Section » Player Profiles
CARLO CUDICINI
Much like his successor Petr Cech, Carlo Cudicini was a virtual unknown when Chelsea rescued him from Castel di Sangro. However, the extent of Cudicini’s talent was known by his fellow Italian Gianluca Vialli, who initially signed him on loan in 1999. Nine and half years and 141 league appearances later, Carlo Cudicini had firmly cemented himself ...
More Articles
MICHAEL BALLACK: DIAMOND GEEZER
Who is your favourite, current Chelsea player: Terry, Lampard, Drogba or Joe Cole, possibly? Chelsea have plenty of imposing characters, world class players in almost every position but I’m betting that fewer than 2% of people reading this will have said Michael Ballack. Since Michael joined Jose Mourinho’s ...
THE BALLAD OF ANDERSON LUIS DE SOUZA, AKA DECO
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. When Deco joined Chelsea at the start of the season it seemed as if we had managed a major transfer coup. The neat playmaker arrived from Barcelona on a three year deal for £8m on the last day of June 2008, but by the first day of July 2009 – when the transfer window ...
IN GUUS WE TRUST!
Chelsea’s current interim manager Guus Hiddink is a legend in footballing circles and tellingly, has achieved success wherever he has chanced his hand. Hiddink, born in November 1946, started his career as a player with De Graafschap in his native Holland. His time there was punctuated by an unsuccessful ...
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO SAM DALLA BONA?
In July 2002, the mercurial and talented midfielder Sam Dalla Bona left Chelsea under a cloud. His refusal to sign a contract extension had angered Chelsea, as their statement at the time confirms.”In view of the fact that Sam Dalla Bona has refused to sign an extension to his current contract, ...
MICHAEL ESSIEN – THE HEARTBEAT OF CHELSEA
The man who once had a trial at Manchester United has turned into one of Europe’s most revered midfielders at Chelsea and the good news is: he’s here to stay. In the summer of 2008 Michael Essien put pen to paper and signed a new five-year contract with the Blues, trying him to the club until ...
PLAYER PROFILE – DIDIER DROGBA
He is the embodiment of what modern-day football fans are supposed to despise. First, there’s the diving. Then there’s the rolling around in mock agony which often accompanies the diving. And of course, there’s the moaning. And the moaning. And the moaning. And the moaning. But somehow, for us ...
PLAYER INTERVIEW: LIAM BRIDCUTT
Young midfielder Liam Bridcutt has issued a strong statement of support for his fellow Chelsea team-mates ahead of their crucial FA Youth Cup semi-final second leg against Aston Villa on Wednesday night.18-year-old Bridcutt was the top appearance maker for Chelsea’s youth side last season but is ...
PLAYER PROFILE – FRANCO DI SANTO
After adding Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea’s squad in the January transfer window, Avram Grant also completed the signing of 18-year-old Franco Di Santo to very little media fanfare. But with the young Argentinean striker tipped by many to emulate the legendary Diego Maradona, he ...
Comments Off • Read this story »
PLAYER PROFILE – BRANISLAV IVANOVIĆ
23 year old Serbian defender Branislav Ivanović became Avram Grant’s second signing of the January transfer window, following on from the £15m signing of Nicolas Anelka last week. The versatile Ivanović can play anywhere across the back four- Gallas-esque- and could be seen as the long term replacement ...
Comments Off • Read this story »
PLAYER PROFILE – NICOLAS ANELKA
After weeks of speculation and plenty of press gossip, Avram Grant finally got his man as the long-awaited signing of Nicolas Anelka was announced on Friday evening. It is a huge relief for Grant, who has seen strikers Claudio Pizarro and Andriy Shevchenko misfire and Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba ...
PLAYER PROFILE – ASHLEY COLE
The signing of England left back Ashley Cole was confirmed about one hour after the close of the transfer window, with William Gallas and £5m heading in the direction of the Emirates Stadium. The athletic attacking fullback was subject to an incredibly long transfer saga, with speculation lasting the ...
PLAYER PROFILE – KHALID BOULAHROUZ
Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz put pen to paper to sign a three year contract at Chelsea almost immediately after The Blue’s 3-0 win over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. The versatile defender, “multi-functional” in José-speak, is a centre half by trade, but is also comfortable at right ...
