The fortunes of Chelsea were forever changed when Roman Abramovich flew into London to purchase a football club. Rumour has it, it was Tottenham Hotspur who he was most interested in, and was ready to pen a deal on his flight back to Russia, yet on his way, the jet glided above Stamford Bridge. "Wait," Roman announced to himself as he decided against the Spurs and put in an offer for Chelsea instead.
The arrival of charismatic Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho seemed to marry well with Roman's rubles, yet the seeds of success had been planted years, even decades before, as the Blues firmly established themselves as a strong cup-team. Only, in the noughties, they became a feared title-winning outfit.
Alan Dawson selects his best Chelsea XI from the past decade…
Formation: 4-3-3
Petr Cech (2004- )
The head-guarded glovesman was signed mid-decade and took little time displacing uncapped Italian Carlo Cudicini despite the shot-stopper's sturdy work in the years preceding Cech's arrival. The Czech Republic international produced record-breaking form during his rookie campaign as opposition eleven's failed to find a way past him for 1,025 minutes; a Premier League best that has since been beat by Manchester United veteran Edwin van der Sar. The 27-year-old's strong mitts and consequent clean sheets have directly helped the Blues accumulate major honours.
The towering goalkeeper has felt the brunt of criticism in recent seasons by commentators who claim he has lost form since a Stephen Hunt challenge in 2006 that left him with a depressed skull fracture, but during the inception of last season he put in the type of performances that helped make his name.
Mario Melchiot (1999-2004)
The athleticism of roaming right-back Melchiot quickly became apparent following the Dutchman's 1999 switch from boyhood club Ajax. An injury-ravaged first season ensured intermittent appearances, but Melchiot played his part in a memorable FA Cup final in 2000, in which the west London side defeated Aston Villa due to a sole goal from Roberto Di Matteo. Melchiot was a consistent performer and went on to be first-choice for the right berth of defence for four further seasons. Since then, Chelsea have tried many replacements, such as Paulo Ferreira, William Gallas, Juliano Belletti, midfielders Lassana Diarra and Michael Essien, and also Jose Bosingwa, but not one has left as much of a sustained impression as Mario.
John Terry (1998-)
Not many can question the lionheart leadership credentials of never-say-die defender John Terry. The Barking-born centre back was awarded the captaincy under Claudio Ranieri and became the first skipper since Roy Bentley in 1955 (the club's jubilee year) to lead the team to a top flight crown, fifty years later. The 28-year-old's battling qualities, aerial domination, and motivational skills have won the back-to-back Premier League winner many fans, including nouveau riche club Manchester City, who are reportedly willing to offer the England captain £300,000 per week.
His abilities have not only been lauded in England as Terry has achieved immense global recognition too, highlighted by his ever-present status in FIFPro's World XI.
Marcel Desailly (1998-2004)
Like Terry, Desailly boasts grand leadership skills, however, unlike the academy product, Desailly was already a season professional and two-time Champions League winner prior to his Stamford Bridge switch. At Chelsea, he helped the club win a UEFA Super Cup, and an FA Cup. Upon his arrival he was awarded the nickname 'the Rock', and struck up a strong partnership with Frank Leboeuf at the turn of the decade. Chelsea have been blessed with many great centre backs, including the consistent William Gallas, and fine tackler Ricardo Carvalho, but Desailly shades it.
Ashley Cole (2006-)
Chelsea have gone through almost as many left-backs this decade as they have right-backs, as club favourite Graham Le Saux, pricey teenager Celestine Babayaro, versatile Frenchman William Gallas, Englishman Wayne Bridge, and underwhelming recruit Asier Del Horno have all occupied that berth, but it is Ashley Cole who has proved to be the World class component that audiences first witnessed revel the left flank at Arsenal along with Robert Pires. There were questions as to whether the England international - capped 73 times - could adjust from the overlapping 4-4-2 during his days as a Gunner, and the flexible 4-3-3 that has been reworked at Chelsea.
Cole, though, has silenced even his most ardent of critics with the season just gone as he was voted the club's Player's Player of the Season. He has featured in two FA Cup winning Chelsea sides, to add to a Premier League title won with the Blues.
Claude Makelele (2003-2008)
Makelele was such an outstanding talent in an unheralded position, that his role in England is still commonly referred to as "the Makelele position". For five years he stunted opposition attacks, and helped make his own with short-crisp passing. It became common-place to joke about his lowly goal-rate, but he fittingly scored towards the end of the 2005 season in a result that helped seal the club's first league crown in 50 years.
Michael Essien (2005-)
Play him anywhere, and he'll perform; he's that good. His absence was notable last season as, upon his return, he seemed to instil confidence, pace, and a direct attitude into the team. Is able to score stunning goals, is a big-game player, a battler, possesses great energy, and has a powerful frame to fit a strong engine. Has proved to be worth every ducat of the £24 million splashed out for his signature, and still has his best years ahead of him.
