Opening strike

Signed in the summer of 1996 from Lazio, Di Matteo made an immediate impression on Blues fans when he scored the only goal in our home opener against Middlesbrough with a 25-yard strike four minutes from time. As memorable as the goal was his iconic celebration as he lay on the ground with his arm raised while his team-mates joined him for a group photo.

Ending the drought

Chelsea had not won a major trophy for 26 years when we met Boro again in the 1997 FA Cup final but Di Matteo gave us the perfect start when he ran unchallenged from inside his own half before unleashing a 30-yard screamer which went in off the underside of the crossbar after only 43 seconds as we lifted the trophy after a 2-0 win.

Sealing the deal

After scoring another long-range stunner in our League Cup semi-final victory over Arsenal in 1998, Di Mateo was again on target when we met Boro in another Wembley final. Frank Sinclair had given us the lead with an extra-time hearer before Di Matteo sealed another 2-0 victory when he turned in Gianfranco Zola’s corner from close range.

Another final strike

The Italian made it three goals in three Wembley finals in the last FA Cup final to be played at the venerable old ground in 2000 when he pounced after David James had flapped at a Zola free-kick and lashed the ball home from close range for the only goal against Aston Villa.

Returning hero

Di Matteo’s goal against Villa was sadly be the last goal of his playing career as he suffered a triple leg fracture the following season which forced him to retire at 31, However, he would add to his legendary status at the club in 2012 when he took over as caretaker manager after the departure of Andre Villas-Boas in March and led the Blues on an incredible run which culminated in an FA Cup final victory over Liverpool and our first-ever Champions League title after we overcame the odds to beat Barcelona in the semi-finals and Bayern Munich in their own stadium in the final.