clubs.
Additionally, a strong rivalry with Leeds United dates back to several heated and controversial matches in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly the FA Cup final in 1970. A more recent rivalry has grown with Liverpool following several clashes in cup competitions – particularly after what José Mourinho dubbed a "ghost goal" by Luis García in the UEFA Champions League 2004–05 semi-final, knocking them out of the competition.
During the 1970s and 1980s in particular, Chelsea supporters were long associated with football hooliganism. The club's "football firm", originally the Chelsea Shed Boys, now known as the Chelsea Headhunters, were nationally notorious for violent acts against hooligans from other teams, such as West Ham United's Inter City Firm and Millwall's Bushwackers, both during and after matches. The increase in hooliganism in the 1980s led chairman Ken Bates to propose erecting an electric fence to deter them from invading the pitch; the proposal was rejected by the GLC. Since the 1990s there has been a marked decline in crowd trouble at matches, as a result of stricter policing, CCTV in grounds and the advent of all-seater stadia.
Records
Chelsea's highest appearance-maker is ex-captain Ron Harris, who played in 795 first-class games for the club between 1961 and 1980. This record is unlikely to be broken in the near future; Chelsea's current highest appearance-maker is Frank Lampard with 460. The record for a Chelsea goalkeeper is held by Harris's contemporary, Peter Bonetti, who made 729 appearances (1959–79). With 116 caps (74 while at the club), Marcel Desailly of France is Chelsea's most capped international player.
Bobby Tambling is Chelsea's all-time top goalscorer, with 202 goals in 370 games (1959–70). Eight other players have also scored over 100 goals for Chelsea: George Hilsdon (1906–12), George Mills (1929–39), Roy Bentley (1948–56), Jimmy Greaves (1957–61), Peter Osgood (1964–74 & 1978–79), Kerry Dixon (1983–92), Frank Lampard (2001–) and Didier Drogba (2004–). With 193 goals, Dixon is the only player in the club's recent history to have come close to matching Tambling's record. Greaves holds the record for the most goals scored in one season (43 in 1960–61). Lampard is the top scorer currently at the club with 157.
Officially, Chelsea's highest home attendance is 82,905 for a First Division match against Arsenal on 12 October 1935. However, an estimated crowd of over 100,000 attended a friendly match against Soviet team Dynamo Moscow on 13 November 1945. The modernization of Stamford Bridge during the 1990s and the introduction of all-seater stands mean that neither record will be broken for the foreseeable future. The current legal capacity of Stamford Bridge is 41,841.
Chelsea hold numerous records in English and European football. They hold the record for the highest ever points total for a league season (95), the fewest goals conceded during a league season (15), the highest number of Premier League victories in a season (29), the highest number of clean sheets overall in a Premier League season (25) (all set during the 2004–05 season), and the most consecutive clean sheets from the start of a league season (6).
The club's 21–0 aggregate victory over Jeunesse Hautcharage in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1971 remains a record in European competition.Chelsea hold the record for the longest streak of unbeaten matches at home in the English top-flight, which lasted 86 matches from 20 March 2004 to 26 October 2008. They secured the record on 12 August 2007, beating the previous record of 63 matches unbeaten set by Liverpool between 1978 and 1980. Chelsea's streak of eleven consecutive away league wins, set between 5 April 2008 and 6 December 2008, is also a record for the English top flight.
Chelsea have recorded several "firsts" in English football. Along with Arsenal, they were the first club to play with shirt numbers on 25 August 1928 in their match against Swansea Town. Chelsea were the first English side to travel by aeroplane to a domestic away match, when they visited Newcastle United on 19 April 1957, and the first First Division side to play a match on a Sunday, when they faced Stoke City on 27 January 1974. On 26 December 1999, Chelsea became the first British side to field an entirely foreign starting line-up (no British or Irish players) in a Premier League match against Southampton. On 19 May 2007, they became the first team to win the FA Cup at the new Wembley Stadium, having also been the last to win it at the old Wembley. After the conclusion of the 2007/08 season, Chelsea became the highest ranked club under UEFA's five-year coefficient system used in the seeding of European club competitions in the following season, the first English club to do so in the 21st century. During the final day of the 2009/10 season, Chelsea became the first team in Premier League history to score at least 100 goals in a single season.
