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 85 - 104 of 144

Sort comments by: Most recent
  1. terry!!!

    From Sergio, on Mon 29 Jun 11:55PM
  2. FRANKIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ WOOOHOOO!!!!!!!!
    Greatest player @ CFC!!!!

    From Nicholas, on Mon 29 Jun 11:30PM
  3. henry_michael_daly do you have nothing better to do­ today than annoy Chelsea fans, I guess not!!!

    From JT CaptainLegendHero, on Mon 29 Jun 9:08PM
  4. dan petrescu is the best right defender that chelsea­ had ever.

    From Alex, on Mon 29 Jun 8:50PM
  5. # 1 lampard

    From nikodim, on Mon 29 Jun 8:46PM
  6. zola and cantona

    From TR, on Mon 29 Jun 8:00PM
  7. as a fan who hates chelsea but only known that they­ existed in the last ten years i have to say that zola­ was a fantastic player.

    From ripped of, on Mon 29 Jun 7:54PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Sorry to break it to all you chealsea fans but....­ THEIR ALL .@#$%

    From henry_michael_daly, on Mon 29 Jun 7:42PM
  9. to azrental_viewdirect how can u say that lampard­ stands around and waits for a shoot do you even watch a­ chelsea match and if you do you must be blind or­ something not to see lampard running up and down the­ field passing and tackling and helping the rest of his­ chelsea team mates out.

    From clare, on Mon 29 Jun 6:31PM
  10. What about Jimmy Greaves....I've watched Chelsea­ since the 1940's,
    including such greats as Tommy­ Lawton, John Harris etc.
    If there is a better English­ striker than Greavsie, I havent seen him.
    The likes of­ Owen and co. are not fit to lace his boots. Look at his­ goals
    per game ratio and compare them to­ anyone....except maybe Pele

    From RON K, on Mon 29 Jun 6:28PM
  11. what about dennis wise he was also a relly great player

    From clare, on Mon 29 Jun 6:18PM
  12. Zola!! Was not at the club long and did not win a­ leauge title but he is a magical man who cared for a­ club he did not know and gave the long suffering fans­ alot to smile about.I wish him all the best for his­ West Ham adventure

    From Tom, on Mon 29 Jun 6:09PM
  13. No One is bigger than Jose Special One

    From Rakesh, on Mon 29 Jun 5:57PM
  14. Zola
    Cooke
    Osgood
    Lampard
    Greaves
    Bonetti
    Harris
    McCrea­ die

    From unravel58, on Mon 29 Jun 5:55PM
  15. top 10 in order
    Zola
    Bonetti
    osgood­
    hutchinson
    greaves
    bentley­
    tambling
    lampard
    terry
    harris
    hon ment
    hollins wise­ flo ceck

    From mark, on Mon 29 Jun 5:45PM
  16. 92 was still a great goal from matty

    From Bazzabhoy!!, on Mon 29 Jun 5:38PM
  17. 92 thats right m8 i stand corrected tnx m8.

    From Bazzabhoy!!, on Mon 29 Jun 5:37PM
  18. The Greatest Chelsea - Tommy Docherty. The man who gave­ them the swagger.

    From Inigo Q, on Mon 29 Jun 5:31PM
  19. 85 that record has gone to everton ! cant remember who

    From handyandyisalways, on Mon 29 Jun 5:30PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Osgood
    Bonetti
    Cooke
    Harris
    Hollins

    From Inigo Q, on Mon 29 Jun 5:29PM
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