Five years to the day after Roman Abramovich bought the club, Chelsea's official historian Rick Glanvill looks at our growth under the Russian, while club statistician Paul Dutton records five record-breaking years in facts and figures.
Luiz Felipe Scolari begins work as Chelsea manager today, before meeting the players for the first time when they report for pre-season training next Monday.
Midfielder Anderson Luis de Souza, or Deco, as most fans will know him joins us from Barcelona where he had spent the past four seasons. It is a move that reunites him with his international coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Chelsea community coaches joined young people from the Arndale estate and local councillors in Wandsworth on Tuesday to open a newly refurbished ball games area.
This is the game the purists and the punters have been looking forward to. Paddy Power make the Spaniards 11/10 to win the game in 90 minutes and 1/ 2 to make it to the final, the Russians on the other hand are the value team and a great 14/5 to win in 90 minutes.
Michael Ballack's Germany secured their place in the final of Euro 2008 last night thanks to Philipp Lahm's last minute winner, which saw Turkey expelled from the competition.
Joachim Löw, Germany's coach, believes Michael Ballack's infallible performances can be directly attributed to his experiences playing for Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League.
With Wimbledon well under way, Stamford Bridge has been playing host to a number of tennis aces as they prepare for one of the biggest tournaments of the year.
Euro 2008 still has another week to run and the next World Cup is a whole two years away but already one Chelsea player, John Mikel Obi, has assisted his nation in a big step towards the 2010 tournaement in South Africa.
Michael Ballack is the last remaining player from the current Chelsea squad in the European Championships. He will lead Germany in the semi-finals following a 3-2 win over Portugal.
The games are getting serious now and Holland v Russia looks like being a fantastic match. Paddy Power have made the Dutch 3/4 favourites because Holland have blown away everyone that has come in their path so far.
Chelsea Football Club has issued a statement regarding the family tragedy suffered by our player Khalid Boulahrouz, who spent last season on loan at Sevilla and is currently playing for The Netherlands at Euro 2008.
Luiz Felipe Scolari tonight enjoys the perfect opportunity to study one of the players under his charge when he becomes Chelsea manager - and he's a fan already.
Fresh from firing his side into tonight's Euro 2008 quarter-final clash with Portugal, Michael Ballack has given his backing to Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE)'s Unite Against Racism programme.
Claude Makelele, who announced his retirement from international football last night (Tuesday), ended his career with France three caps short of becoming the third player to achieve 50 caps whilst playing for Chelsea.
Despite Holland making nine changes to the team that beat France and Italy, they still convincingly beat Romania last night 2-0. Paddy Power have now made the Dutch 7/2 favourites to win Euro 2008, for schure!
Michael Ballack has been declared official Man of the Match for Germany's win over Austria last night, the second occasion a Chelsea player has won the commendation during Euro 2008.
Tennis is coming to Stamford Bridge this summer with the Millennium and Copthorne Hotels at Chelsea Football Club announced as the officially approved hotels to The Championships, Wimbledon 2008.
Michael Ballack became the first Chelsea player to score in Euro 2008 when he fired in a special free-kick, guaranteeing Germany a place in the quarter-finals.
Following the release of the new Barclays Premier League fixtures on Monday morning, a schedule for Chelsea's potential matches in four competitions can be compiled.
Incoming Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has been speaking a little about the leadership style he will bring to London when he begins his new work on July 1.
World Cup 2010 qualifiers for African nations continued over the weekend. For Ghana, with Michael Essien playing the full 90 minutes, there was a rare defeat.
Luiz Felipe Scolari has not long to wait to find out the opposition for his first competitive fixture in charge of Chelsea. The new Barclays Premier League fixtures are announced on Monday morning.
Chelsea players past and present have been discussing the appointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari, and all are in agreement that he will be a success at the club.
Graeme Le Saux was at Stamford Bridge today to launch the Sport 4 All Seasons package, which sees Chelsea team up with three London sporting institutions to offer the ultimate tours experience.
Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari joins us after completing five years with the Portuguese national team, where he is coaching Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho and José Bosingwa in this summer's European Championship.
The players are away but Chelsea's official statistician Paul Dutton remains behind to deal with more queries from supporters in the latest of his statistical surgeries.
The season may be over, but the work never stops for Chelsea magazine and the July edition is as packed as ever, with a number of features to keep you busy through Euro 2008 and the close season.
There was a strong Chelsea theme in the France team that drew 0-0 with Romania in Zurich tonight, with no less than three current Blues in the starting line-up.
