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Chelsea F.C.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


This article is about the men's football club. For the women's football club, see Chelsea L.F.C..
For other uses, see Chelsea.
Chelsea

Full name
Nickname(s)
Founded
Ground
Capacity
Owner
Chairman
Manager
League
201415
Website

Chelsea Football Club


The Blues, The Pensioners
10 March 1905; 110 years ago[1]
Stamford Bridge
41,663[2]
Roman Abramovich
Bruce Buck
Guus Hiddink (interim)
Premier League
Premier League, 1st
Club home page

Home colours

Away colours

Third colours

Current season
Chelsea F.C. (/tlsi/) are a professional football club in Fulham, London, who play in the
Premier League. Founded in 1905, the club's home ground since then has been Stamford Bridge.
[2]

Chelsea had their first major success in 1955, when they won the league championship. They
won various cup competitions between 1965 and 1990. The club's greatest period of success has
been the last two decades, winning 17 major trophies since 1997.[3] Chelsea have won five league
titles, seven FA Cups, five League Cups and four FA Community Shields, one UEFA Champions
League, two UEFA Cup Winners' Cups, one UEFA Europa League and one UEFA Super Cup.
Chelsea are the only London club to win the UEFA Champions League,[4] and one of four clubs,
and the only British club, to have won all three main UEFA club competitions.[5][6]
Chelsea's regular kit colours are royal blue shirts and shorts with white socks. The club's crest
has been changed several times in attempts to re-brand the club and modernise its image. The
current crest, featuring a ceremonial lion rampant regardant holding a staff, is a modification of
the one introduced in the early 1950s.[7] The club have the fifth-highest average all-time
attendance in English football.[8] Their average home gate for the 201415 season was 41,546,
the seventh highest in the Premier League.[9] Since 2003, Chelsea have been owned by Russian
billionaire Roman Abramovich.[10] In 2015, they were ranked by Forbes magazine as the sixth
most valuable football club in the world, at 898 million ($1.37 billion).[11]

Contents

1 History

2 Stadium

3 Crest and colours


o 3.1 Crest
o 3.2 Colours

4 Support
o 4.1 Rivalries

5 Records

6 Ownership and finances


o 6.1 Sponsorship

7 Popular culture

8 Chelsea Ladies

9 Players
o 9.1 First team squad
o 9.2 Out on loan
o 9.3 Reserves and Academy

10 Player of the Year

11 Notable managers

12 Management team

13 Club personnel

14 Honours
o 14.1 Domestic

14.1.1 Leagues

14.1.2 Cups

o 14.2 European
o 14.3 Doubles

15 Notes

16 Footnotes

17 References

18 External links

History
Main article: History of Chelsea F.C.

The first Chelsea team in September 1905


In 1904, Gus Mears acquired the Stamford Bridge athletics stadium with the aim of turning it
into a football ground. An offer to lease it to nearby Fulham was turned down, so Mears opted to
found his own club to use the stadium. As there was already a team named Fulham in the
borough, the name of the adjacent borough of Chelsea was chosen for the new club; names like
Kensington FC, Stamford Bridge FC and London FC were also considered.[12] Chelsea were
founded on 10 March 1905 at The Rising Sun pub (now The Butcher's Hook),[1][13] opposite the
present-day main entrance to the ground on Fulham Road, and were elected to the Football
League shortly afterwards.
The club won promotion to the First Division in their second season, and yo-yoed between the
First and Second Divisions in their early years. They reached the 1915 FA Cup Final, where they
lost to Sheffield United at Old Trafford, and finished third in the First Division in 1920, the
club's best league campaign to that point.[14] Chelsea attracted large crowds[15] and had a
reputation for signing big-name players,[16] but success continued to elude the club in the interwar years.
Former Arsenal and England centre-forward Ted Drake became manager in 1952 and proceeded
to modernise the club. He removed the club's Chelsea pensioner crest, improved the youth set-up
and training regime, rebuilt the side with shrewd signings from the lower divisions and amateur
leagues, and led Chelsea to their first major trophy success the League championship in

195455. The following season saw UEFA create the European Champions' Cup, but after
objections from The Football League and the FA Chelsea were persuaded to withdraw from the
competition before it started.[17] Chelsea failed to build on this success, and spent the remainder
of the 1950s in mid-table. Drake was dismissed in 1961 and replaced by player-coach Tommy
Docherty.

