Who Would Make Your Chelsea FC Greatest XI of All Time?

Lampard a future name in my greatest Chelsea XI, not until he hangs up his boots

This is a topic that continously does the rounds, in the pub and on the web, and there has never been a conclusive answer, who are the players that deserve a place in Chelsea’s ALL TIME XI? 

The choices made by an individual tend to reflect the generation they grew up as people romanticise the players from their childhood, for this reason Dennis Wise, Neil Shipperley and even Robert Fleck are players I remember fondly although each for different reasons.

Chelsea FC has been in existence for over a century, boasting a rich historical tapestry of both success and failure, with many players who gave their all for the club largely forgotten as they played for the club in darker days than today. It really depends on what your definition of what makes a great player is to decide if players from unsuccessful times are as eligible for a place in an all time team as those from the club’s successful times.

Some of the teams I have seen suggested have a focus on more modern times probably stemming from the demographics of those whose opinions I have been able to canvas and our modern success. Many of those I knowonly have a first hand footballing memory stretching only as far back as far as the late 80′s.

My generation have never seen Osgood, Bentley, Webb, Greaves or even William ‘Fatty’ Foulkes play live in the flesh or followed their careers beyond statistics and limited archive footage. We rely on the stories and legend of our fathers and their fathers to tell us the glory of a Bonetti save or the joy of winning the league in black and white.

Whereas with the modern day saturated coverage of the Premier League, modern players such as Terry and Lampard can be admired and studied in great detail with their achievements putting them in the frame for induction into future all time XI’s.

However with the way that football and people can change or perceptions can be made, it is not until a player leaves the club that they can in my mind be considered for such an honour, I have no doubt that in the future both names will make the shortlist and most likely final XI of most CFC teams.

The need for patience is exemplified by William Gallas and Gus Poyet, who I am sure would have one point have been considered as notable candidates for any XI, however now William Gallas is villified by many due to the way he left the club and Gus Poyet’s is open to strong debate, due to badge kissing incidents for other clubs.

The list of potential nominees is extensive and the criteria of what qualifies someone is probably the most important question, is it infact the success they helped create or tradgedy they endured or helped avert that is important? How important is loyalty to the club and the passion/commitment shown by players? Do such criteria put servants such as Steve Clarke higher up on the list than those with only two or three years but had greater talent.

Another dimension would be the achievements of players outside of their Chelsea careers, prime examples being Ruud Guillit, Glen Hoddle or George Weah, whose achievements before arriving at Chelsea could make them one of the XI best players to play for Chelsea.

I am going to finish my article by showing the Centenary XI officially declared by the club and my XI based on my footballing memory.

Centenary XI
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Peter Bonetti
Steve Clarke
Marcel Desailly
John Terry
Graeme Le Saux
Charlie Cooke
Dennis Wise
Frank Lampard
Gianfranco Zola
Peter Osgood
Bobby Tambling

My Chelsea XI 1992-2010
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Carlo Cudicini

Signed for only a few thousand pounds the Italian resurrected his career from the ashes at Stamford Bridge and was the first goalkeeper in a generation to be counted as one of the best in the country whilst wearing blue. Unfortunately the arrival of Petr Cech who will undoutably replace him in this list, saw his first team opportunities limited, however he never moaned and worked hard which meant he remained a fans favourite. Now at Tottenham but even legends make some mistakes.

Steve Clarke

Solid and dependable he went on to serve the club as the assistant manager to Jose Mourinho as the club won back to back Premier League titles.

Graeme Le Saux

Once on the verge of remaining a Chelsea villian following an acrimonious departure from the club in his early days, he returned to form part of the Chelsea team of the late nineties and early noughties that had swagger with ability to match. An England international in a time when Chelsea only rarely were able to boast national team players in their ranks, he was an accomplished left back.

Frank Sinclair

A potentially controversial choice considering the talent we have had at the club, but he is a cult hero of mine and the 1993 Chelsea Player of the Year no less, an unassuming defender, he was more than a little gaffe prone but his exuberance and tomfoolery won him my heart. Upon John Terry’s retirement Frank will be relegated to the bench.

Frank Lebouef

He’s here he’s there, I’m not allowed to swear Frank Lebeouef, another cult hero at the Bridge during my football adolesence, he had the ability to play sublime 60 or 70 yard passes and was a World Cup winner no less.

Dennis Wise

My Chelsea hero growing up, he may have had a problem with cab drivers, but the Chelsea fans loved him as one of their own, captain of the side for most of my childhood, he was a diminutive yet combative midfielder who had skill to match his aggression and an eye for goal.

Gavin Peacock

One day when Frank Lampard retires he will join John Terry in my XI, however for now this position is filled by Gavin Peacock hero of my first seasons watching Chelsea. In 1993/1994 he scored the winning goal against Manchester United twice in the league and hit the bar in the FA Cup Final. He was a superb attacking midfielder and mediocre MOTD pundit.

Claude Makalele

So good that he had a whole position named after him, genuinely world class Real Madrid were mad to let him leave the Bernabeu. A defensive midfielder with fight, he was never overawed and seemed to find an eternity to make the right pass, even if he did get vertigo if he ventured beyond the halfway line. Scored the most bizarre goal from a penatly against Charlton with the title secure and an uncharacteristic screamer against Tottenham.

Gianfranco Zola

No introduction required simply the most skilful player to ever wear blue, for any doubters just watch the footage of the flick against Norwich in the FA Cup.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Formed a deadly partnership with Eidur Gudjohnsen, he was the first striker I saw score more than 20 goals in a season for Chelsea, he was also a gentleman, refusing to celebrate when he scored against us for Charlton after moving on from the Bridge.

Eidur Gudjohnsen

Due to his post Chelsea antics the jury is now out on this selection, but due to his partnership with JFH and his skill and vision he remains in my personal Chelsea FC XI from my footballing memories, will be replaced in due time, most probably by an Ivorian.

Supersubs: Tore Andre Flo and Mikael Forssel
Cult Hero: Robert Fleck and Jody ‘fistfight’ Morris