Chelsea are one of English football’s most legendary clubs, yet much of their success has come since the turn of the millennium with the arrival of Roman Abramovich in 2003. Under the Russian billionaire’s watch, the Blues have won five Premier League trophies, two UEFA Champions Leagues, and two Europa League cups. In the last 20 years, Chelsea have gone from an also-ran to a major player in world football. 

The Blues won the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League for the second time. It is a trophy that the Blues have become a regular contender for annually. Silverware is never far off for the Blues. Thanks to their success under Abramovich, Chelsea are now one of the Premier League’s best-supported clubs the world over. In 2021, Chelsea had 93.4 million followers on social media, the fifth-most in the world of football. 

About Chelsea

Chelsea Football Club was founded on 10 March 1905 in The Rising Sun pub on Fulham Road. Businessman Gus Mears had purchased the Stamford Bridge athletics complex the year prior. He sought to turn Stamford Bridge in to a football ground and needed a team to play there. 

Mears initially offered the football ground to Fulham Football Club - Chelsea’s modern-day West London Derby rival. Fulham turned down Mear’s offer of Stamford Bridge influencing the businessman to create his own club. Mears considered naming the new football team Stamford Bridge FC, London FC, and Kensington FC. However, after much deliberation, he settled on Chelsea FC, the borough next to Fulham.

Chelsea found much of their success in the 1900s in cup tournaments. In 1955, the Blues won their only First Division title of the century. Chelsea earned a reputation for signing big name players but consistently failed to secure success on the pitch. They bounced between the First and Second Divisions multiple times. 

Abramovich’s arrival changed the club’s fortunes. Big named players and coaches have all arrived since the Russian bought the club. Despite the success of the last two decades, it is believed Abramovich may not have bought Chelsea had the team not qualified for the Champions League at the end of the 2002-03 Premier League season. 

Bet on Chelsea

Leading sportsbooks offer betting markets on Chelsea each week of the football season. The long football campaign provides bettors with the opportunity to wager on Chelsea in a variety of ways. Bettors can wager on the Blues as the outright winner of the Premier League or domestic cup competitions. 

There is the opportunity to bet on one-off matches, players, correct scores, goals, and more. Special offers on big games in the league or Champions League are also available with major bookies.

Bettors have the chance to select bets on Chelsea in the transfer market and which player(s) will arrive at Stamford Bridge next. With the club potentially changing their manager every season, bettors can also wager on which coach will take charge at Stamford Bridge next – or if Thomas Tuchel is fired. 

Chelsea Players

Chelsea are one of the biggest spenders in the Premier League every year. Since 2000, Chelsea have spent over £2 billion on transfers. In recent years, the club have increased their spending on players signing the likes of Timo Werner from RB Leipzig and Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen. The two players helped lead Chelsea to the 2020-21 Champions League trophy with Havertz scoring the winner in the final. 

While the two forwards are stars at Stamford Bridge, the most important player at the club currently is defensive midfielder N’Golo Kante. The World Cup winner is a workhorse that never stops. Much of Chelsea’s success in attack comes from Kante’s tireless work in midfield. 

However, the club's record transfer is Romelu Lukaku with Chelsea splashing out £97.5 million to bring rhe Belgian striker back to the club where is started his career.

Chelsea Honours

First Division/Premier League

Winners (6): 1954–55, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2016–17

Second Division/First Division/Championship

Winners (2): 1983–84, 1988–89

FA Cup

Winners (8): 1969–70, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2017–18

Football League Cup/EFL Cup

Winners (5): 1964–65, 1997–98, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2014–15

FA Charity Shield/FA Community Shield

Winners (4): 1955, 2000, 2005, 2009

Full Members' Cup

Winners (2): 1985–86, 1989–90

UEFA Champions League

Winners (2): 2011–12, 2020–21

UEFA Europa League

Winners (2): 2012–13, 2018–19

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

Winners (2): 1970–71, 1997–98

UEFA Super Cup

Winners: 1998

Chelsea All-Time Top Goalscorers

1. Frank Lampard – 211 goals
2. Bobby Tambling – 202 goals
3. Kerry Dixon – 193 goals
4. Didier Drogba – 164 goals
5. Roy Bentley – 150 goals 
6. Peter Osgood – 150 goals

Chelsea Legends

Frank Lampard is one of the greatest players to wear the Chelsea shirt. Lampard joined the club in 2001 from West Ham and went on to play 648 games in all competitions scoring a club record 211 goals. While playing for Chelsea, Lampard played alongside two other legendary players, John Terry and Didier Drogba. 

Terry wore the captain’s armband for the club during most of his career and appeared in 717 games in all competitions. Drogba had two stints at Stamford Bridge playing 381 games and scoring 164 goals, fourth-most in the club’s history. Drogba helped the club win the 2011-12 Champions League and was a part of four Premier League titles. 

Here are some of the best players to put on a Chelsea shirt:

• Bobby Tambling
• Peter Bonetti
• Petr Cech
• Ashley Cole
• Marcel Desailly
• Kerry Dixon
• Didier Drigba
• Ron Harris
• Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
• Branislav Ivanovic
• Frank Lampard
• Peter Osgood
• John Terry
• Ray Wilkins
• Dennis Wise
• Gianluca Vialli
• Gianfranco Zola
• Eden Hazard

Chelsea Managers 

Since the arrival of Abramovich, Chelsea have hired some of the biggest names in world football to guide the club. Jose Mourinho is one of the most legendary men to coach the team. Mourinho led Chelsea to the forefront of European football. Meanwhile, he became one of the world’s most famous managers thanks to the club’s success. Carlo Ancelotti, Rafael Benitez, Antonio Conte, and Frank Lampard have all overseen the club since 2009. 

Thomas Tuchel is Chelsea’s current manager. In his first half season with the club, Tuchel won the Champions League and led Chelsea to the FA Cup Final. Abramovich's desire to win sees the club change managers regularly. He isn’t afraid to sack a manager. Tuchel’s predecessor was club legend Lampard, who was sacked 18 months into the job.