Chart showing the progress of Chelsea's league finishes from 19062015


Docherty built a new team around the group of talented young players emerging from the club's
youth set-up and Chelsea challenged for honours throughout the 1960s, enduring several nearmisses. They were on course for a treble of League, FA Cup and League Cup going into the final
stages of the 196465 season, winning the League Cup but faltering late on in the other two.[18] In
three seasons the side were beaten in three major semi-finals and were FA Cup runners-up.
Under Docherty's successor, Dave Sexton, Chelsea won the FA Cup in 1970, beating Leeds
United 21 in a final replay. Chelsea took their first European honour, a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
triumph, the following year, with another replayed win, this time over Real Madrid in Athens.
The late 1970s through to the 1980s was a turbulent period for Chelsea. An ambitious
redevelopment of Stamford Bridge threatened the financial stability of the club,[19] star players
were sold and the team were relegated. Further problems were caused by a notorious hooligan
element among the support, which was to plague the club throughout the decade.[20] In 1982,
Chelsea were, at the nadir of their fortunes, acquired by Ken Bates for the nominal sum of 1,
although by now the Stamford Bridge freehold had been sold to property developers, meaning
the club faced losing their home.[21] On the pitch, the team had fared little better, coming close to
relegation to the Third Division for the first time, but in 1983 manager John Neal put together an
impressive new team for minimal outlay. Chelsea won the Second Division title in 198384 and
established themselves in the top division, before being relegated again in 1988. The club
bounced back immediately by winning the Second Division championship in 198889.

Chelsea players celebrate their first UEFA Champions League title against Bayern Munich.

After a long-running legal battle, Bates reunited the stadium freehold with the club in 1992 by
doing a deal with the banks of the property developers, who had been bankrupted by a market
crash.[22] Chelsea's form in the new Premier League was unconvincing, although they did reach
the 1994 FA Cup Final with Glenn Hoddle. It was not until the appointment of Ruud Gullit as
player-manager in 1996 that their fortunes changed. He added several top international players to
the side, as the club won the FA Cup in 1997 and established themselves as one of England's top
sides again. Gullit was replaced by Gianluca Vialli, who led the team to victory in the League
Cup Final, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final and the UEFA Super Cup in 1998, the FA Cup in
2000 and their first appearance in the UEFA Champions League. Vialli was sacked in favour of
Claudio Ranieri, who guided Chelsea to the 2002 FA Cup Final and Champions League
qualification in 200203.
In June 2003, Bates sold Chelsea to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich for 140 million.[10]
Over 100 million was spent on new players, but Ranieri was unable to deliver any trophies,[23]
and was replaced by Jos Mourinho.[24] Under Mourinho, Chelsea became the fifth English team
to win back-to-back league championships since the Second World War (200405 and 200506),
[25]
in addition to winning an FA Cup (2007) and two League Cups (2005 and 2007). Mourinho
was replaced by Avram Grant,[26] who led the club to their first UEFA Champions League final,
which they lost on penalties to Manchester United.
In 2009, Guus Hiddink guided Chelsea to another FA Cup success.[27] In 200910, his successor
Carlo Ancelotti led them to their first Premier League and FA Cup "Double", and becoming the
first English top-flight club to score 100 league goals in a season since 1963.[28] In 2012,
caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo led Chelsea to their seventh FA Cup,[29] and their first
UEFA Champions League title, beating Bayern Munich 43 on penalties,[30] the first London club
to win the trophy.[30] In 2013, interim manager Rafael Bentez guided Chelsea to win the UEFA
Europa League against Benfica,[31] becoming the first club to hold two major European titles
simultaneously and one of four clubs, and the only British club, to have won all three of UEFA's
major club competitions.[32] In the summer of 2013, Mourinho returned as manager, leading
Chelsea to League Cup success in March 2015,[33] and their fifth league title two months later.[34]

Stadium
Main article: Stamford Bridge (stadium)

