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Top 10 Best Chelsea FC Players of All Time

Chelsea F.C. is one of the most successful football clubs in the Premier League, having won two Champions League titles and five Premier League titles. Throughout their history, they have had numerous legends play in West London. Listed below are the absolute best players in Chelsea’s storied history.

Who Are the Best Chelsea FC Soccer Players of All Time?

Frank Lampard
John Terry
Gianfranco Zola
Didier Drogba
Petr Cech
Peter Bonetti
Ron Harris
Ray Wilkins
Peter Osgood
Eden Hazard

1. Frank Lampard

2004-05 Premier League Player of the Year
2011-12 Champions League Champion
Three-time Premier League Champion

As a powerhouse midfielder, Frank Lampard was the best player to ever wear a Chelsea kit. Lampard even holds the record for the most goals scored for the club with 211. He roamed the midfield for Chelsea from 2001 to 2014. During his 13-year reign at Chelsea, Lampard won three Premier League titles. He also won the 2004-05 Premier League Player of the Year award. Lampard had a total of 31 goals and assists that season. Lampard would also win the Football Writers Association Player of the Year award that season.

Lampard’s best season with the Blues came in 2009-10 when he scored 22 goals. Along with those many goals, Lampard also had 14 assists in Premier League competition. Lampard was a focal point for Chelsea in 2011-12, the year Chelsea would go on to win their first Champions League title. Lampard would record three goals and three assists during the tournament.

2. John Terry

Five-time Premier League Champion
2011-12 Champions League Champion
Four-time UEFA Team of the Year

John Terry was the best defender that Chelsea ever had. Manning the defense from 1999-2017, Terry made his first appearance with the senior squad at just 17 years old. Four years later, he was named captain of the Blues at just 21 years old. During his time at Chelsea, Terry led the squad to five premier league titles, four FA cups, and one Champions League title. Terry was named UEFA Defender of the Year on three occasions. Terry was also named the 2005 PFA (Pro Footballers Association) Player of the Year.

Terry netted 41 goals to go along with 13 assists during his illustrious career at Chelsea. Terry also played nearly 42,000 minutes at Chelsea with 41,966. Terry boasts an impressive 77% tackle success rate over his 20-year career, as well as 214 clean sheets. Terry won over the hearts of Chelsea supporters as soon as he stepped onto the field at Stamford Bridge.

3. Gianfranco Zola

Two-time FA Cup Winner
13 Goals in 1998-99 Season
Nine Assists in 1996-97 Season

Gianfranco Zola was a special bright spot for Chelsea in a subpar era of the club’s history. Playing for Chelsea from 1996-2003, Zola was a pivotal part of Chelsea’s turnaround. Zola left the club a season before Chelsea won their first Premier League title. Before coming to Chelsea, Zola had an already legendary career playing in the top league in Italy (Series A). In his first season playing professional football, Zola would win his only league title with Napoli.

In Zola’s Chelsea career, he scored 59 goals to go along with 42 assists. During Zola’s best season in blue, he scored 14 goals and had seven assists. Zola was named the club’s player of the year in his first season, which he only played half of. Zola is most remembered for his backheel goal against Norwich in the 2001 FA Cup. Zola was a glamorous player in a not-so-glamorous era for Chelsea and will forever be adored by the Chelsea supporters.

4. Didier Drogba

Two-time African Footballer of the Year
2011-12 Champions League Champion
Four-time Premier League Champion

Didier Drogba was a legendary Chelsea striker and had one of the most important goals in the team’s history. Chelsea trailed F.C. Bayern Munich 1-0 in the 87th minute, Drogba received the cross and slotted a header in the top right corner to even the score at one apiece. Drogba would later score the deciding penalty kick in the penalty shootout to win Chelsea its first Champions League title. Drogba was a club legend long before his legendary Champions League final performance.

During Drogba’s tenure with the club, he won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and three League Cups. Drogba also netted 164 goals in all competitions as well as 55 assists in his time at Chelsea. Drogba earned two Golden Boots, which are given to the top scorer in the Premier League. Drogba’s heroics in the Champions League finals forever endeared him to the Chelsea faithful, etching him as a Chelsea legend.

5. Petr Cech

Four-time Premier League Champion
2011-12 Champions League Champion
2005 UEFA Team of the Year

Arguably the most dominant goalkeeper in recent Premier League history, Petr Cech is also the most dominant goalie in Chelsea history. Cech manned the goal for Chelsea from 2004-2015. During his time with the club, Cech won the Premier League four times as well as winning the 2011-12 Champions League. Cech is known for his signature headgear that he sported since he fractured his skull in an on-field collision in 2006. Cech’s injury happened just 15 seconds into the 2006 season.