Frank Lampard (2001-)
It would not be infeasible to put arguments forth for Frank's inclusion in a Premier League team of the decade, let alone a Chelsea XI. The reason being? Consistency. His detractors, never ones to be silenced, like to voice chants aimed at his perceived plumpness, yet he is a fine athlete... his fitness levels mid-decade were so high that he managed to feature in a straight run of 164 top flight fixtures. This consistent streak is also apparent in his goal-scoring ability where, for the last six seasons, he has struck double figures. In the last four campaigns he netted 20 times or more. He signed a mega-money deal last summer to stay at Stamford Bridge and had the audacity to raise his game further this season. He is the complete box-to-box midfielder... a living legend.
Gianfranco Zola (1996-2003)
Zola was a footballer who oozed class. He endeared himself to Blues fans, happy Hammers, and the neutrals among the nation due to his stand-up take-a-bow performances on the pitch, together with his gentlemanly conduct off the field. He could arguably write discourses on the correct amount of grip to apply in a handshake with a journalist to conclude a post-match interview, and would be a certain winner of the Chap Olympics this summer if he just flashed the impeccably-suited judges his friendly smile.
The diminutive attacker learned from the likes of Diego Maradona at Napoli and ended up passing on his wisdom, knowledge, and experience to the Chelsea boys rising through the ranks such as Frank Lampard. He knew how to strike a dead-ball with such power and curve that many a goalkeeper were left watching as the football burst through the top corner and bear-hugged the net. He was as lethal outside the area as he was inside the box, and his predatory instincts prevailed right through to his twilight years when he could still be found audaciously back-heeling the ball by near-posts.
Legends like him are hard to come by, and he was a great servant to not just Chelsea, but the Premier League in general.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (2000-2004)
J-Flo was the club's record signing when he was brought back to England for a £15m fee from La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid. He was a scorer of spectacular goals, against great sides, like volleys against Manchester United, or four-goal hauls against lesser teams like Coventry. He was top scorer at the club for three out of his four seasons spent on Fulham Road, despite being injured for one of those campaigns. He epitomised the one-in-two man, as he left the Blues having found the net 87 times in 177 appearances.
Didier Drogba (2004-)
A nuisance forward if ever there was one. A powerfully-built box player who has tormented defences, Arsenal's in particular, with a bulldozing style. Has a 30-goal season behind him, becoming the first Chelsea player to achieve that feat in two decades, and his movement and play is crucial to the team's effectiveness in-and-around the final third.
Do you agree with those who made it into the Blues Team of the Decade 2000-2010? What would be your XI? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think...
Alan Dawson, Goal.com
The arrival of charismatic Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho seemed to marry well with Roman's rubles, yet the seeds of success had been planted years, even decades before, as the Blues firmly established themselves as a strong cup-team. Only, in the noughties, they became a feared title-winning outfit.
Alan Dawson selects his best Chelsea XI from the past decade…
Formation: 4-3-3
Petr Cech (2004- )
The head-guarded glovesman was signed mid-decade and took little time displacing uncapped Italian Carlo Cudicini despite the shot-stopper's sturdy work in the years preceding Cech's arrival. The Czech Republic international produced record-breaking form during his rookie campaign as opposition eleven's failed to find a way past him for 1,025 minutes; a Premier League best that has since been beat by Manchester United veteran Edwin van der Sar. The 27-year-old's strong mitts and consequent clean sheets have directly helped the Blues accumulate major honours.
The towering goalkeeper has felt the brunt of criticism in recent seasons by commentators who claim he has lost form since a Stephen Hunt challenge in 2006 that left him with a depressed skull fracture, but during the inception of last season he put in the type of performances that helped make his name.
Mario Melchiot (1999-2004)
The athleticism of roaming right-back Melchiot quickly became apparent following the Dutchman's 1999 switch from boyhood club Ajax. An injury-ravaged first season ensured intermittent appearances, but Melchiot played his part in a memorable FA Cup final in 2000, in which the west London side defeated Aston Villa due to a sole goal from Roberto Di Matteo. Melchiot was a consistent performer and went on to be first-choice for the right berth of defence for four further seasons. Since then, Chelsea have tried many replacements, such as Paulo Ferreira, William Gallas, Juliano Belletti, midfielders Lassana Diarra and Michael Essien, and also Jose Bosingwa, but not one has left as much of a sustained impression as Mario.
John Terry (1998-)
Not many can question the lionheart leadership credentials of never-say-die defender John Terry. The Barking-born centre back was awarded the captaincy under Claudio Ranieri and became the first skipper since Roy Bentley in 1955 (the club's jubilee year) to lead the team to a top flight crown, fifty years later. The 28-year-old's battling qualities, aerial domination, and motivational skills have won the back-to-back Premier League winner many fans, including nouveau riche club Manchester City, who are reportedly willing to offer the England captain £300,000 per week.
His abilities have not only been lauded in England as Terry has achieved immense global recognition too, highlighted by his ever-present status in FIFPro's World XI.