Stamford Bridge, West Stand

Chelsea have only had one home ground, Stamford Bridge, where they have played since the
team's foundation. It was officially opened on 28 April 1877 and for the first 28 years of its
existence it was used almost exclusively by the London Athletic Club as an arena for athletics
meetings and not at all for football. In 1904 the ground was acquired by businessman Gus Mears
and his brother Joseph, who had also purchased nearby land (formerly a large market garden)
with the aim of staging football matches on the now 12.5 acre (51,000 m) site.[35] Stamford
Bridge was designed for the Mears family by the noted football architect Archibald Leitch, who
had also designed Ibrox, Celtic Park and Hampden Park.[36] Most football clubs were founded
first, and then sought grounds in which to play, but Chelsea were founded for Stamford Bridge.
Starting with an open bowl-like design and one covered terrace, Stamford Bridge had an original
capacity of around 100,000.[35] The early 1930s saw the construction of a terrace on the southern
part of the ground with a roof that covered around one fifth of the stand. It eventually became
known as the "Shed End", the home of Chelsea's most loyal and vocal supporters, particularly
during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. The exact origins of the name are unclear, but the fact that the
roof looked like a corrugated iron shed roof played a part.[35]
In the early 1970s, the club's owners announced a modernisation of Stamford Bridge with plans
for a state-of-the-art 50,000 all-seater stadium.[35] Work began on the East Stand in 1972 but the
project was beset with problems and was never completed; the cost brought the club close to
bankruptcy, culminating in the freehold being sold to property developers. Following a long legal
battle, it was not until the mid-1990s that Chelsea's future at the stadium was secured and
renovation work resumed.[35] The north, west and southern parts of the ground were converted
into all-seater stands and moved closer to the pitch, a process completed by 2001.
When Stamford Bridge was redeveloped in the Bates era many additional features were added to
the complex including two hotels, apartments, bars, restaurants, the Chelsea Megastore, and an
interactive visitor attraction called Chelsea World of Sport. The intention was that these facilities
would provide extra revenue to support the football side of the business, but they were less
successful than hoped and before the Abramovich takeover in 2003 the debt taken on to finance
them was a major burden on the club. Soon after the takeover a decision was taken to drop the
"Chelsea Village" brand and refocus on Chelsea as a football club. However, the stadium is
sometimes still referred to as part of "Chelsea Village" or "The Village".

Chelsea vs. West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge on 23 September 1905; Chelsea won 1
0.
The Stamford Bridge freehold, the pitch, the turnstiles and Chelsea's naming rights are now
owned by Chelsea Pitch Owners, a non-profit organisation in which fans are the shareholders.
The CPO was created to ensure the stadium could never again be sold to developers. As a

condition for using the Chelsea FC name, the club has to play its first team matches at Stamford
Bridge, which means that if the club moves to a new stadium, they may have to change their
name.[37] Chelsea's training ground is located in Cobham, Surrey. Chelsea moved to Cobham in
2004. Their previous training ground in Harlington was taken over by QPR in 2005.[38] The new
training facilities in Cobham were completed in 2007.[39]
Stamford Bridge has been used for a variety of other sporting events since 1905. It hosted the FA
Cup Final from 1920 to 1922,[40] has held ten FA Cup semi-finals (most recently in 1978), ten FA
Charity Shield matches (the last in 1970), and three England international matches, the last in
1932; it was also the venue for an unofficial Victory International in 1946.[41] The 2013 UEFA
Women's Champions League Final was played at Stamford Bridge.[42]

View from the West Stand of Stamford Bridge during a Champions League game, 2008
In October 1905 it hosted a rugby union match between the All Blacks and Middlesex,[43] and in
1914 hosted a baseball match between the touring New York Giants and the Chicago White Sox.
[44]
It was the venue for a boxing match between world flyweight champion Jimmy Wilde and Joe
Conn in 1918.[45] The running track was used for dirt track racing between 1928 and 1932,[46]
greyhound racing from 1933 to 1968, and Midget car racing in 1948.[47] In 1980, Stamford
Bridge hosted the first international floodlit cricket match in the UK, between Essex and the
West Indies.[48] It was also the home stadium of the London Monarchs American Football team
for the 1997 season.[49]
The current club ownership have stated that a larger stadium is necessary in order for Chelsea to
stay competitive with rival clubs who have significantly larger stadia, such as Arsenal and
Manchester United.[50] Owing to its location next to a main road and two railway lines, fans can
only enter the ground via the Fulham Road exits, which places constraints on expansion due to
health and safety regulations.[51] The club have consistently affirmed their desire to keep Chelsea
at their current home,[52][53][54] but have nonetheless been linked with a move to various nearby
sites, including the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Battersea Power Station and the Chelsea
Barracks.[55] In October 2011, a proposal from the club to buy back the freehold to the land on
which Stamford Bridge sits was voted down by Chelsea Pitch Owners shareholders.[56] In May
2012, the club made a formal bid to purchase Battersea Power Station, with a view to developing
the site into a new stadium,[57] but lost out to a Malaysian consortium.[58] The club subsequently
announced plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge into a 60,000 seater stadium.[59]

