Premier League - The Greatest: Chelsea

Eurosport - Mon, 29 Jun 17:51:00 2009

In our weekly series during the close season, we let you decide who is the greatest player to have played for some of England's top clubs. We continue with a selection of Chelsea legends.

1997 Chelsea Gianfranco Zola - 0

Here is our shortlist of eight greats with the Eurosport-Yahoo! top three at the bottom.

So leave your thoughts below, vote in the online poll and we'll give you the fans' verdict on Saturday.

Peter Bonetti (1960-75, 1976-79)

'The Cat' spent nearly two decades between the sticks at Stamford Bridge, and only Ron Harris has made more appearances. Bonetti had two spells at Chelsea, split by a short spell at NASL side St Louis Stars. He combined stunning reflexes with safe hands and a mammoth throw, and would have won more than seven England caps if it were not for Gordon Banks. On leaving Chelsea, Bonetti moved to the Scottish Isle of Mull to become a postman.

Ron Harris (1961-80)

A constant presence throughout the 1960s and 70s, 'Chopper' Harris pulled on the blue shirt a record 795 times. His physical approach sometimes obscured the fact that he could play a bit, but it endeared him hugely to the Stamford Bridge crowd. Possibly Harris's finest moment came in the 1970 FA Cup final, when Chelsea went toe-to-toe with Don Revie's Leeds and emerged victorious after a replay. Despite losing the captaincy to an 18-year-old Ray Wilkins, Harris stayed at Stamford Bridge until he was 35.

John Hollins (1963-75, 1983-84)

Another veteran of Chelsea's 1970 FA Cup win and subsequent Cup-Winners' Cup success, Hollins was a determined midfielder who successfully converted into a centre-back. He is perhaps most famous for his staggering sequence of 167 consecutive appearances, and played 592 times in total during his first stint at the club, finding the net 69 times. If he had not done enough to secure his status as a Chelsea legend, Hollins returned in 1983 for one last season and then became manager.

Frank Lampard (2001 to present)

The former West Ham man's £11 million switch to Stamford Bridge initially raised eyebrows. However, he convinced his doubters by making 164 consecutive Premier League appearances and playing with ever-greater authority. Widely acknowledged as one of the best attacking midfielders in the world, Lampard has scored at least 20 goals in each of the last five seasons, and has won 70 England caps. Converted a penalty in the 2008 Champions League semi-final against Liverpool a week after his mother's death, and scored again in the final.

Peter Osgood (1964-74)

Few players epitomised football's glamour in the 1960s and 70s like Osgood, a player whose ability, good looks and gregarious personality earned him the accolade 'King of Stamford Bridge'. Osgood's playboy image may explain why he only won four England caps, but on the pitch he was a supreme talent. Scored 150 goals in 380 games and found the net in every round of Chelsea's successful 1969/70 FA Cup campaign. Tall, versatile and lavishly skilful, Osgood was one of the best strikers of his generation. Died after a heart attack in 2006, aged 59.

Bobby Tambling (1959-70)

Tambling is surprisingly little-known given his status as Chelsea's record goalscorer. The only player in club history to score over 200 goals, he stepped into the void left by Jimmy Greaves's departure for AC Milan in 1961, promptly scored 22 goals and was made captain by new boss Tommy Docherty following relegation. Chelsea returned to the top flight and Tambling continued his relentless scoring form. He won three caps for England, scoring once, before settling in Ireland after a spell with Crystal Palace.

John Terry (1998 to present)

When Jose Mourinho arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2004, he brought in many of his own players but built the team around the totemic Terry. The Chelsea and England captain is a fighter and a brilliant defender, and has worn the armband through the most successful spell in the club's history, lifting two Premier League trophies, two FA Cups and two League Cups. Terry's slip in Moscow means he has yet to get his hands on the Champions League trophy, but Chelsea fans can rest assured he will not rest until he does so.

Gianfranco Zola (1996-2003)

Perhaps strangely, given the club's reputation during the last two decades, Zola is the only foreign player in the shortlist. The Italian was anything but a mercenary, however, combining wholehearted effort with spectacular flair and creativity. Eighty goals in 312 games does not tell the story of his brilliance. Just watch the footage of his backheel volley against Norwich, or the scooped through-ball for Gus Poyet to slam in against Sunderland on the opening day of the 1999/00 season. Pure magic.

Honourable mentions: Roy Bentley, Steve Clarke, Marcel Desailly, Kerry Dixon, Didier Drogba, Jimmy Greaves, Jimmy Floyd Hassselbaink, Ray Wilkins, Dennis Wise.

Eurosport-Yahoo! verdict

For all the allure of the Chelsea greats of the past, the simple fact is that Chelsea have never had anyone who has been as good as Lampard for as long as Lampard. Harris's amazing longevity earns him the number two spot, with the fantasy of Zola in third.