Like Terry, Desailly boasts grand leadership skills, however, unlike the academy product, Desailly was already a season professional and two-time Champions League winner prior to his Stamford Bridge switch. At Chelsea, he helped the club win a UEFA Super Cup, and an FA Cup. Upon his arrival he was awarded the nickname 'the Rock', and struck up a strong partnership with Frank Leboeuf at the turn of the decade. Chelsea have been blessed with many great centre backs, including the consistent William Gallas, and fine tackler Ricardo Carvalho, but Desailly shades it.
Ashley Cole (2006-)
Chelsea have gone through almost as many left-backs this decade as they have right-backs, as club favourite Graham Le Saux, pricey teenager Celestine Babayaro, versatile Frenchman William Gallas, Englishman Wayne Bridge, and underwhelming recruit Asier Del Horno have all occupied that berth, but it is Ashley Cole who has proved to be the World class component that audiences first witnessed revel the left flank at Arsenal along with Robert Pires. There were questions as to whether the England international - capped 73 times - could adjust from the overlapping 4-4-2 during his days as a Gunner, and the flexible 4-3-3 that has been reworked at Chelsea.
Cole, though, has silenced even his most ardent of critics with the season just gone as he was voted the club's Player's Player of the Season. He has featured in two FA Cup winning Chelsea sides, to add to a Premier League title won with the Blues.
Claude Makelele (2003-2008)
Makelele was such an outstanding talent in an unheralded position, that his role in England is still commonly referred to as "the Makelele position". For five years he stunted opposition attacks, and helped make his own with short-crisp passing. It became common-place to joke about his lowly goal-rate, but he fittingly scored towards the end of the 2005 season in a result that helped seal the club's first league crown in 50 years.
Michael Essien (2005-)
Play him anywhere, and he'll perform; he's that good. His absence was notable last season as, upon his return, he seemed to instil confidence, pace, and a direct attitude into the team. Is able to score stunning goals, is a big-game player, a battler, possesses great energy, and has a powerful frame to fit a strong engine. Has proved to be worth every ducat of the £24 million splashed out for his signature, and still has his best years ahead of him.
Frank Lampard (2001-)
It would not be infeasible to put arguments forth for Frank's inclusion in a Premier League team of the decade, let alone a Chelsea XI. The reason being? Consistency. His detractors, never ones to be silenced, like to voice chants aimed at his perceived plumpness, yet he is a fine athlete... his fitness levels mid-decade were so high that he managed to feature in a straight run of 164 top flight fixtures. This consistent streak is also apparent in his goal-scoring ability where, for the last six seasons, he has struck double figures. In the last four campaigns he netted 20 times or more. He signed a mega-money deal last summer to stay at Stamford Bridge and had the audacity to raise his game further this season. He is the complete box-to-box midfielder... a living legend.
Gianfranco Zola (1996-2003)
Zola was a footballer who oozed class. He endeared himself to Blues fans, happy Hammers, and the neutrals among the nation due to his stand-up take-a-bow performances on the pitch, together with his gentlemanly conduct off the field. He could arguably write discourses on the correct amount of grip to apply in a handshake with a journalist to conclude a post-match interview, and would be a certain winner of the Chap Olympics this summer if he just flashed the impeccably-suited judges his friendly smile.
The diminutive attacker learned from the likes of Diego Maradona at Napoli and ended up passing on his wisdom, knowledge, and experience to the Chelsea boys rising through the ranks such as Frank Lampard. He knew how to strike a dead-ball with such power and curve that many a goalkeeper were left watching as the football burst through the top corner and bear-hugged the net. He was as lethal outside the area as he was inside the box, and his predatory instincts prevailed right through to his twilight years when he could still be found audaciously back-heeling the ball by near-posts.
Legends like him are hard to come by, and he was a great servant to not just Chelsea, but the Premier League in general.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (2000-2004)
J-Flo was the club's record signing when he was brought back to England for a £15m fee from La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid. He was a scorer of spectacular goals, against great sides, like volleys against Manchester United, or four-goal hauls against lesser teams like Coventry. He was top scorer at the club for three out of his four seasons spent on Fulham Road, despite being injured for one of those campaigns. He epitomised the one-in-two man, as he left the Blues having found the net 87 times in 177 appearances.
Didier Drogba (2004-)
A nuisance forward if ever there was one. A powerfully-built box player who has tormented defences, Arsenal's in particular, with a bulldozing style. Has a 30-goal season behind him, becoming the first Chelsea player to achieve that feat in two decades, and his movement and play is crucial to the team's effectiveness in-and-around the final third.
Cech
Melchiot – Terry – Desailly – Cole
Makelele – Lampard – Essien
Zola – Drogba – Hasselbaink
Melchiot – Terry – Desailly – Cole
Makelele – Lampard – Essien
Zola – Drogba – Hasselbaink
Do you agree with those who made it into the Blues Team of the Decade 2000-2010? What would be your XI? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think...
Alan Dawson, Goal.com