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 65 - 84 of 144

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ok ok maybe not di matteo what about tore andre flo lol­ lol lol

    From Bazzabhoy!!, on Mon 29 Jun 5:24PM
  2. No 44 what about the @#$% England defending too.Or are­ you not old enough to remember the whole game.Gerd­ Muller was on fire.Bonetti came cold off the bench and­ got no help from the rest.He may have been at fault for­ one goal.But he was still the only choice as Banks­ under study.

    From Chelsea Oldboy, on Mon 29 Jun 5:22PM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    babayaro,bogarde&andy myers!

    From Pimpin Naz, on Mon 29 Jun 5:20PM
  4. errolreid2605
    WHAT YOUR PROBLEM EXCEPT YOUR A KNOBHEAD

    From keith j, on Mon 29 Jun 5:17PM
  5. what about roberto di matteo i always thought he was a­ class player for yous ?? fastest goal in a fa cup­ final..

    From Bazzabhoy!!, on Mon 29 Jun 5:16PM
  6. his name is tommy baldwin he's the leader of the­ team !!!!!!!

    From handyandyisalways, on Mon 29 Jun 5:02PM
  7. What about Charlie Cook from Scotland. A great winger­ in the late 60,s and early 70,s Saw him live for Dundee­ and Chelsea the guy was fantastic. Not just the current­ squad who should be Chelsea legends. Ray Wilkins­ starting off his career was also pretty special.

    From roberal40, on Mon 29 Jun 4:57PM
  8. Easy - Zola, Osgood, Harris. I'm not sure why any­ of the current crop are on the shortlist given that the­ smallest sniff of more cash and they'd be off - not­ the stuff that legends are made of.

    From Peter S, on Mon 29 Jun 4:55PM
  9. 71 premiership winners 2005 + 2006 thats a little­ history for ya

    From handyandyisalways, on Mon 29 Jun 4:55PM
  10. 72 whereas you have the oral ability of both of zolas­ testicles ,you talk @#$%

    From handyandyisalways, on Mon 29 Jun 4:54PM
  11. Supporter since 1937 days of weaver mills and vic­ woodley my player would be Osgood.
    cooke was a delight­ for 20 minutes not 90.
    Ron

    From RON H, on Mon 29 Jun 4:53PM
  12. the team is great but what i cant understand is why­ jimmy greaves is not in it after scoring 800 maybe more­ goals for the blues!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From tspink66, on Mon 29 Jun 4:52PM
  13. keith j we do not want supporters like you

    From jjmalone, on Mon 29 Jun 4:50PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    you suck manu r way better duh..

    From Tom, on Mon 29 Jun 4:41PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

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    From WWW.PREMIERSHIP.ALTERVISTA.ORG, on Mon 29 Jun 4:38PM
  16. S%&t club + no premier league titles = Liverscum

    From ian r, on Mon 29 Jun 4:37PM
  17. mathewdionyssiou yeah sure Lampard must be terrible to­ be 20 goals a season for the last 5 seasons and has­ scored 2 against Liverpool in the CL, Makélélé leaving­ was BAD, I believe this is why Chelsea let in more­ goals than under Mourinho and Grant! He should be in­ the list, he was one of the main players of­ Mourinho's Chelsea.

    From JT CaptainLegendHero, on Mon 29 Jun 4:36PM
  18. Lampard doesn't even have the ball technique of­ Zola's left testicle

    From mathewdionyssiou, on Mon 29 Jun 4:29PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    @#$% Club + No History=Chelsea

    From eoinstapleton15, on Mon 29 Jun 4:18PM
  20. ian hutchinson was one of my favs ,after ossie ,webb­ ,wise ,zola ,terry ,lampard­ ,hollins,cooke,speedy+dixon,mickey droy, david hay, so­ many to think about eider gudjonsen ,di matteo,essien,­ makele,cudicini,clive walker,(i remember him destroying­ littlepool at the bridge) ,joey cole (was on fire for­ England as well )

    From handyandyisalways, on Mon 29 Jun 4:16PM
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