Crest and colours

Crest

19531986 Chelsea crest


Chelsea have had four main crests, which all underwent minor variations. The first, adopted
when the club was founded, was the image of a Chelsea pensioner, the army veterans who reside
at the nearby Royal Hospital Chelsea. This contributed to the club's original "pensioner"
nickname, and remained for the next half-century, though it never appeared on the shirts. When
Ted Drake became Chelsea manager in 1952, he began to modernise the club. Believing the
Chelsea pensioner crest to be old-fashioned, he insisted that it be replaced.[60] A stop-gap badge
which comprised the initials C.F.C. was adopted for a year. In 1953, the club crest was changed
to an upright blue lion looking backwards and holding a staff. It was based on elements in the
coat of arms of the Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea[61] with the "lion rampant regardant" taken
from the arms of then club president Viscount Chelsea and the staff from the Abbots of
Westminster, former Lords of the Manor of Chelsea. It also featured three red roses, to represent
England, and two footballs.[60] This was the first Chelsea crest to appear on the shirts, in the early
1960s.
In 1986, with Ken Bates now owner of the club, Chelsea's crest was changed again as part of
another attempt to modernise and because the old rampant lion badge could not be trademarked.
[62]
The new badge featured a more naturalistic non-heraldic lion, in white and not blue, standing
over the C.F.C. initials. This lasted for the next 19 years, with some modifications such as the use
of different colours, including red from 1987 to 1995, and yellow from 1995 until 1999, before
the white returned.[63] With the new ownership of Roman Abramovich, and the club's centenary
approaching, combined with demands from fans for the popular 1950s badge to be restored, it
was decided that the crest should be changed again in 2005. The new crest was officially adopted
for the start of the 200506 season and marked a return to the older design, used from 1953 to
1986, featuring a blue heraldic lion holding a staff. For the centenary season this was
accompanied by the words '100 YEARS' and 'CENTENARY 20052006' on the top and bottom
of the crest respectively.[7]

Colours

Chelsea's first home colours, used from 1905 until c. 1912.


Chelsea have always worn blue shirts, although they originally used the paler eton blue, which
was taken from the racing colours of then club president, Earl Cadogan, and was worn with
white shorts and dark blue or black socks.[64] The light blue shirts were replaced by a royal blue
version in around 1912.[65] In the 1960s Chelsea manager Tommy Docherty changed the kit
again, switching to blue shorts (which have remained ever since) and white socks, believing it
made the club's colours more modern and distinctive, since no other major side used that
combination; this kit was first worn during the 196465 season.[66] Since then Chelsea have
always worn white socks with their home kit apart from a short spell from 1985 to 1992, when
blue socks were reintroduced.
Chelsea's away colours are usually all yellow or all white with blue trim. More recently, the club
have had a number of black or dark blue away kits.[67] As with most teams, they have also had
some more unusual ones. At Docherty's behest, in the 1966 FA Cup semi-final they wore blue
and black stripes, based on Inter Milan's kit.[68] In the mid-1970s, the away strip was a red, white
and green kit inspired by the Hungarian national side of the 1950s.[69] Other memorable away kits
include an all jade strip worn from 198689, red and white diamonds from 199092, graphite
and tangerine from 199496, and luminous yellow from 200708.[67] The graphite and tangerine
strip often appears in lists of the worst football kits ever.[70][71]

Support

Chelsea fans at a match against Tottenham Hotspur, on 11 March 2006

Chelsea are one of the most widely supported football clubs in the world.[72][73] They have the
fifth highest average all-time attendance in English football[8] and regularly attract over 40,000
fans to Stamford Bridge; they were the seventh best-supported Premier League team in the
201314 season, with an average gate of 41,572.[9] Chelsea's traditional fanbase comes from all
over the Greater London area including working-class parts such as Hammersmith and Battersea,
wealthier areas like Chelsea and Kensington, and from the home counties. There are also
numerous official supporters clubs in the United Kingdom and all over the world.[74] Between
2007 and 2012, Chelsea were ranked fourth worldwide in annual replica kit sales, with an
average of 910,000.[75] Chelsea's official Twitter account has 6.29 million followers, the fifth
highest among football clubs.[76]
At matches, Chelsea fans sing chants such as "Carefree" (to the tune of Lord of the Dance,
whose lyrics were probably written by supporter Mick Greenaway[77][78]), "Ten Men Went to
Mow", "We All Follow the Chelsea" (to the tune of "Land of Hope and Glory"), "Zigga Zagga",
and the celebratory "Celery", with the latter often resulting in fans ritually throwing celery. The
vegetable was banned inside Stamford Bridge after an incident involving Arsenal midfielder
Cesc Fbregas at the 2007 League Cup Final.[79]

Mural at a Chelsea pub in Tashkent


During the 1970s and 1980s in particular, Chelsea supporters were associated with football
hooliganism. The club's "football firm", originally known as the Chelsea Shed Boys, and
subsequently as the Chelsea Headhunters, were nationally notorious for football violence,
alongside hooligan firms from other clubs such as West Ham United's Inter City Firm and
Millwall's Bushwackers, before, during and after matches.[80] The increase of hooligan incidents
in the 1980s led chairman Ken Bates to propose erecting an electric fence to deter them from
invading the pitch, a proposal that the Greater London Council rejected.[81]
Since the 1990s, there has been a marked decline in crowd trouble at matches, as a result of
stricter policing, CCTV in grounds and the advent of all-seater stadia.[82] In 2007, the club
launched the 'Back to the Shed' campaign to improve the atmosphere at home matches, with
notable success. According to Home Office statistics, 126 Chelsea fans were arrested for
football-related offences during the 200910 season, the third highest in the division, and 27
banning orders were issued, the fifth-highest in the division.[83]

