Towards the end of May 2022, a consortium led by American businessman Todd Boehly completed the takeover of Chelsea FC, officially ending Roman Abramovich’s 19-year spell as the owner of one of the most recognisable clubs in world football.
The sale, which is priced at $2.5 billion with an agreement for further investment of $1.75 billion, became necessary after the UK government sanctioned Abramovich for his alleged links with Russian president Vladimir Putin, weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
While the football community has been polarised by the steps against Abramovich, the fact remains that the Russian oligarch’s time at Stamford Bridge is over. In 2003, Abramovich had bought Chelsea from its then owner Ken Bates for an estimated $190 million, intending to make Chelsea a global brand competing with the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid.
In the two decades since, Chelsea have not only enjoyed the most trophy-laden spell in their history, but also gone on to witness the impressive development of Cobham as one of the world’s best training centres and build foundations for their women’s team.
The 2021 FIFA Club World Cup was the final prize of the Abramovich era Chelsea FC
During the Abramovich era, Chelsea won more honours than any other English team, with a total of 21 trophies, including five Premier League and two UEFA Champions League titles, making their way to Fulham Road. As a new chapter begins in the club’s history, My Kolkata picks Chelsea’s best XI in the Abramovich era with the players who have etched their names in the annals of Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s best XI under Roman Abramovich
(Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Petr Cech is by some distance the greatest Chelsea goalkeeper in Premier League history Chelsea FC
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
Having signed for Chelsea in 2004, Cech kept 24 clean sheets in 35 appearances in his first Premier League season, conceding only 13 goals to help Chelsea win their first league title in half a century. In the years to come, Cech went on to become one of the best goalkeepers in Premier League. The shot-stopper retired with the highest number of Premier League clean sheets to his name and was instrumental in Chelsea’s first-ever Champions League triumph in 2012.
Branislav Ivanovic was the immovable object at right-back for Chelsea for close to a decade Chelsea FC
Right-back: Branislav Ivanovic
The Serbian sported the Chelsea blue for nine seasons and scored some iconic goals. Though his defensive skills initially were not from the top drawer, he practised hard to make himself indispensable in a position where the club had always struggled before him. He missed out on Chelsea’s European glory in Munich due to suspension, but his integral role en route to the final in 2012 spoke volumes of his calibre as a player of utmost value.
John Terry remains Chelsea’s most beloved captain till date Chelsea FC
Right centre-half: John Terry
Captain, leader, legend. Starting as a young kid who rose through the academy, Terry was Chelsea personified, forming the backbone of their defence since his debut in 1998 and lifting just about every trophy imaginable as Chelsea skipper. Never one to shy away from hard tackles or controversies, Terry may not have been the most elegant defender of his times, but he was certainly among the most effective on both ends of the pitch.
Cesar Azpilicueta has lifted every possible trophy at club level with Chelsea Premier League
Left centre-half: Cesar Azpilicueta
From Ricardo Carvalho to Thiago Silva, Chelsea have had the luxury of fielding some of the finest defenders of their generations alongside Terry over the years. But it is the Spaniard Azpilicueta who gets the nod for this lineup. Giving his all for the Chelsea shirt over the last decade, Azpilicueta has played at every imaginable position along the backline, be it at left-back under Jose Mourinho, at centre-back under Antonio Conte or in his most recent position at right-back under Thomas Tuchel. His discipline and positional sense have driven him to win every possible trophy with Chelsea.
No left-back in Premier League, let alone at Chelsea, could match Ashley Cole in his heyday Chelsea FC
Left-back: Ashley Cole
Among the easier picks in this XI is Cole, undoubtedly the greatest left-back Chelsea have ever seen. Acknowledged by Cristiano Ronaldo as the most difficult defender to play against, Cole arrived amidst acrimony from London rivals Arsenal, but made himself an instant hit with the fans with his marauding pace up and down Chelsea’s left flank. He was spectacularly consistent for the Blues and a nightmare for any winger who had to deal with his pace, poise and power.
N’Golo Kante has been irreplaceable in the middle of Chelsea’s midfield since 2016 UEFA
Defensive midfield: N’Golo Kante
N’Golo Kante takes his well-deserved spot in this team, having shown a work rate that is second to none since arriving from a title-winning Leicester City team in the summer of 2016. Invariably the first person to win back possession, Kante is also incredibly useful at pressuring opponents further up the pitch and creating chances for his team by forcing the opposition into mistakes. The most outstanding exhibition of Kante’s skills came in the 2021 UCL final against Manchester City, where he was named man of the match thanks to his comprehensive performance.
