Chelsea FC’s 50 Greatest Players Of All-Time
39. Charlie Cooke: 1966-72, 1974-78
Charlie Cooke was a well-traveled winger who started his career with Aberdeen and Dundee before joining Chelsea for a club-record £72,000 in 1966. Cooke replaced another player on this list in Terry Venables and went on to become an equally important player in the club, making 373 appearances and scoring 30 goals.
He was yet another member of the successful Chelsea sides of the early 1970’s and played a vital role in helping the Blues win the 1970 FA Cup Final against Leeds United. With the Blues down 1-0 in the replay, Cooke provided the assist on the equalizer to Peter Osgood in a match they would win 2-1.
The winger was eventually sold to Crystal Palace in 1972 during Chelsea’s lean years though he did return to the club in 1974 when it was struggling in the Second Division. Cooke then helped the Blues earn promotion back to the top flight in 1977.
The midfielder followed his former teammate Eddie McCreadie to the United States where he played and managed for several clubs in both indoor and outdoor soccer leagues. Also like McCreadie, Cooke has settled in America and lives there to this day.
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