Rivalries
Main articles: West London derby, Arsenal F.C.Chelsea F.C. rivalry and Chelsea F.C.Leeds
United F.C. rivalry
Chelsea have long-standing rivalries with North London clubs Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
[84][85]
A strong rivalry with Leeds United dates back to several heated and controversial matches
in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly the 1970 FA Cup Final.[86] More recently a rivalry with
Liverpool has grown following repeated clashes in cup competitions.[87][88] Chelsea's fellow West
London sides Brentford, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers are generally not considered major
rivals, as matches have only taken place intermittently due to the clubs often being in separate
divisions.[89] A 2004 survey by Planetfootball.com found that Chelsea fans consider their main
rivalries to be with (in order): Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. In the same
survey, fans of six clubs (Arsenal, Fulham, Leeds United, QPR, Tottenham and West Ham
United) named Chelsea as one of their three main rivals.[90] In a 2008 poll conducted by the
Football Fans Census, Chelsea fans named Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United as their
most disliked clubs.[91]

Records
For more details on this topic, see List of Chelsea F.C. records and statistics.

Frank Lampard is Chelsea's all-time highest goalscorer.


Chelsea's highest appearance-maker is ex-captain Ron Harris, who played in 795 competitive
games for the club between 1961 and 1980.[92] The record for a Chelsea goalkeeper is held by
Harris's contemporary, Peter Bonetti, who made 729 appearances (195979). With 103 caps (101
while at the club), Frank Lampard of England is Chelsea's most capped international player.
Frank Lampard is Chelsea's all-time top goalscorer, with 211 goals in 648 games (20012014);[92]
he passed Bobby Tambling's longstanding record of 202 in May 2013.[93] Seven other players
have also scored over 100 goals for Chelsea: George Hilsdon (190612), George Mills (1929

39), Roy Bentley (194856), Jimmy Greaves (195761), Peter Osgood (196474 and 197879),
Kerry Dixon (198392) and Didier Drogba (200412 and 20142015). Greaves holds the record
for the most goals scored in one season (43 in 196061).[94]
Chelsea's biggest winning scoreline in a competitive match is 130, achieved against Jeunesse
Hautcharage in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1971.[95] The club's biggest top-flight win was an 80
victory against Wigan Athletic in 2010, which was matched in 2012 against Aston Villa.[96]
Chelsea's biggest loss was an 81 reverse against Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1953.[97][98]
Officially, Chelsea's highest home attendance is 82,905 for a First Division match against
Arsenal on 12 October 1935. However, an estimated crowd of over 100,000 attended a friendly
match against Soviet team Dynamo Moscow on 13 November 1945.[99][100] The modernisation of
Stamford Bridge during the 1990s and the introduction of all-seater stands mean that neither
record will be broken for the foreseeable future. The current legal capacity of Stamford Bridge is
41,837.[2] Every starting player in Chelsea's 57 games of the 201314 season was a full
international a new club record.[101]

Chelsea signed Fernando Torres for 50 million, then the record for a purchase by a British club.
Chelsea hold the English record for the highest ever points total for a league season (95), the
fewest goals conceded during a league season (15), the highest number of Premier League
victories in a season (29), the highest number of clean sheets overall in a Premier League season
(25) (all set during the 200405 season),[102] and the most consecutive clean sheets from the start
of a league season (6, set during the 200506 season).[103] The club's 210 aggregate victory over
Jeunesse Hautcharage in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1971 remains a record in European
competition.[104] Chelsea hold the record for the longest streak of unbeaten matches at home in
the English top-flight, which lasted 86 matches from 20 March 2004 to 26 October 2008. They
secured the record on 12 August 2007, beating the previous record of 63 matches unbeaten set by
Liverpool between 1978 and 1980.[105][106] Chelsea's streak of eleven consecutive away league

