Four Premier League winners from overseas and two popular homegrowns are the latest to swell the ranks of the Blues squad taking on Liverpool Legends at Stamford Bridge.
It is now less than a fortnight to go until the Chelsea Legends side coached by Roberto Di Matteo will return to the pitch, with tickets on general sale for the 3pm kick-off on Saturday 11 October, and he will be able to call upon two more key players from our history-making side of 2004/05.
While Claude Makelele famously anchored the midfield as we secured our first Premier League trophy, Tiago was more of an attacking force in the centre of the park and scored his most memorable goal with a screamer in the penultimate game at Old Trafford. Maka went on to be an equally crucial player in the side that made it back-to-back title wins the following season and later returned to Chelsea as part of the backroom staff.
Jody Morris and Jon Harley, who are also now signed up for next month’s fundraiser for the Chelsea Foundation and the Chelsea Players’ Trust, have been successful coaches in our Academy during their time and having come through our youth system themselves, were part of the cherished teams of the late 1990s and early 2000s that turned the club back into trophy-winners.
Skilful midfielder Morris remains to this day our youngest-ever debutant in the Premier League and while Harley could operate in midfield too, it was on the left flank he enjoyed his most memorable Chelsea day – playing a big part in a Wembley FA Cup semi-final win.
Also part of the squad in those years was Celestine Babayaro, our most-expensive teenage signing at the time he joined Chelsea. Among his campaigns in blue was our maiden voyage in the Champions League and he remained long enough to be a team-mate of Makelele and Tiago in 04/05.
More recently, striker Loic Remy contributed seven goals to our Premier League triumph in 2014/15. Now will be reunited with many from that title-winning team.
Today’s new six swells a squad already packed with all-time greats. Just look at this list!
John Terry, Eden Hazard, Katie Chapman, Gemma Davison, Joe Cole, Marcel Desailly, Petr Cech, Diego Costa, Gianfranco Zola, Carlo Cudicini, Ramires, Salomon Kalou, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Frank Sinclair, William Gallas, Jon Harley, Jody Morris, Gary Cahill.