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Name:	Wayne Bridge
Nationality:	English
Date of Birth:	05/08/1980
Height:	5' 10" (179cm)
Weight:	12st 11lbs (81.0kg)
Previous
Clubs:	Southampton, Fulham (loan)
Position:	Defender

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Wayne responded perfectly to the arrival at Chelsea of his long-time rival for the England left-back shirt by producing his best form since his debut season at Stamford Bridge.

 

Ashley Cole and he shared the 2006/7 season appearances between them but Cole's injury problems ensured Wayne started both the FA Cup and Carling Cup Final wins. The comeback from a broken ankle suffered in February 2005 was complete.

 

That was the first major injury of Wayne's career and was rotten timing with the team heading towards Chelsea's first championship for 50 years. The previous year he had been the outstanding player of the many new signings that joined on Roman Abramovich's arrival.

 

He signed for Chelsea for £7 million on the same day as Damien Duff, the long-serving Graeme Le Saux going in the other direction to Southampton where Wayne had come through the ranks and progressed to international standard.

 

In his third season on the south coast he was voted the Saints' Player of the Year during a then Premiership record run for an outfield player of 113 consecutive games. It was testament to his steady form, lack of bookings and unfamiliarity with injury.

 

His last game for Southampton was defeat in the FA Cup Final. It was time to move on up.

 

Initially his former supporters were none too happy but they were placated somewhat by Wayne's memorably enthusiastic celebration on scoring for Chelsea against their big rivals Portsmouth at Christmas 2003.

 

Chelsea fans enjoyed even more his Champions League winner at Highbury four months later! His goal that destroyed Arsenal's Champions League dream is one of the great Chelsea moments.

 

A member of England's Euro 2004 squad, although an unused one, he has occasionally been tried as a possible solution to his country's perennial left midfield problem.

 

Life under José Mourinho begun with Wayne having to overcome injuries that had previously escaped him but he was finding his best form of that campaign just before the ankle break.

 

On recovery, Wayne spent half-a-season on loan at neighbours Fulham where he rebuilt his form and fitness and won a place in England's 2006 World Cup squad, although again he didn't play.

 

Steady in defence and a bundle of energy going forward, his crossing was a potent weapon last campaign. Unfortunately a hip operation, carried out in the United States during the club's pre-season visit there, ruled him out at the start of the 2007/8 season.