On 1/31/2017 at 22:34, BelgradeCFC said:

So many memories and special moments...

Anyone remembers this? 

 

 

 

 

This is so cool! The heckler was forced to sit down. LOL

Hopefully we'll meet Zenit in CHampions League. I'm sure our fans will pay Ivan a great tribute once he steps in Stamford again.

Signed off his Chelsea career in style on the weekend, a true legend.

What a player he was for us. Legend.

Goodbye IVA.

Thanks for everything.

The Benfica goal, The napoli goal, The City goal, The Liverpool GOALS. 

Having CR, Sanchez, Iniesta in your pocket.

One of the most under-rated defender.

6 hours ago, pacquiao said:

What a player he was for us. Legend.

Totally agree with you.

He came as just another player and left as a Chelsea icon 9 years later.

It was interesting to see his transformation. He came here as a relatively unheralded CB from Lokomotiv Moscow and proved solid in that role when tried, being an aerial threat. 

However, he really made his name as a marauding RB. He never really learned how to cross, but he was energetic going forward and finished very well for a defender.

Towards the end of his Chelsea career he suffered by being played into the ground at RB after his legs had gone, but that doesn't really take away from his prior achievements.

I hope he does well at Zenit.  

 

Still can't get my head around how he totally lost it so quick. One season he was the usual consistent reliable defender, next season he's shockingly awful. Weird.

What a fantastic servant he was for us, and yes even in a relatively "short" period with us, he is a Legend.

It was a shame to see him lose his pace, but he never lost his warrior spirit.  And that is something I think the dressing room will sorely miss.

Just watched all his goals again, some absolutely pearlers in there, and i think he scored more than 50% with his head.

Also, isn't he the highest scoring defender for the Premier League era

Best of luck Branners

“I asked [the club] to release me if I received a suitable offer. Chelsea agreed, and I am very happy with that. There was an option to go to China, but I want to play at a decent level and continue my development. That's why I chose Zenit.”

-Branislav Ivanovic; source: Sport-Express via ESPN

When I moved to England, I did not play much, but Avram Grant provided great support, saying that my time will come. Guus Hiddink gave me the first chance. Carlo Ancelotti helped me to make a huge step forward. From Andre Villas-Boas I learned a lot in terms of understanding football. With Di Matteo we had a great relationship. When he became head coach, it was the first time I felt myself becoming one of the leaders of the team, which has to do more than the usual football. With Rafa Benitez I won the Europa League, scoring in the final. Conte gave a lot in terms of tactics and physical preparation.

-Branislav Ivanovic; source: Sport-Express via Google Translate

1 hour ago, BelgradeCFC said:

“I asked [the club] to release me if I received a suitable offer. Chelsea agreed, and I am very happy with that. There was an option to go to China, but I want to play at a decent level and continue my development. That's why I chose Zenit.”

-Branislav Ivanovic; source: Sport-Express via ESPN

 

When I moved to England, I did not play much, but Avram Grant provided great support, saying that my time will come. Guus Hiddink gave me the first chance. Carlo Ancelotti helped me to make a huge step forward. From Andre Villas-Boas I learned a lot in terms of understanding football. With Di Matteo we had a great relationship. When he became head coach, it was the first time I felt myself becoming one of the leaders of the team, which has to do more than the usual football. With Rafa Benitez I won the Europa League, scoring in the final. Conte gave a lot in terms of tactics and physical preparation.

-Branislav Ivanovic; source: Sport-Express via Google Translate

 

Didn't he forget someone between the FSW and Conte? And he credits all the other bosses with making a valuable to his and/ or the team's development, except for the FSW.

21 minutes ago, Backbiter said:

Didn't he forget someone between the FSW and Conte? And he credits all the other bosses with making a valuable to his and/ or the team's development, except for the FSW.

 

In the rather lengthy interview with Sport-Express, Ivanovic basically has to review his entire Chelsea career, from the highlights to the lowlights, and is also asked his verdict on the all the various coaches he’s played under. Mourinho was special, sure, he agrees, but it’s Ancelotti with whom players would prefer to spend their entire careers since he made players more “comfortable” and did not play mind games. You either loved Mourinho or you hated him, says Ivanovic, a revelation that should not be surprising to us by this time