wins, set between 5 April 2008 and 6 December 2008, is also a record for the English top flight.
[107]
Their 50 million purchase of Fernando Torres from Liverpool in January 2011 was the
record transfer fee paid by a British club[108] until ngel di Mara signed for Manchester United
in August 2014 for 59.7 million.[109]
Chelsea, along with Arsenal, were the first club to play with shirt numbers, on 25 August 1928 in
their match against Swansea Town.[110] They were the first English side to travel by aeroplane to a
domestic away match, when they visited Newcastle United on 19 April 1957,[111] and the first
First Division side to play a match on a Sunday, when they faced Stoke City on 27 January 1974.
On 26 December 1999, Chelsea became the first British side to field an entirely foreign starting
line-up (no British or Irish players) in a Premier League match against Southampton.[112]
In May 2007, Chelsea were the first team to win the FA Cup at the new Wembley Stadium,
having also been the last to win it at the old Wembley.[113] They were the first English club to be
ranked #1 under UEFA's five-year coefficient system in the 21st century.[114] They were the first
team in Premier League history to score at least 100 goals in a single season, reaching the
milestone on the final day of the 200910 season.[28] Chelsea are the only London club to win the
UEFA Champions League, after beating Bayern Munich in the 2012 final.[4][115] Upon winning the
201213 UEFA Europa League, Chelsea became the first English club to win all four European
trophies and the only club to hold the Champions League and the Europa League at the same
time.[116]

Ownership and finances

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich


Chelsea Football Club were founded by Gus Mears in 1905. After his death in 1912, his
descendents continued to own the club until 1982, when Ken Bates bought the club from Mears'
great-nephew Brian Mears for 1. Bates bought a controlling stake in the club and floated
Chelsea on the AIM stock exchange in March 1996.[117] In July 2003, Roman Abramovich

purchased just over 50% of Chelsea Village plc's share capital, including Bates' 29.5% stake, for
30 million and over the following weeks bought out most of the remaining 12,000 shareholders
at 35 pence per share, completing a 140 million takeover. Other shareholders at the time of the
takeover included the Matthew Harding estate (21%), BSkyB (9.9%) and various anonymous
offshore trusts.[118] After passing the 90% share threshold, Abramovich took the club back into
private hands, delisting it from the AIM on 22 August 2003. He also took on responsibility for
the club's debt of 80 million, quickly paying most of it.[119]
Thereafter, Abramovich changed the ownership name to Chelsea FC plc, whose ultimate parent
company is Fordstam Limited, which is controlled by him.[120] Chelsea are additionally funded by
Abramovich via interest free soft loans channelled through his holding company Fordstam
Limited. The loans stood at 709 million in December 2009, when they were all converted to
equity by Abramovich, leaving the club themselves debt free,[121][122] although the debt remains
with Fordstam.[123] Since 2008 the club have had no external debt.[124]
Chelsea did not turn a profit in the first nine years of Abramovich's ownership, and made record
losses of 140m in June 2005.[125] In November 2012, Chelsea announced a profit of 1.4 million
for the year ending 30 June 2012, the first time the club had made a profit under Abramovich's
ownership.[125][126] This was followed by a loss in 2013 and then their highest ever profit of 18.4
million for the year to June 2014.[127]
Chelsea have been described as a global brand; a 2012 report by Brand Finance ranked Chelsea
fifth among football brands and valued the club's brand value at US $398 million an increase of
27% from the previous year, also valuing them at US $10 million more than the sixth best brand,
London rivals Arsenal and gave the brand a strength rating of AA (very strong).[128][129] In 2015,
Forbes magazine ranked Chelsea the sixth most valuable football club in the world, at
898 million ($1.37 billion).[11] As of 2015, Chelsea are ranked seventh in the Deloitte Football
Money League with an annual commercial revenue of 324.4 million.[130]

Sponsorship
Period
19751981
19811983
19831984
19841986
19861987
19871993
19931994
19941997
19972001
20012005
20052006
20062008
20082015

Kit manufacturer
Umbro

Shirt sponsor

Le Coq Sportif

Gulf Air

Chelsea Collection

Umbro

Adidas

none

none

Commodore
Amiga
Coors
Autoglass
Fly Emirates
Samsung Mobile
Samsung

20152020
20202023

Yokohama Tyres
TBD

Chelsea's kit has been manufactured by Adidas since 2006, which is contracted to supply the
club's kit from 2006 to 2018. The partnership was extended in October 2010 in a deal worth 160
million over eight years.[131] This deal was again extended in June 2013 in a deal worth 300
million over another ten years.[132][133] Previously, the kit was manufactured by Umbro (197581),
Le Coq Sportif (198186), The Chelsea Collection (198687) and Umbro again (19872006).
Chelsea's first shirt sponsor was Gulf Air, agreed during the 198384 season. The club were then
sponsored by Grange Farms, Bai Lin Tea and Simod before a long-term deal was signed with
Commodore International in 1989; Amiga, an offshoot of Commodore, also appeared on the
shirts. Chelsea were subsequently sponsored by Coors beer (199497), Autoglass (19972001),
Emirates (200105), Samsung Mobile (200508) and Samsung (200815).[134][135] Chelsea's
current shirt sponsor is the Yokohama Rubber Company. Worth 40 million-per-year, the deal is
second in English football to Chevrolet's 50 million-per-year sponsorship of Manchester
United.[134]

