Chelsea’s Best Ever XI: Who makes the cut?

Chelsea’s Best Ever Starting XI (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper - Petr Cech 

Without a doubt Chelsea’s best-ever goalkeeper, and in my opinion the greatest goalkeeper in Premier League history.

Cech played a staggering 494 games for the Blues, winning 13 major trophies in the process, including 4x Premier Leagues, 4x FA Cups, 3x League Cups, 4x Community Shields, 1x UEFA Europa League and of course, the UEFA Champions League in 2012, which he played a significant role in.

Right-Back - César “Dave” Azpilicueta 

The Spanish international made over 500 appearances for the Blues and captained Chelsea to a UEFA Champions League title in the 2020/2021 season.

I’m addition, Dave also won 2x Premier Leagues & 2x Europa Leagues with the Blues, cementing himself as one of Chelsea’s greatest leaders.

Center-Back - John Terry

The perfect defender. John Terry grew up as a blue and never looked back, with 717 appearances as a blue, the Englishman won everything at his boyhood club and is known as Chelsea’s greatest captain of all time, and he’ll be the captain for this team as well.

Didier Drogba said about the iconic number 26, "John Terry will put his head where I won't put my feet" a quota that describes JT’s commitment to the club. Captain Leader Legend.

Center-Back - Ron Harris

We’re going even further back in time for this time, Ron Harris might not have won as much as some other Chelsea legends, but in his 19-year spell, Harris made the most appearances in Chelsea’s history with 795 games played. A true blue legend.

Left-Back - Ashley Cole 

The best left-back in Premier League’s history. Ashley Cole became a Chelsea player after a transfer from arch-rivals Arsenal, the Englishman won every domestic competition available at Chelsea, being a defensive mastermind consistently in his eight-year spell at the club.

Right Midfielder - Frank Lampard 

No need for an explanation about this selection. 

Signed from West Ham back in 2001, the iconic number 8 would go on to become Chelsea’s best-ever midfielder and top scorer with 211 goals. 

Lampard made an incredible 517 appearances at Stamford Bridge, playing a crucial role in securing back-to-back Premier League titles, four FA Cup victories, and the prestigious Champions League and Europa League trophies.

Left Midfielder - N’golo Kante

After shocking the world and winning the league with Leicester City, Chelsea acquired the humble Frenchman in one of their best signings in recent years, Kante’s incredible work rate and defensive abilities made teams not know what to do to get past him.

Manchester City, one of the best clubs in the world, tweeted “No changes at the break and little chances so far this half - Kante has been everywhere all game, if we can bypass him we might be in business!”, which sums up Kante’s contribution to Chelsea and his unique abilities.

Attacking Midfielder - Cole Palmer

I know what you're thinking, it is way too soon to include Palmer in the starting eleven, but in only one season, Cole Palmer gave Chelsea fans a feeling they haven't felt in years. Creating chances, scoring goals, and being Chelsea’s light of hope in these times, Cole Palmer doesn't need much more time to cement himself in this XI, and because of my belief in him, he's on it already.

Right Winger - Gianfranco Zola

One of the best footballers of all time, Zola deserves a spot in this Chelsea team without a doubt, with 120 goal contributions in 312 games for the Blues.

In 1997, Chelsea won their first FA Cup in 27 years, and the talented Italian player clinched the prestigious Football Writers' Association (FWA) Player of the Year award for his outstanding performance that season.

Left Winger - Eden Hazard

Chelsea splashed £32m on the Belgium talent, who proved to be a superstar. 

Hazard wasted no time becoming the driving force for the Blues, consistently delivering goals and assists during an incredible seven-year tenure at Stamford Bridge, being compared to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in his prime shows how good he really was.

Striker - Didier Drogba

Saved the best for last, for the striker position there’s no doubt, the iconic number-11 showed up when Chelsea needed him the most, scoring 10 goals in 10 finals, winning 10 trophies, including his 88th-minute equalizer against Bayern Munich that forced extra-time in the final, and converting the winning penalty in the shootout to seal his place in Chelsea history and giving the Blues their first-ever UEFA Champions League.

Honorable Mentions 

Thibaut Courtois, Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic, Michael Essien, Claude Makaelele, Diego Costa, and many more could've easily made this squad, and deserve recognition for their performances at Chelsea as well.

Chelsea has been home to some of the greatest players and legends in football history. In my opinion, these 11 players are the absolute best that Chelsea has ever seen. And we can only imagine the unstoppable force they could've hypothetically been if they all played together in their prime.