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 105 - 124 of 144

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  1. Shame that most people have only heard of a couple. My­ favourite is Peter Osgood as he was special. Zola and­ Frank are Chelsea greats, however not sure they'll­ ever be no 1 for anyone who remembers the glory days of­ the 70's. When he died recently the true fans could­ still sing the songs from the old days at the Bridge.­ Not sure they'll do that for Frank or Zola in 30­ years time.

    From pommyuk, on Wed 1 Jul 4:17PM
  2. lamps is clearly the greatest ever no one will wear q­ no 8 shirt like him ever

    From Kenneth O, on Wed 1 Jul 4:17PM
  3. disgusting that Ruud van Nistelrooy does not appear on­ any list..

    From Contrarian, on Wed 1 Jul 2:44PM
  4. Lampard is a disaster just shooting nothing else
    In the­ England team check out when he plays
    and check out­ Essien when he plays for Ghana
    You will appreciate what­ i am saying

    From Ajay, on Wed 1 Jul 2:10PM
  5. Hey guys Essien is the best player by a distance.
    Just­ look at the stats and you would find it out that­ whenever Essien plays then Chelsea is a far better team

    From Ajay, on Wed 1 Jul 2:08PM
  6. I am not a chelsea fan at all but I have bn following­ the big four consistently over the last five years­ .The players I wud rate as the best in the last five­ years at chelsea r 1.Essien
    2.Lampard
    ­ 3.John Terry
    4.Didier Drogba.
    Ladies and­ gentlemen that man Essien has bn so strong in Midfield­ and defence and works tirelessly he is a team Player­ and does deserve credit for this Fact and also having­ scored some sensational goals for the Blues .I am a Man­ U Fan.
    Naz1child(From Zambia )

    From naz1child, on Wed 1 Jul 9:24AM
  7. as a fan who started supporting them at a young age in­ the late 90's, of my expert knowledge of watching­ chelsea from 98 upto this date, i honestly have to say­ zola and lampard were the two most influential and­ consistently outstanding performers

    From le.daniel18, on Wed 1 Jul 12:49AM
  8. what about fatty foulkes?

    From Lawrence, on Tue 30 Jun 10:23PM
  9. henry_michael_daly is obviously not too bright. He­ can't even spell!

    From Diggy, on Tue 30 Jun 5:49PM
  10. I liked Eddie McCready's tough no nonsense approach­ and specifically his drop kick on Bremner againsty­ dirty leeds in 1970 (youtube it, it is hilarious) but I­ think that Soxxy was our best left back and he would­ get that slot in my dream team.

    From Chelsea John, on Tue 30 Jun 4:53PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    111 steven gerrard and xabi alonson for starters!!! any­ more ?

    From handyandyisalways, on Tue 30 Jun 4:19PM
  12. Zola was the best. Yes he was kind of selfish but was­ waaaay too good.

    From 3D, on Tue 30 Jun 2:35PM
  13. dan petrescu 1995-2000

    From tibi, on Tue 30 Jun 1:21PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    now name the cheats

    From tom.fallon, on Tue 30 Jun 12:37PM
  15. How about this for the greatest ever Chelsea team?

    1:­ Bonetti

    2: R.Harris
    3: E.McCreadie
    4. J.Terry
    5.­ F.Lebouf

    6: F.Lampard
    7: G.Zola
    8: Essien
    11:­ C.Cooke

    9: B.Tambling
    10:­ J.Greaves

    Subs:

    Desaily
    M.Hughes
    Osgood
    Petrescue
    Cec­ h

    Manager - J.Morinho / D.Sexton

    From Colin, on Tue 30 Jun 12:28PM
  16. steve clarke

    From handyandyisalways, on Tue 30 Jun 8:46AM
  17. ripped off ,where have you been !!! and to hate a­ football teams is very sick ! why bother coming to a­ site where it annoys you so much ,very weird

    From handyandyisalways, on Tue 30 Jun 8:42AM
  18. Drogba in a big game

    From hatem_b71, on Tue 30 Jun 3:40AM
  19. This category is so stupid only players that have­ played more than five years at the club should be­ considered. Having said that, the greatest English­ striker of all time was Jimmy Greaves. He proved he­ could play at any club (Spurs, West Ham and Chelsea) by­ scoring goals and making defenders and goalkeepers look­ second rate. I will say that if Greaves did not have a­ cocky mouth he would have played in the 1966 World cup­ final , and England would have thrashed West Germany­ (no contest). And Geoff Hurst would have been just­ another striker. But Greaves is synonymous with Spurs,­ so when you mention the likes of Osgood, Lampard,­ Terry, Bonetti, Harris, Cooke, Hudson and Hollins you­ think of Chelsea and thus the Greatest Chelsea player­ was Peter Osgood (and maybe Hudson, Lampard and Terry).

    From starman_123, on Tue 30 Jun 2:17AM
  20. ZOLA by far the top 4 greatest if not #1.

    From magyar87, on Tue 30 Jun 1:56AM
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