The Sauber F1 Team, an official partner of the club, displaying the Chelsea crest
The club has a variety of other sponsors and official partners, which include Gazprom,[136] Delta
Air Lines,[137] Sauber, Audi, Singha, EA Sports, Dolce & Gabbana,[138] Barbados Tourism
Authority, Atlas, AZIMUT Hotels, BNI, Indosat, Vietinbank, Nitto Tire, Orico, Guangzhou
R&F, Coca-Cola, Grand Royal, Digicel, Lucozade Sport, and Viagogo.[139]

Popular culture

Chelsea parade through the streets of Fulham and Chelsea after winning their league and cup
double, May 2010

In 1930, Chelsea featured in one of the earliest football films, The Great Game.[140] One-time
Chelsea centre forward, Jack Cock, who by then was playing for Millwall, was the star of the
film and several scenes were shot at Stamford Bridge, including the pitch, the boardroom, and
the dressing rooms. It included guest appearances by then-Chelsea players Andrew Wilson,
George Mills, and Sam Millington.[141] Owing to the notoriety of the Chelsea Headhunters, a
football firm associated with the club, Chelsea have also featured in films about football
hooliganism, including 2004's The Football Factory.[142] Chelsea also appear in the Hindi film
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.[143] In April 2011, Montenegrin comedy series Nijesmo mi od jue made
an episode in which Chelsea play against FK Sutjeska Niki for qualification of the UEFA
Champions League.[144]
Up until the 1950s, the club had a long-running association with the music halls; their
underachievement often provided material for comedians such as George Robey.[145] It
culminated in comedian Norman Long's release of a comic song in 1933, ironically titled "On the
Day That Chelsea Went and Won the Cup", the lyrics of which describe a series of bizarre and
improbable occurrences on the hypothetical day when Chelsea finally won a trophy.[16] In Alfred
Hitchcock's 1935 film The 39 Steps, Mr Memory claims that Chelsea last won the Cup in 63 BC,
"in the presence of the Emperor Nero."[146] Scenes in a 1980 episode of Minder were filmed
during a real match at Stamford Bridge between Chelsea and Preston North End with Terry
McCann (played by Dennis Waterman) standing on the terraces.[147]
The song "Blue is the Colour" was released as a single in the build-up to the 1972 League Cup
Final, with all members of Chelsea's first team squad singing; it reached number five in the UK
Singles Chart.[148] The song has since been adopted as an anthem by a number of other sports
teams around the world, including the Vancouver Whitecaps (as "White is the Colour")[149] and
the Saskatchewan Roughriders (as "Green is the Colour").[150] In the build-up to the 1997 FA Cup
Final, the song "Blue Day", performed by Suggs and members of the Chelsea squad, reached
number 22 in the UK charts.[151] Bryan Adams, a fan of Chelsea,[152] dedicated the song "We're
Gonna Win" from the album 18 Til I Die to the club.[153]

Chelsea Ladies

Katie Chapman, current captain of Chelsea Ladies


For more details on this topic, see Chelsea L.F.C..
Chelsea also operate a women's football team, Chelsea Ladies. They have been affiliated to the
men's team since 2004[154] and are part of the club's Community Development programme. They
play their home games at Wheatsheaf Park, the home ground of Conference South club Staines
Town.[155] The club were promoted to the Premier Division for the first time in 2005 as Southern
Division champions and won the Surrey County Cup in 200304, 200610, 2012, and 2013.[156]
In 2010 Chelsea Ladies were one of the eight founder members of the FA Women's Super
League.[157] In 2015, Chelsea Ladies won the FA Women's Cup for the first time, beating Notts
County Ladies at Wembley Stadium,[158] and a month later clinched their first FA WSL title to
complete a league and cup double.[159] John Terry, the current captain of the Chelsea men's team,
is the President of Chelsea Ladies.[160]

Players
First team squad
As of 5 January 2016.[161]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA
nationality.

No.
1
2
4
5

Position
GK
DF
MF
DF

6
7
8
9
10
12
13
14
15
16

DF
MF
MF
FW
MF
MF
GK
MF
DF
FW

For recent transfers, see 201516 Chelsea F.C. season.

Out on loan
[162]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one nonFIFA nationality.

No.

