Chelsea FC’s 50 Greatest Players Of All-Time
22. Jimmy Greaves: 1957-61
Jimmy Greaves is not just one of Chelsea’s finest, but he is one of England’s finest. The prime of the striker’s career did not take place at Stamford Bridge, unfortunately, hence he finds himself in this somewhat high spot.
Greaves started his career with the Blues, developing a reputation as a lethal goalscorer over his four-season stint. He turned out on 169 occasions for the club, hitting the back of the net an impressive 132 times. It is safe to say that this was an indication of what was to come during the rest of his career.
To be fair to the Englishman, he had reason to leave the Blues as they plateaued in the middle of the First Division. But despite his premature departure, his name is still splattered all over the Chelsea record books. Greaves holds the club records for the most goals in a season (43) and the most hat-tricks all-time (13). His goal tally also leaves him seventh overall while he has scored five times in one game on three separate occasions.
Greaves was simply prolific and what’s more impressive is that his Chelsea career spanned the tender ages of 17-21. His skill was off-the-charts as would be proven in the even more successful seasons that would follow his Blues exit.
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