While at Chelsea, Cech recorded 280 wins. Of those 280 wins, he recorded 202 clean sheets and 1,005 saves. Cech’s performance in the Champions League final of 2011 was nothing short of remarkable. Cech saved six shots including a penalty in extra time. The only blunder on his record during that game was a Thomas Müller header in the 83rd minute. Cech faced 43 shots that game with seven of them being on target.

6. Peter Bonetti

1966 World Cup Champion
Seven International Caps
European Cup Winner

Nicknamed “The Cat,” Peter Bonetti was one of the best goalkeepers that Chelsea ever had. Part of the infamous England squad that won the World Cup in 1966. Bonetti shined at Chelsea recording the second-most appearances for the team with 729. Bonetti was no ordinary keeper in terms of his stature. Standing at just 5 foot 11 inches his nickname “The Cat” suited him well as he was quick and agile.

Bonetti was a part of Chelsea during an era where all of the players were rough and tough. This did not phase the small-statured Bonetti. Bonetti finished second in voting for Footballer of the Year in 1969/70. That same year Bonetti helped Chelsea hoist their first-ever FA Cup. The Blue would draw with Leeds United 2-2, this result would lead to the first replay since 1912. In the replay, Bonetti would only allow one goal leading Chelsea to a 2-1 win.

7. Ron Harris

1965 League Cup Winner
1970 FA Cup Winner
Club Record for Most Appearances

Nicknamed “Chopper,” Ron Harris is considered by many to be the second-best defender in Chelsea history. Harris has the club record for most appearances with 795. That is 66 more appearances than Peter Bonetti who is listed in 2nd. Harris was part of the 1970 FA Cup-winning team. In his 795 appearances, Harris scored 14 goals, which is a great mark for a defender. Amazingly, in his 18 seasons at Chelsea Harris was only sent off once, which was later rescinded.

Harris joined the Blues in their promotion-winning season in 1962-63 at just 17 years old. Harris was a very loyal player staying with Chelsea while most of their stars were on the outs with the club. Harris would eventually leave the club in 1980 and become a player-coach for the current Premier League squad Brentford. Harris will always be remembered for his ability to play any defensive position and his tough tackling style.

8. Dennis Wise

Two-time FA Cup Winner
1998 League Cup Winner
Two-time Chelsea Player of the Year

Deemed a loose cannon at times, Dennis Wise is known as the second-most successful captain in Chelsea history. Anchoring the midfield for the Blues from 1990-2001, Wise was named captain in 1993. Wise finished his Chelsea career with 445 appearances and 76 goals. Wise won two FA Cups and a League Cup during his time with the club. Wise was also one of the few Englishmen in the squad during that time, as Chelsea saw an influx of foreign transfers join the squad.

Wise was known for being a “bad boy,” as he missed numerous games during his career due to suspension. Wise was even suspended for 15 games in 1999-98. Even after his time with the club Wise played a pivotal role with the squad. Although Wise did not win the Premier League with the club, he was vital to the successful rebuilding of Chelsea. Just four years after Wise left the club, Chelsea would go on to win the first of five Premier League titles.

9. Peter Osgood

Scored 150 Career Goals
1970 FA Cup Winner
Scored in Every Round of the 1970 FA Cup

Peter Osgood is one of the most influential players to ever play in West London. Osgood joined the senior squad at 17 years old. In his first game with the senior squad, he scored both goals in a 2-0 win over AFC Workington in the League Cup. Osgood played for Chelsea from 1964-1974, and a brief stint from 1978-1980. Osgood totaled 380 appearances and 150 goals in all competitions for the club.

In the 1970 FA Cup, Osgood scored in every single round of the competition. Osgood is the last player to record such a feat in the competition’s history. Osgood and Chelsea would go on to win the FA Cup in 1970. In the replay of the final against Leeds, Osgood would score the equalizing goal to aid Chelsea in winning their first FA Cup title. Osgood was one of the main reasons for Chelsea’s success in the 60s and 70s and will always be remembered as a club legend.

10. Eden Hazard

Two-time Premier League Champion
2014-15 Premier League Player of the Year
Two-time UEFA Team of the Year

A generational talent whose career was derailed by injuries, Eden Hazard was the heart of Chelsea from 2012-2019. In his Chelsea career Hazard won two Premier League titles, two Europa League titles, two FA Cups, and a League Cup. Although he was healthy through most of his time with Chelsea, his career has recently been derailed by injuries since his transfer to Real Madrid.

During his prime with Chelsea Hazard won the 2014-2015 Premier League Player of the Year Award. In the same season, Hazard was named the PFA player of the year as well as the FWA Footballer of the Year. Hazard was also named to the UEFA Team of the Year twice in his time with the Blues. Hazard played for two great managers in Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, Hazard won the Premier League under both managers. Hazard will always be remembered for being one of the most flashy and dominant players in Chelsea’s history.