Chelsea: Meireles, Cuadrado and Tiago among notable one-season players
By Nate Hofmann
To call this a list of the “best” one-hit wonders in Chelsea history is a bit of a misnomer. “Noteworthy” might be more like it.
With all the players who have come and gone, it’s quite the adventure to scroll through Chelsea’s dealings over the years. There are names that make you cringe, laugh, or dream of what could’ve been. Some elicit all three.
Perhaps the most interesting are those players whose Chelsea tenures barely spanned a full year. Some were aging mercenaries who picked up a medal or two and rode off into the sunset. Others were immediately laughed out of town, often falling into the nameless ranks of the loan army. There are two rules: no loanees, and no failed youth players. Apologies to Radamel Falcao and Josh McEachran. Players who were loaned out for a while before being sold do qualify. That’ll be a pretty common theme.
1. Tiago, 2004/05: 51 appearances, 4 goals, 3 assists
As one of the core pieces in Jose Mourinho’s first Chelsea side, Tiago’s short stint at the club was crucial to the immediate success of the 2004/05 season. In just one year, he lifted a Premier League trophy, League Cup, and even the Community Shield the following August.
As another testament to his importance, Tiago was fourth on the team in total appearances that season with a whopping 52.
It’s rare for a player to cement himself firmly in a team when he’s only around for one season, but the influx of new faces, including the manager, allowed Tiago to slot into the new-look midfield.
Tiago left for Lyon after Chelsea won the Community Shield, and went on to have successful stints at Juventus and Atletico Madrid. Tiago simply was a winning player, and it was no coincidence that Chelsea rose to the top with him in the squad.