Claude Makelele was one of the unsung heroes of the first great Chelsea team of the Abramovich era UEFA
Defensive midfield: Claude Makelele
Partnering Kante in the middle of the park is his compatriot and fellow defensive powerhouse Makelele, who immortalised the number six position in Chelsea’s history. After an indifferent spell at Real Madrid, Makelele joined Chelsea at the dawn of the Abramovich era and grew into the all-action midfielder Chelsea needed to challenge for trophies. While not as dynamic as Kante in attack, Makelele’s greatest quality was to sit deep and pounce on any loose ball that came from the opposition, which made him a master at interceptions in both halves of the pitch.
Juan Mata was the most creative Chelsea player during his time at Stamford Bridge Chelsea FC
Right wing: Juan Mata
Fending off competition from Arjen Robben and Joe Cole, Mata seals his place in this XI, even though he only spent three seasons at Chelsea. During those years, Mata was Chelsea’s standout player, providing a ton of assists in a team that was not always the most coherent going forward. Mata’s most significant touch in a Blues’ shirt was setting up Didier Drogba’s equaliser at the death in the 2012 UCL final, a moment that instantly made him a part of Chelesea’s legacy. Even though the way the player and the club parted in 2014 was unfortunate, there is scope for little debate that the diminutive midfielder played his best football while at Chelsea.
As the club’s all-time top scorer, Frank Lampard is a living legend at Chelsea Chelsea FC
Attacking midfield: Frank Lampard
Super Frankie Lampard is a chant that still resonates around Stamford Bridge and for good reason. Even though it has been seven years since he left Premier League, Lampard remains one of the league’s most prolific midfielders, besides being Chelsea’s all-time top goalscorer with 211 strikes — a frankly ridiculous feat for someone who is not a forward. Worshipped by the fans, Lampard could do it all, from hammering in long-rangers and scoring from the dead ball to providing exquisite assists and dispatching penalties with authority. Were it not for Lampard, a lot of Chelsea fans may never have fallen in love with the club in the first place.
Eden Hazard entertained fans at the Bridge like no other between 2012 and 2019 Premier League
Left wing: Eden Hazard
Arriving from Lille in France for what turned out to be a bargain fee, Hazard exceeded all expectations in West London. The most valuable player for Chelsea in their Europa League victory in 2019, Hazard had the unteachable quality of creating something out of nothing and could lift the whole team on his back and steer them over the line under pressure. His magnetic dribbling, graceful striking and intricate interplay with fellow attackers made him the most watchable Chelsea player after Gianfranco Zola. His magic will never be forgotten by the Chelsea faithfuls.
Always a man for the big occasion, Didier Drogba was the most potent striker Abramovich brought to the club UEFA
Striker: Didier Drogba
“Born is the King” reads the banner adorning the Shed End at Stamford Bridge on every single match day. Having turned Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium into his favourite hunting ground, Drogba could not stop scoring in finals, especially at Wembley. His greatest act for the club was reserved for the 2012 UCL final when he scored Chelsea’s equaliser in normal time before putting away the penalty that delivered the holy grail of the Champions League. A phenomenon on and off the field, Drogba had once helped stop a civil war in his native Ivory Coast. He returned to Chelsea in 2014-15 and left a Premier League champion once more, returning Chelsea to the pinnacle of English football.
Jose Mourinho was the man to thrust greatness on Chelsea on after the Abramovich takeover Chelsea FC
Manager: Jose Mourinho
The revolving door of managers under Abramovich have seen some of the world’s most decorated coaches step in to try and live up to the Russian’s demands. However, only one man has been hired twice as a permanent manager by Abramovich. That man will be remembered for an eternity by Chelsea fans as the Special One. Arriving in 2004 to kickstart the Chelsea revolution aided by the Russian’s ever-open purse, Mourinho broke the duopoly of Manchester United and Arsenal in England, making the Blues a force to be reckoned with. Consecutive Premier League championships arrived in 2005 and 2006. Mourinho’s homecoming in 2013 resulted in a third league crown two years later, taking him to the very top in the list of Chelsea’s managerial heroes.