Chelsea have had their fair share of world-class midfielders, tipped-toe the Stamford Bridge arena with grit and panache since the club’s creation.
These great midfielders embodied some of the qualities you’ll see in a true Chelsea player which comes with determination, zealousness and consistency.
From tireless workaholic to creative maestros, who left behind a legacy the Blues fans will forever remember, who’d you say is worthy to be named among Chelsea’s finest midfielders to have graced the English Premier League?
1. Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard, is undoubtedly a legend of the game, a dynamic central midfielder with a thunderous long-range strike whose legacy at Chelsea is unquestionable.
Chelsea’s greatest midfielder of all time is unarguably Frank Lampard, a majestic goalscorer signed from West Ham in 2001 for £11 million by Claudio Ranieri.
Lampard was so that his impact and consistency transcended the four walls of Stamford Bridge, throughout his illustrious career in the English Premier League.
He became a true legend and all-time leading scorer of the club by forging a name for himself through his goals, finding the net an incredible 211 times in 648 appearances.
2. N’golo Kante
Kante is a Chelsea legend who needs no introduction when it comes to the history of the game, but off the pitch, he is a man with an affable personality.
The dogged Frenchman could be likened to the modern era Makelele, with his skill set and how he covers every blade of grass with consistency in Chelsea’s colour.
He may not be as flamboyant as other players, but his tactical intelligence, ability to sniff out passes, and burst forward to score a goal once in a while make him a legend in Chelsea’s history.
3. Gianfranco Zola
Gianfranco Zola, a diminutive magician plucked from the relative anonymity of Sardinia, was exceptional at three clubs, two in Italy and one in England with Chelsea.
He etched his name into Chelsea’s history soon after he arrived from Parma in 1996, with his incandescent magic in his boots and a contagious smile on his face.
The Sardinia born was damn good that he was nicknamed the ‘Wizard’, due to the exceptional qualities he possessed.
4. Claude Makelele
Makelele is a renowned protagonist whose name and influence transcends the beautiful game itself.
Arriving from Real Madrid in 2003, the Frenchman revolutionized the holding midfield role and developed into an irreplaceable component of Chelsea’s success under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho.
His ability to read the game, break up opposition attacks, distribute the ball with precision, and most importantly his impact on the game helped carve a name for his role ‘Makelele Role’.
5. Michael Essien
From Accra to London, there was a staunch figure marauding through the centre of the pitch in that Blue shirt, clasping his chest and the ball on his foot for nine seasons.
Bison as he is fondly called, played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s success throughout his illustrious career at Stamford Bridge, winning two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, one League Cup and a Champions League in 2012.
The Ghanaian powerhouse undoubtedly paid his dues in front of the loud and cheerful Stamford Bridge fans, as such it isn’t out of place to rank him as one of the best midfielders to don Chelsea’s colour.
6. Cesc Fabregas
Cesc is arguably one of the finest passers of the ball in the modern era, having consistently and effectively shown us plenty of that mastery during his stints at Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea.
He endeared himself into the heart of Chelsea fans in the 2014-15 season, when he produced 18 assists and scored three goals in their race to win the title.
The midfield maestro would easily ranked among the Premier League’s greatest midfielders of all time, considering his impact, consistency and success both at Arsenal and Chelsea.
7. Eden Hazard
Hazard, a midfield maestro blessed with power, speed, deftness and creativity, quickly established himself in the Premier League following his move from Lille in 2012.
When he joined from Lille the Belgian instantly hit the ground running with deftness and certainty of genius with the ball on his foot.
For a player who is blessed with immense technical and tactical intelligence, he singlehandedly turned matches in Chelsea’s favour and amassed 252 appearances and netted 110 goals for Chelsea.
8. Ruud Gullit
Gullit’s position in the history of footballing greatness had been long secured before he arrived at Chelsea in 1995, but he further strengthened his case as a legend of the game by becoming one of the club’s most beloved players.
The Dutchman achieved staggering success with the Blues both as a player and coach, guiding Chelsea to the 1997 FA Cup triumph as the first black manager to win a major trophy in England.
As a versatile player renowned for his ability to play in multiple positions, his reign at Stamford Bridge was keenly felt and that makes him a fan favourite till date.
9. Michael Ballack
Ballack is a midfield maestro who rose from being a boo-boy to a crowd favourite, at Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Chelsea leaving behind some unforgettable memories for both club and country.
The German will undoubtedly go down in the history of Chelsea as one of their best midfielders, considering the incredible impact he had wearing the colours of the club between 2006 to 2010.
Ballack may not be as fulfilled as he wished, but his impact at all of the clubs he donned their colours, particularly Chelsea can’t be overlooked.
10. Dennis Wise
Wise has a very funny reputation which pegged him as a violent and hotheaded thug, but that doesn’t take away the fact that he was an amazing player.
Just at 1.68 metres tall, the diminutive midfielder was a tenacious, tough, committed and creative player who gave his all for Chelsea throughout his meteoric career at Stamford Bridge.
By all measures, Wise was a player with serious temperament and impulse control issues, liable to do damage to the opposition and sometimes teammate.
However, he was good enough to captain the Blues for almost eight years, garnering sufficient respect to be referred to as a legend.
Honorable Mentions
- Deco
- Mikel Obi
- Nemanja Matic
- Juan Mata
- Ramires
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