The domestic football season may be over, but Chelsea are still proving a bit hit with two of the biggest stars in America's National Basketball Association.
European football in the Alps may be drawing all the headlines but many miles further south, World Cup qualification for African nations continues this weekend, including success for John Mikel Obi's Nigeria.
Among Chelsea's highly-decorated current squad there is just one former winner of the European Championships for nations and no holders of a World Cup winners medal. Several however have gone close.
Friday's deadline for season ticket renewals has now passed so applications for season tickets for the 2008/09 campaign will now be accepted from members who have 70 loyalty points or more.
This weekend marks the opening of Euro 2008, and while there is no English involvement there is still a heavy Chelsea presence in Austria and Switzerland, with no fewer than eight Blues taking part.
The countdown to Euro 2008 enters its final few days and three Chelsea players (including new signing José Bosingwa) look set to contest the second game on Saturday.
The first season-long betting challenge between Chelsea's very own Kerry Dixon and Paddy Power from the bookmakers of the same name is over - and Kerry gallantly accepts defeat.
Live from Stamford Bridge on Chelsea TV has gone weekly for the close season and for its appearance tonight, host Jason Cundy and guest Clive Walker will be taking your calls and emails.
With the relevant league campaigns across Europe now at an end, the list of club names to take part in next season's Champions League competition is now known.
Despite their reputation as the perennial chokers of world football (and their lack of Chelsea players!) Spain is the most popular team for punters at Euro 2008 reports our online bookie Paddy Power.
Each of our three Frenchmen were involved in their country's final warm-up game before Euro 2008, a narrow 1-0 victory over Colombia in Paris on Tuesday night.
Contrary to reports Chelsea Football Club has not reached agreement with any individual to become manager, nor have we sought permission from any organisation to talk to their manager.
The domestic season may be over with the European Championships about to begin but Chelsea players continue to talk on the club's official television channel. Petr Cech has been discussing life when the manager's job is passed on.
Club historian Rick Glanvill and statistician Paul Dutton look back on another epic season at Stamford Bridge, and find a range of remarkable happenings. All the stats from 2007/8 that you could possibly need.
The Chelsea adventure in the Middle East continued on Thursday as the travelling group of players and staff spent the day coaching at the Davis-Lewis centre in Jaffa, Israel.
The Blues Bar at Stamford Bridge will close for business at the end of this month and will be replaced by Frankie's Sports Bar and Grill at the beginning of the new season.
With only Wayne Bridge travelling to the Caribbean with England as Joe Cole, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard are all rested, online betting partners Paddy Power have the left-back at 14/1 to score at any point in the game.
Our second and final day in Jordan has seen the Chelsea playing and coaching staff offer their expertise to the football-hungry children and coaches of Amman, with help from Right to Play.
Fresh from completing a 72-hour bike ride to raise money for fighting breast cancer, Carl Magnay has joined his team-mates in the Middle East, and admits he wouldn't have it any other way.
Seven days after the disappointment of Moscow, Wednesday columnist Giles Smith is beginning to get the feeling back, and slowly but surely gaining some sense of perspective on the events at the Luzhniki Stadium.
Chelsea Football Club has embarked on a community tour in Jordan and Israel this week, using the power of football to bring people and communities together.
With another season behind us, and one that almost brought the biggest trophy in the club's history, Pat Nevin takes a professional look at Moscow's outcome and what a certain kick will mean to our captain.
The Champions League Final between Chelsea and Manchester United was watched in the United Kingdom by over half of all TV viewers tuned in at the time.
Euro 2008 warm-up preparations begin this week for the countries involved and there has already been match action for Chelsea players at various age levels.
Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Avram Grant has had his contract as manager terminated on Saturday. This follows meetings over the previous two days.
In a summary of the second Champions League Final since he took charge of the European governing body, Uefa President Michel Platini has spoken highly of the fans who attended the game and of John Terry.
Chelsea Football Club may no longer carry the pre-war nickname of 'The Pensioners' but senior supporters at Stamford Bridge are in the news with an award for our Education Department.
Chairman Bruce Buck (pictured) and legend Kerry Dixon join Neil Barnett Live From Stamford Bridge on Chelsea TV at 6.30pm tonight to look back on the Uefa Champions League Final and forward to summer transfers.
Frank Lampard, the first Chelsea player to score in a Champions League Final, believes that the better side lost out in Moscow on Wednesday evening, but is adamant that the Blues will return stronger for the experience.
Steve Clarke, Chelsea's assistant coach, knows just how hard it was for the Blues and our fans to be beaten in the Champions League Final on penalties.
