78 replies to this topic

[shedpensioner]

We keep on mentioning the term 'Legend' when mentioning players.

So I would be keen to know how others define a Legend for us.

Is it that they played in a successful team or that they performed above par in an average team?

Did they do something outstanding?

Were they a cult hero?

Was it due to length of service?

I'd like to hear everyone elses views!

[shedpensioner]

Oh for my Legend it has to be Kerry Dixon, and I think that is because he over performed in an average team, plus thats when I started to watch Chelsea, so he was the biggest star at the time!

[Zola]

I guess if you have been involved for a long time with the club and played important roles obtaining major successes?

[mad_mac]

Tenure, were they part of our youth team, success relative to the clubs success during their time here.  Did they show passion for the club and connect with the fans while they were here?

Some of these are more important than others, but that's where I would start

[loz]

For me it has less to do with ability and more to do with attitude over their time with the club and, most importantly, a bit of good old fashioned commitment to the cause.  Granted a degree of ability is normally required but it isn' the predominant factor.

Finest example for me is Erland Johnsen - not the greatest defender we ever had but definitely a legend in my eyes.

[dkw]

I agree, the best players dont automatically become club legends (though it helps if they are good). I loved players like Steve Clarke, John Bumstead, Micky Droy etc (anyone see a link here). Not the best players we have ever had and not names that people would think of first when thinking of Chelsea legends, but certainly players that gave their all for the cause and were just something special for one reason or another.

[Seven Times]

Out of the current team, these players will go down as legends for me


Cech
Terry
Lampard
Drogba

When I was a kid, it was the likes of Di Matteo, Zola and Wise.

[shedpensioner]

Zola will always be a legend, and even the older fans will speak of him in the same breath as GOD!

I also agree with what most say, it doesn't have to be a great player or even a player in a great team, its just something that can't be defined, its just something we love about that player!

[BumsteadCFC]

1.  A legend almost always will have played for us for a 10 year period or very close to.  Its hard to think of someones Chelsea career as legendary when it lasts for just a few seasons.  So, tenure is for me an important component.

2.  Really related to the above is loyalty.  Whilst players like Speedie, Walker, Spackman and Dorigo had great careers for us when push came to shove they jumped like rats from a sinking ship when it suited them.  I don't rate any of the above as Chelsea legends for their lack of club loyalty.  In Poyet and Duries case by joining Spurs they will never be regarded as anything other than Judas'.  

3.  Quality of player.  Chelsea fans like all fans really appreciate 2 things in a footballer:  skill and effort.  Players like Zola had skill in abundance whereas Bumstead was more of a trier and gave 100% commitment to the Chelsea cause, both equally admirable traits.  

So, to summarize these are my criteria:
Length of service, loyalty, and quality of play.

These are my legends from my time following Chelsea:  
John Bumstead
Kerry Dixon
Steve Clarke
Dennis Wise
Gianfranco Zola
JT
Frank Lampard.

Others I regard as cult heroes would be: Pat Nevin, Dan Petrescu, Luca Vialli and Joey Jones (there are others, these are a small sample).  I would stop short of calling them legends though simply because they werent here long enough.  

My 3 tiered system is thus:
1.  Legends = Great play + length of service + loyalty.
2.  Cult heroes =  Great play + loyalty (didnt leave club with bad blood).  
3.  Player = anyone who played for Chelsea.

Ive given this a lot of thought in the past Id be interested to know what people think of my criteria.

[midlandblue]

A player can also become a legend by doing something special in a BIG game.

If Kalou scores the only goal (an overhead kick) in The Champions League Final then he would have to be classed as a legend.

Or is that pushing it to far.

[Westway]

A legend is someone who does so much for your club you never forget them, so mine would be,

Osgood
Dixon
Zola
Terry
Lampard.

[loz]

Just realised I didn't put my list on my post.

I am not going to go right back to the 50s and 60s as I wasn't alive then so am going to limit it to players from mid 70s onwards (either starting or mid career).  With that in mind for me it would be:

Kerry Dixon
Peter Bonetti
Steve Clarke
Charlie Cooke
Micky Droy
John Bumstead
Ron Harris
Ian Hutchinson
Erland Johnsen
Peter Osgood (maybe cheating a little there as I am using his brief return as making him meet my criteria!)
Dennis Wise
Gianfranco Zola
John Terry
Frank Lampard

[Nibs]

 midlandblue, on 15 December 2011 - 11:00 AM, said:

A player can also become a legend by doing something special in a BIG game.

If Kalou scores the only goal (an overhead kick) in The Champions League Final then he would have to be classed as a legend.

Or is that pushing it to far.

I think you know the answer to that MB!

Don't woryy though - Sturridge WILL become a Legend.

[Zeta Orionis]

For me legends are few and far between. There are great players we've had, the likes of Wise, DI Matteo, Le Saux, Hasselbaink, Robben, Cech, Drogba, etc...

But for me the only players in recent years I'd add to the legend list would be:

Lampard
Terry
Zola

But it's quite a personal thing really, who you in particular define as a legend.

[54veteran]

Can't talk about legends without mentioning Jimmy Greaves, who achieved that status at SB while still a teenager. Alas, no video footage of his time with us but the stats speak for themselves.

[evissy]

My story with Chelsea started with Gullit so I can only mention players after that time.

Definite ones:
Wise
Zola
Terry
Lampard

When Drogba finishes his career with us I think he is entitled to that honor. He was a key part of our double winning squad and with his goals in all the finals he's scored he needs to be up there. I know his antics and diving puts off many people but when he is on he is one player who is completely unplayable and that is not common in any club(can be compared with C.Ronaldo, Messi, Zidane).

Cech will be there as well. Such a lovable guy and one of the best in business. Great ambassador for football and this club. Humble man. Just like Zola was.

[Katon]

 midlandblue, on 15 December 2011 - 11:00 AM, said:

A player can also become a legend by doing something special in a BIG game.

If Kalou scores the only goal (an overhead kick) in The Champions League Final then he would have to be classed as a legend.

Or is that pushing it to far.

Wayne Bridge produced one of our most special moments in the past decade and nobody thinks he's a legend. Joe Cole scored brilliant goals in two different title showdowns with Man U, but he didn't make any of the lists in this thread. Doing something special helps, but longevity and the right attitude are a lot more important.

My list, starting in '94 when I became a fan:
Wise
Zola
Di Matteo
Terry
Lampard
possibly Cech & Drogba depending on how their careers here finish.

If there's one moment in recent Chelsea history conferring instant legend status, it would be Di Matteo's '97 Cup Final goal. Add in the 2000 winner, good professional service til injury ended his career, and a return on the coaching staff and I think he qualifies.

[BlueDay]

Zola. I got into football just as he was about to retire, and he was still awesome!! God I loved that bloke

[KrazyTea]

On the short term I will always look at the key members of the dynasty of the noughties that won all those championships. I would throw in Terry, Lampard, Drogba, Ballack, Essien, Cech, and Carvalho as people I would all put as legendary in terms of being part of a team that was so successful. I look forward to what the next dynastic element might be. This of course is different then looking at an individual perspective but just as relevant I would say.

[Chelsea3]

everyone throws around, Drogba, and legend together. Sounds silly but i don't class him as a legend. i love him and everything hes done for the club, but i just can't even think about having him (and some other players) on the same list as zola.

in this squad its only terry and lampard for me.