In popular culture
In 1930, Chelsea featured in one of the earliest football films, The Great Game. One-time Chelsea centre forward, Jack Cock, who by then was playing for Millwall, was the star of the film and several scenes were shot at Stamford Bridge, including the pitch, the boardroom, and the dressing rooms. It included guest appearances by then-Chelsea players Andrew Wilson, George Mills, and Sam Millington. Owing to the notoriety of the Chelsea Headhunters, a football firm associated with the club, Chelsea have also featured in films about football hooliganism, most recently The Football Factory. Chelsea also appear in the Hindi film Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.
Up until the 1950s, the club had a long-running association with the music halls, with their underachievement often providing material for comedians such as George Robey. It culminated in comedian Norman Long's release of a comic song in 1933, ironically titled "On the Day That Chelsea Went and Won the Cup", the lyrics of which describe a series of bizarre and improbable occurrences on the hypothetical day when Chelsea finally won a trophy.
The song "Blue is the Colour" was released as a single in the build-up to the 1972 League Cup Final, with all members of Chelsea's first team squad singing; it reached number five in the UK Singles Chart. The song was later adapted to "White is the Colour" and adopted as an anthem by the Vancouver Whitecaps in Canada. In the build-up to the 1997 FA Cup final, the song "Blue Day", performed by Suggs and members of the Chelsea squad, reached number 22 in the UK charts. Bryan Adams, a fan of Chelsea, dedicated the song "We're Gonna Win" from the album 18 Til I Die to the club.
Players
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Reserves and youth team
Player of the year (1967–2010)
See also: List of Chelsea F.C. players
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Notable managers.
The following managers won at least one trophy when in charge of Chelsea:
| Name | Period | Trophies |
|---|---|---|
 Ted Drake | 1952–1961 | First Division Championship, Charity Shield |
 Tommy Docherty | 1962–1967 | League Cup |
| Dave Sexton | 1967–1974 | FA Cup, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup |
| John Neal | 1981–1985 | Second Division Championship |
| John Hollins | 1985–1988 | Full Members Cup |
| Bobby Campbell | 1988–1991 | Second Division Championship, Full Members Cup |
 Ruud Gullit | 1996–1998 | FA Cup |
 Gianluca Vialli | 1998–2000 | FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Charity Shield, UEFA Super Cup |
 José Mourinho | 2004–2007 | 2 Premier Leagues, 2 League Cups, FA Cup, Community Shield |
| Guus Hiddink | 2009 | FA Cup |
| Carlo Ancelotti | 2009– | Premier League, FA Cup, Community Shield |
Coaching staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| First Team Coach | Carlo Ancelotti |
| Assistant First Team Coach | Ray Wilkins |
| Assistant First Team Coach | Bruno De Michelis |
| Assistant First Team Coach | Paul Clement |
| Goalkeeping Coach |  Christophe Lollichon |
| First Team Fitness Coach | Glen Driscoll |
| Reserve Team Manager | Steve Holland |
| Youth Team Manager | Dermot Drummy |
| Club Doctor | Dr. Bryan English |
| Chief Scout |  Frank Arnesen |
| Head Scout |  Michael Emenalo |
Club hierarchy
Chelsea Ltd.
- Owner: Roman Abramovich
Chelsea F.C. plc
- Chairman: Bruce Buck
- Life President: Lord Richard Attenborough
- Directors: Ron Gourlay and Eugene Tenenbaum
Executive Board
- Chief Executive: Ron Gourlay
- Club Secretary : David Barnard
Honours
Domestic
European
- UEFA Champions League
- Runners-up: 2007–08
- UEFA Super Cup
- Winners: 1998
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