Chelsea duty for Frank Lampard may be over for another season but the vice-captain has explained international action must end before he can turn his attention to contract negotiations.
Making history with a first Champions League Final appearance, Chelsea lost out on penalties to Manchester United after a penalty shootout concluded an enthralling 120 minutes of football at the Luzhniki Stadium.
Ashley Cole has won his race to play following yesterday's training knock on his ankle. In front of the full-back on the left wing, Florent Malouda has been selected in preference to Salomon Kalou.
Not long after midnight in Moscow, John Terry could be climbing the steps inside the Luzhniki Stadium to lift the European Cup high into the Russian sky. There is no other inspiration necessary.
Chelsea's official television channel will be the place for the earliest, longest and most in-depth coverage of tonight's historic Champions League Final.
It's the big one! - and although there is no chance that tipster Kerry Dixon can overhaul bookie Paddy Power in their season-long betting challenge, he will still take pleasure from coming out on top from the game the world is watching.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes his side will have to adapt their game to cope with our physical power, and admitted his side lack the experience of the Blues.
Frank Lampard, on the eve of the biggest game of his career, is refusing to let matters outside those taking place on the grass of the Luzhniki Stadium, cloud his view of the task in hand.
It's the one we've all been waiting for. Betting's biggest football match ever, the first all-English final, the mission to Moscow. It's Manchester United v Chelsea in the Champions League Final.
A day after arriving in Moscow, the Chelsea players have been out and about in Red Square. Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini are just two who have savoured the sights.
In Moscow on Wednesday night, former Chelsea Player of the Year Pat Nevin will join tens of thousands of the club's fans in savouring the occasion. In his column this week, he considers a night well-earned.
With the countdown to the Champions League Final now down to hours rather than days, Chelsea squad members continue to recount the memories that have stayed in their minds from watching the competition.
Few players down the years have enjoyed such an accomplished career with both Chelsea and Manchester United but despite having worn both shirts, Ray Wilkins is prepared to call the outcome of the biggest ever clash between the two clubs.
The Chelsea squad has landed in Moscow and as the Russian capital prepares for the biggest football event on the European stage, chelseafc.com sought the low-down on what the host nation is feeling as Wednesday draws near.
Both Moscow-bound and excited, Chelsea club historian Rick Glanvill and statistician Paul Dutton can wait no longer to provide their extensive preview to the big night.
On Wednesday, Ashley Cole is likely to have the unenviable task of marking double Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo. The defender spoke exclusively to Chelsea TV to outline his expectations.
Chelsea Football Club would like to wish all our fans travelling to Moscow a safe journey, and to ease your experience we would suggest certain observations.
After several near misses, the club is preparing for its first Champions League Final, yet within the squad there are no fewer than nine players who have been here before. We caught up with a few to share their experiences.
Nicolas Anelka, veteran of a Champions League Final eight years ago, believes our big players can be the difference against Manchester United on Wednesday.
Dan Petrescu has become the latest ex-Chelsea player to rate the Blues' chances in Moscow. He gave his views to chelseafc.com at last week's Star on a Stool event.
Just weeks before he joined Chelsea in 2004, Didier Drogba sampled defeat in a European final. It was a taste of something he is determined to avoid next week.
With the countdown to the Champions League Final now at four days to go, we continue to catch up with the first team squad for past memories of watching Europe's number one club fixture.
There was disappointment for Chelsea's France Under 17 international Gaël Kakuta as his country lost heavily to Spain in the European Championship Final but the player did not end the day totally empty-handed.
Joe Cole has been in the starting line-up for every Champions League game this season and as a True Blue, reaching the finals means all the more. chelseafc.com joined our artful dodger of tackles to review the Road to Moscow.
Last night Dan Petrescu took part in our third Star on Stool event at Stamford Bridge and fielded questions from True Blues keen to get the low-down on the Romanian's career with the club.
Ricardo Carvalho insists we have to win the Champions League this season, and that there is far more expectation on us than there was on his successful Porto side in 2004.
With just five days until the match football fans the world over will make sure to watch, chelseafc.com will be asking the Chelsea squad for outstanding memories from viewing Champions League Finals past.
A few places still remain for the chance to strut your stuff on the hallowed Stamford Bridge turf in support of our national charity partner CLIC Sargent.
The Champions League Final is understandably the centre of all Chelsea attention this week but Friday afternoon sees our Academy player, Gaël Kakuta, represent France in the final of the European Under 17s Championship.