1- Frank Lampard

2- Ron 'Chopper' Harris

3- Gianfranco Zola

Eurosport

Comment 125 - 144 of 144

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  1. Those of us that can go back a little way, will­ remember how bad the pitches were and how physical the­ game was. It was very difficult for any player to show­ true skill that can be seen in today's game, with­ the great pitches and very much softer physical content­ in the game. Having these thoughts in mind and trying­ to equate the times and styles, the real top three have­ to be. 1. Peter Osgood for his true majesty when every­ member of the opposing side were trying to tear him­ apart . 2. Ray Wilkins for his fantastic leadership­ with a distribution skill second to none. 3. Frank­ Lampard just has to be in this three because he is the­ thinking mans footballer who can tackle, distribute and­ score goals, which I think he probably could have done­ in the 70's. Honorable mentions must be given to­ John Terry, Ron Harris, Alan Hudson, John Hollins, Ian­ Hutchinson, Jimmy Greaves, Peter Bonetti, Steve Clark­ and Mark Hughes.

    From brian.kemp1167, on Wed 15 Jul 9:39AM
  2. frankie lampard is chelsea's soul and heart

    From andreysizemin, on Mon 6 Jul 11:30AM
  3. Who cares about who the best Chelsea player is,­ they're all a bunch of w*****s anyway!!!

    From bluelaguna44, on Mon 6 Jul 10:21AM
  4. typical chelsea fans only kno players within the last­ 10 years cant believe harris has only 1% joke

    From jinxydevlin, on Sun 5 Jul 10:11PM
  5. Why did you miss out Jimmy Greaves? He was better than­ any of those. Also Ray Wilkins, Chelsea's Captain­ when he was 18.

    From quatt47, on Sun 5 Jul 6:41PM
  6. fans of other clubs don't like lampard and terry as­ they are still playing in the league.When they'll­ retire I'm sure they will have the same number of­ votes which zola is today having.They all are great­ players of their time and can't be judged over one­ other

    From First L, on Sun 5 Jul 3:38AM
  7. 1.Zolla 2.Lampard 3.Ozzie

    From levonchelsea, on Sat 4 Jul 10:45PM
  8. zola kinda looks like van nistlerooy in the picture at­ the top

    From rugbymad666, on Sat 4 Jul 7:33PM
  9. Zola ... then Lampard...

    From juveman74, on Sat 4 Jul 7:19PM
  10. Goes to show, Chelsea do not have a great deal of great­ history

    From chris r, on Sat 4 Jul 1:37PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    chealsea is a bad club for top players

    From boyggi36, on Sat 4 Jul 12:27PM
  12. Zola came to Chelsea too soon, we could do with him­ now, great skill, great attitude & great­ ambassador!

    From jenkinsandy78, on Sat 4 Jul 10:32AM
  13. Why no mention of Doug Rougvie

    From leeduemke, on Sat 4 Jul 9:22AM
  14. nice going eurosport...once again your choice of pics­ are unflattering... Is that a pic of Zola from charlie­ and the chelsea factory? Lmao he looks like an oompa­ loompa

    From dustin, on Sat 4 Jul 2:33AM
  15. Jimmy Greaves while a Chelsea player was the best­ goalscorer in the world.

    From joyce2clever, on Fri 3 Jul 8:36PM
  16. You Chelsea fans have short memories.What about Alan­ Hudson? The most talented midfielder of his generation!

    From eltea, on Fri 3 Jul 12:21PM
  17. its hard to tell because todays players are far more­ skilful at a much faster pace ,although the physical­ side is far easier

    From handyandyisalways, on Fri 3 Jul 12:00PM
  18. A Chelsea fan for 40 years, all those mentioned were­ greats but has to be Osgood for number one - yes Zola­ was a true inspiration but he never had to contend with­ the physical game of football in the 60/70's - how­ would todays player fare in that atmosphere and still­ play - could they ?

    From David, on Thu 2 Jul 7:12PM
  19. Frank is a great player but there were some others in­ the past. I first started watching Chelsea as a small­ child, standing in the Shed End in the early 60's.­ Back then there was a player called Charlie Cooke,­ similar really to Frank and equally as talented.­ Another great midfielder was Alan Hudson who's­ skill was at Frank's level. Ray Wilkins, as a­ youngster, was a great player. Having watched all the­ greats from back then there is one that stands head and­ shoulders, figuratively, over all the rest. The only­ player I ever saw play and wondered 'How did he do­ that?' That was the best of them all - Gianfranco!!

    From Colin, on Thu 2 Jul 5:54PM
  20. Its a pity that I was not priviledged to see the other­ Chelsea legends in action, Frank Lampard to remains­ Chelsea's greatest player because he is way above­ others comparatively!

    From lukuoke, on Wed 1 Jul 9:10PM
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