33. Pat Nevin: 1983-88
Pat Nevin is best known these days for causing a bit of controversy regarding Cesc Fabregas and contributing to the Chelsea FC official site but he is an all-time great for the club as well. Nevin joined Chelsea from Scottish outfit Clyde FC in 1983 for £95,000 and stayed at the club until 1988.
In those five years, the man known as “Wee Pat” for his small stature made 242 appearances and scored 45 goals. The pint-sized winger had tremendous pace and skill and was a pivotal player for the club. He helped the Blues win promotion to the top-flight in 1984 and was named the club’s Player of the Year for that season.
He continued to be a pivotal player and helped Chelsea become title contenders in 1986 although they fell short of the goal. His performances were still at a high level as he won the Player of the Year award for the second time.
When the Blues were relegated after the 1988 season, Nevin was sold for an incredible fee worth £925,000 to Everton, especially considering his initial price, where he played for four years. He continued playing professional football until 2000 and was an established Scotland international throughout his career.
Next: #32