Fascinating facts about the top 10 best Chelsea legends of all time

Fascinating facts about the top 10 best Chelsea legends of all time

Kevin Omuya
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:57 PM

Chelsea's roots are firmly planted in Stamford Bridge, their only home, where they were born over a century ago. It's a stadium that has seen some of the best players in English football. Come with us as we share a list of the top best Chelsea legends.

The best Chelsea legends of all time
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)
Source: UGC

The club has had unprecedented success since the arrival of Roman Abramovich. They have been champions of Europe England and held a glittering array of both domestic and continental trophies. The Blues are filling their fans with pride, with the rampant lion firmly seated in the centre of their club's peak. Here are some of the best Chelsea legends of all time.

Top 10 best Chelsea legends players 2022

Using the most recent statistics, we have compiled a list of Chelsea legends as of right now.

10. Eden Hazard

Fascinating facts about the top 10 best chelsea legends of all time
Chelsea's Eden Hazard celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Europa League final match against Arsenal FC at the Baku Olympic Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 29, 2019. Photo: OZAN KOSE
Source: Getty Images

The Belgian winger had a tremendously successful spell at the club. Hazard helped the club win two Premier Leagues, two Europa Leagues, an FA Cup, and a League Cup during his seven years at the club and firmly established himself as one of the world's best players. During his time in west London, Hazard won several individual awards.

Hazard was primarily known for his dribbling. He scored in double figures in the Premier League in 5 of the 7 seasons he spent with Blues. Hazard would eventually score 110 goals in 352 appearances with 54 assists for Chelsea and is ninth on the club's all-time goalscorers list, further justifying his position on this list as one of the Chelsea football legends.

9. Peter Osgood

Fascinating facts about the top 10 best chelsea legends of all time
1969: British footballer Peter Osgood of Chelsea FC. Photo: Central Press
Source: Getty Images

When a statue of you stands outside the stadium where you made your name, you know that player had a significant impact. Peter Osgood did precisely that. Osgood had a knack for scoring in big games, scoring insignificant cup finals three seasons in a row. He assisted Chelsea in winning the European Cup Winners' Cup, scoring in the final. Osgood scored 105 goals for the club.

8. Ray Wilkins

Fascinating facts about the top 10 best chelsea legends of all time
Chelsea player Ray Wilkins in action during a First Division match against Bolton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on October 14, 1978, in London, England. Photo: Allsport
Source: Getty Images

Ray Wilkins' untimely death in 2018 devastated the soccer world, with many remembering his affable personality and talents on the field. Wilkins only stayed at Stamford Bridge for six years, but he made a lot of memories during that time.

He was appointed captain when he was only 18 years old. He scored memorable goals and was called up to England's national team while still playing division 2. He was named player of the year during his time at the club, and later in his career, he returned to the club as an assistant and caretaker manager.

7. Ron Harris

Fascinating facts about the top 10 best chelsea legends of all time
Ron Harris pictured an English footballer and defender with Chelsea FC during a press call at Chelsea's training ground in London in 1968. Photo: Rolls
Source: Getty Images

Chelsea's great Ron Harris, AKA "Chopper," is still regarded as one of the most fearsome soccer players ever to play the physical game. He adored the physical style of soccer. He is Blues' all-time appearance leader, having made 795 appearances. He is regarded as one of the game's premier hard men, and he remains a fixture on the club's scene, delighting old and new fans alike.

6. Bonetti

Fascinating facts about the top 10 best chelsea legends of all time
Chelsea footballer Peter Bonetti, 10th August 1973. Photo: Paul Popper
Source: Getty Images

He is also known as "The Cat," who died in April 2020, leaving fans to reminisce about one of the club's greatest goalkeepers. Bonetti was brave, agile, and, as evidenced by his numerous appearances, tenacious. His performance in the 1970 FA Cup final against Leeds was one of the best in the competition's history, finally bringing the trophy to west London.

5. Petr Cech

Fascinating facts about the top 10 best chelsea legends of all time
Petr Cech of Chelsea warms up ahead of the Premier League 2 match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Kingsmeadow on December 14, 2020, in Kingston upon Thames, England. Photo: Justin Setterfield
Source: Getty Images

Petr Cech is synonymous with Chelsea's success in the twenty-first century from one great goalkeeper to the next. He signed in 2004 and helped Chelsea win four Premier Leagues, four FA Cups, three League Cups, a Champions League, and a Europa League.

Cech's performance in the Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich was masterful, as he saved a penalty in extra time before saving two penalties in the shootout. After all of their Premier League triumphs, Cech had played a critical role in the club's elusive Champions League triumph.

4. Didier Drogba

Fascinating facts about the top 10 best chelsea legends of all time
Drogba of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team's equalizing goal in UEFA Champions League Final against FC Bayern Munich at the Fussball Arena on May 19, 2012, in Munich, Germany. Photo: MacNicol
Source: Getty Images

Drogba, who was signed for £24 million from Marseille in 2004, had a slow start as a Blues player. Never was he truly prolific (he only scored more than 20 goals in a season twice for Chelsea). He won Premier Leagues while at Stamford Bridge.

He won the FA and League Cups, and, as previously stated, he was an essential member of the team that won the Champions League. Drogba is among the blues legends like John Terry, who found redemption following his success in 2012.

3. Gianfranco Zola

Fascinating facts about the top 10 best chelsea legends of all time
Gianfranco Zola, Chelsea assistant manager, walks out to the Chelsea Training Session at Chelsea Training Ground on May 08, 2019, in Cobham, England. Photo: Harriet Lander
Source: Getty Images

Gianfranco Zola, the diminutive Italian genius, was one of these players, and he had a significant impact. In his first season at the club, he made quite an impression, leading to an FA Cup victory. Following a standout performance against Manchester United in which he scored, then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson referred to Zola as a "clever little so-and-so."

Zola was named Player of the Year in his first season, adding to his impressive resume. Zola was also involved in the Chelsea legends match as a striking force against Real Madrid in 2019.

2. John Terry

Fascinating facts about the top 10 best chelsea legends of all time
John Terry, Assistant Head Coach of Aston Villa, warms his side up before the Premier League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, on May 23, 2021. Photo: Clive Mason
Source: Getty Images

John Terry is one of the Chelsea legends defenders who advanced from the youth ranks to the senior ranks. At 17, he made his first-team debut in a League Cup match against Aston Villa. Terry led Chelsea to five Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, one Europa League, and, most notably, one Champions League final against Manchester United.

Terry was named UEFA Club Defender of the Year three times and named the FIFPro World XI for five consecutive seasons. In addition, he was named PFA Players' Player of the Year. The defender was also known for his goal-scoring abilities, and he is the club's all-time leading scorer, with 41 goals for the Blues.

1. Frank Lampard

Fascinating facts about the top 10 best chelsea legends of all time
Head Coach Frank Lampard of Everton after his side 2-0 defeat during the Premier League match against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on February 19, 2022, in Southampton, England. Photo: Robin Jones
Source: Getty Images

Lampard is the only midfielder to have scored at least 150 Premier League goals, one of only nine players to have done so, according to Chelsea legends profile data. Lampard's soccer brain is unrivalled, so it's no surprise that he's moved into management. Frank tops the list of best Chelsea legends.

Chelsea legends in FIFA 22 will have new names as the club builds on their recent success. For over two decades, the club has hosted unforgettable Chelsea legends tours featuring the biggest Chelsea legends such as Peter Osgood, Ron Harris, Kerry Dixon, Roy Bentley, Gianfranco Zola, Carlo Cudicini and many more.

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Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.