Chelsea’s top 5 French players of all time
By George Perry
Claude Makelele: 2003-2008
Appearances: 217
Trophies: Premier League (2), FA Cup, League Cup (2), Community Shield
Having your signature move or pose named after you is a solid legacy. Claude Makelele achieved much more, having his position named after him: the Makelele.
Makelele was an unheralded, somewhat disparaged player prior to arriving at Chelsea. His natural sense and style of play required a revolution in the game, which in turn required a manager capable of creating that revolution. Claudio Ranieri brought Makelele to Stamford Bridge, but Jose Mourinho made him great.
Claude Makelele was the pivot-point of Jose Mourinho’s 3-man midfield. Makelele’s positional sense, control and tackling enabled Michael Essien and Frank Lampard to play box-to-box as playmakers and goal-scorers. Without Makelele’s deep-lying support, Lampard’s defensive duties would have slowed – if not precluded – his march to being Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer.
Makelele only scored two goals for Chelsea, including a 20-yard screamer against Tottenham Hotspur.
Makelele continued to antagonize the Spurs long after his Chelsea career ended. In 2014, Spurs manager Les Ferdinand said “the worst thing that happened in this league was Claude Makelele.”
Legend.
Next: Frank Lebouef