Travellers around London this past fortnight may have noticed the city turning blue as the brand new adidas home kit for the 08/09 season takes up prominent positions.
The publishers of the famous Lonely Planet guidebooks have produced a free mini-guide to Moscow especially for Chelsea fans attending the Champions League Final.
The showpiece Final may not be until Wednesday, but festivities in Moscow will be beginning as early as Saturday, when the UEFA Champions Festival kicks off in the city's famous Red Square.
There are few players better versed in Champions League achievement than former Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly. He has told chelseafc.com how he rates our chances next week.
Petr Cech is the latest Chelsea star to receive a formal call-up for Euro 2008. He is one of three keepers in the Czech Republic's provisional 23-man squad.
Two sides who know each other better than most will go head-to-head in Moscow in a week's time but Avram Grant doesn't anticipate familiarity breeding an uneventful game.
Still early in his career, Salomon Kalou has admitted his excitement before next week's Champions League Final, and has been discussing the improvements he has made under Avram Grant's tutelage.
Peter Kenyon and Avram Grant met the Prime Minster, Gordon Brown at Downing Street to celebrate the achievements of tackling racism within the game and society.
Gaël Kakuta, one of the key players behind Chelsea's run to the FA Youth Cup Final, will play in another final on Friday after France's semi-final win in the European Under 17s Championships.
Avram Grant has given his views on Chelsea's injury situation plus some recent newspaper stories, speaking with optimism on the club captain's chance of leading the team onto the pitch in Moscow.
Put Bolton behind us, feel some pride in second place and somehow wait for a truly special night in Moscow is the message from columnist and former Chelsea Player of the Year Pat Nevin.
Chelsea new boy José Bosingwa has more to celebrate today as he has been named in the Portugal squad for Euro 2008, alongside new team-mates Paulo Ferreira and Ricardo Carvalho.
John Mikel Obi believes the disappointment of missing out on Premier League silverware can spur us on to European success when we meet Manchester United in Moscow next week.
Chelsea's early summer capture, José Bosingwa, has been speaking following his agreement to join for next season, explaining his decision to move from Portugal.
Cobham played host to the first national tournament for female college players with disabilities last week, and our Ladies World Cup winner Lorrie Fair was on hand to help out.
The season may be drawing to a close, but it remains all-go with the Chelsea magazine, packed with a host of features to see you through the next month.
Chelsea Football Club can confirm we have reached agreement with FC Porto for the transfer of Jose Bosingwa. The player is now in England to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.
After praising his players and congratulating Manchester United, Avram Grant would not rule John Terry out of the Champions League Final in Moscow next Wednesday.
61 CHELSEA GOAL Shevchenko turns Lampard's bouncing shot in from eight yards for the long-awaited goal. Cole's earlier shot was blocked and fell Lamps's way.
Alex comes into defence in place of Ricardo Carvalho with Michael Essien at right-back and Player of the Year Joe Cole returning in front of the Ghanaian.
Joe Cole, Chelsea Player of the Year, has been speaking ahead of today's game, picking out some of names that could prove influential in the final act in the league season.
Find yourself in the Chelsea dressing room before kick-off this afternoon and not own a past league championship winners' medal and you will be in a tiny minority. Two of those few looking for a first league medal, Salomon Kalou and John Mikel Obi, have been speaking of their desire to join the majority.
Today's final 90 minutes of league football may stir memories of 1995 when Manchester United lost the title race on the final day; Blackburn the beneficiaries, but 13 years ago, Avram Grant was involved in a final day shake-up of his own.
Chelsea youth team top scorer Gaël Kakuta will play in the semi-finals of the European Under 17 Championships after France's 2-0 group stage win over Switzerland.
With the Premier League title going to the last day of the season for the first time in nine years tomorrow, Avram Grant believes he will not need to look far to find out what is going on at the JJB Stadium.
On Sunday at 3pm, all the talking will stop. Before then, Avram Grant has been asked views on his own team, on Bolton, on Wigan and on the Friday comments of Sir Alex Ferguson.
As we approach the season's end, Players' Player of the Year Ricardo Carvalho admits he cannot recall a closer run-in, and insists now we must simply do our job.
Having had a little time to familiarise himself with the award, Joe Cole has been discussing how it feels to be the Chelsea Player of the Year for 2008.
Jeff Stelling, Sky Sports presenter and host of the Chelsea Player of the Year Awards, believes Wigan could be a tough test for Manchester United on Sunday.
Approaching a weekend needing little to build the sense of occasion, Chelsea club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton look in detail at what might tip a finely-balanced contest.