Reserves and Academy


For further information: Chelsea F.C. Reserves and Academy

Player of the Year

Position
GK
GK
DF
DF
DF
DF
DF
DF
DF
DF
MF
MF
MF
MF
MF

Frank Lampard was named Chelsea's Player of the Year a record three times.
Year
Winner
Year
Winner
Year
Winner
Year
Winner
Peter
1980
Clive Walker
1992
Paul Elliott
Frank
1967
2004
Bonetti
Lampard
1981
Petar Borota
Frank
1993
Charlie
Sinclair
Frank
1982
Mike Fillery
1968
2005
Cooke
Lampard
1994
Steve Clarke
1983
Joey Jones
David
2006
John Terry
Erland
1984
Pat Nevin
1969
1995
Webb
Johnsen
Michael
1985
David Speedie
2007
John
Essien
1996
Ruud Gullit
Eddie
1970
1986
Hollins
2008
Joe Cole
Mark
Niedzwiecki
1997
John
Hughes
Frank
1987
Pat Nevin
1971
2009
Hollins
Lampard
1998
Dennis
Wise
1988
Tony Dorigo
David
Didier
Gianfranco
Graham
1972
2010
1999
1989
Webb
Drogba
Zola
Roberts
Peter
Petr ech
2000
Dennis Wise 2011
1990
Ken Monkou
1973
Osgood
2012
Juan Mata
2001
John Terry
Andy
1974
Gary Locke 1991 Townsend
2013
Juan Mata
Carlo
2002
Charlie
Cudicini
Eden
1975
2014
Cooke
Hazard
Gianfranco
2003
Ray
Zola
Eden
1976
2015
Wilkins
Hazard
Ray
1977
Wilkins
Micky
1978
Droy
Tommy
1979
Langley

Source:[163]

Notable managers
For more details on this topic, see List of Chelsea F.C. managers.
The following managers won at least one trophy when in charge of Chelsea:
Name
Ted Drake
Tommy
Docherty
Dave Sexton
John Neal
John Hollins
Bobby
Campbell
Ruud Gullit
Gianluca Vialli
Jos Mourinho
Guus Hiddink

Period
Trophies
19521961 First Division Championship, Charity Shield
19621967 League Cup
19671974 FA Cup, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
19811985 Second Division Championship
19851988 Full Members Cup
19881991 Second Division Championship, Full Members Cup
19961998 FA Cup
FA Cup, League Cup, Charity Shield, UEFA Cup Winners'
19982000
Cup, UEFA Super Cup
20042007 3 Premier Leagues, 3 League Cups, FA Cup, Community
20132015 Shield
2009
FA Cup
2015[nb 1]
20092011 Premier League, FA Cup, Community Shield

Carlo Ancelotti
Roberto Di
2012[nb 2]
FA Cup, UEFA Champions League
Matteo
20122013[nb
Rafael Bentez 3]
UEFA Europa League

Management team
Position
First-team Manager
Assistant Manager
Technical Director
Goalkeeper Coach
Fitness Coach
Assistant Fitness Coach
Senior Opposition Scout
Medical Director
Head of Youth Development

Staff
Guus Hiddink
Steve Holland
Eddie Newton
Michael Emenalo
Christophe Lollichon
Chris Jones
Carlos Lalin
Mick McGiven
Paco Biosca
Neil Bath

Under-21 Team Manager


Under-18 Team Manager
Head of Match Analysis/Scout
International Head Coach

Adi Viveash
Joe Edwards
James Melbourne
Dermot Drummy

Source: Chelsea F.C.

Club personnel
Chelsea FC plc is the company which owns Chelsea Football Club. The ultimate parent company
of Chelsea FC plc is Fordstam Limited and the ultimate controlling party of Fordstam Limited is
Roman Abramovich.[164]
On 22 October 2014, Chelsea announced that Ron Gourlay, after ten successful years at the club
including five as Chief Executive, is leaving Chelsea in order to pursue new business
opportunities.[165] On 27 October 2014, Chelsea announced that Christian Purslow is joining the
club to run global commercial activities and the club do not expect to announce any other senior
appointments in the near future having Chairman Bruce Buck and Director Marina Granovskaia
assumed the executive responsibilities.[166]
Chelsea Ltd.
Owner: Roman Abramovich
Chelsea F.C. plc Board[164]
Chairman: Bruce Buck
Directors: Eugene Tenenbaum[167] and Marina Granovskaia[168][169]
Executive Board[164]
Club Secretary: David Barnard
Chairman: Bruce Buck
Directors: Eugene Tenenbaum and Marina Granovskaia
Head of Global Commercial Activities: Christian Purslow
Life President
Lord Attenborough (19232014)
Vice-Presidents
Peter Digby
Sir Peter Harrison
Joe Hemani

John Leigh
Anthony Reeves
Alan Spence
Source: Chelsea F.C.

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