In 2003, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich changed the course of Chelsea Football Club’s history. The London-based club had found limited success prior to Abramovich’s arrival winning just one First Division title in 1955. A clutch of FA Cups and League Cups were won pre-2003, but Chelsea never hit the same heights once Abramovich took over the reins of the club.
Although Abramovich’s purchase of Chelsea gave the club new life, the Blues trace their creation back to 1905. Chelsea FC were founded in London’s Rising Sun Pub by local businessman Gus Mears. The business tycoon founded Chelsea to play at his recently purchased Stamford Bridge.
Much of Chelsea’s success over the decades came via cup triumphs. The 1980s were a difficult time for the Blues as they found themselves playing in the Second Division. Twice during the decade, Chelsea won the Second Division, but they did suffer two relegations. Since the club’s promotion to the first division in 1989, they have never looked back and have been in the top-flight ever year.
Chelsea were one of the founding members of the Premier League in 1992. Just three years after the Premier League’s creation, Chelsea’s fortunes turned and they began an upward trajectory that was later continued by Abramovich.
In 1995, Dutch superstar Ruud Gullit joined the club from Italy’s Sampdoria. Gullit is credited as the first player to help attract other big-name stars to join Chelsea. A season after signing with the Blues, Gullit became player-manager. The Dutchman was sacked before he could lead Chelsea to a trophy, however. In 1998, he was fired with Gianluca Vialli taking over and leading Chelsea to the FA Cup trophy months later.
By the end of the 1990s, Chelsea became one of the top sides in England and appeared in the Champions League for the first time. By 2003-04, Chelsea were regulars in the Champions League tournament.
In 2004, Chelsea hired Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho. The new manager’s arrival coincided with Abramovich’s purchase of the club and it showed Chelsea’s intention to win. Mourinho had just won the Champions League with FC Porto and he was ready to transform the Stamford Bridge outfit.
Chelsea won the Premier League in Mourinho’s first season in charge by recording 95 points. He created one of the best sides to ever win the Premier League trophy and his 2004-05 and 2005-06 teams are still highly revered by football fans today.
While the Blues have found tremendous domestic success since 2003-04, their European trophies have been in short supply. Just two European trophies have been registered with both coming in back to back years. Chelsea won the 2011-12 Champions League Final beating Germany’s Bayern Munich on penalties. The Champions League win was the pinnacle of the collective careers of Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, and John Terry as all four had worked so hard to build Chelsea into the club they are today.
One season later, Chelsea secured their first and only Europa League title. Chelsea defeated Benfica thanks to goals from Fernando Torres and Branislav Ivanovic. The latter tallied the winner in the third minute of second half stoppage time to claim victory.
Chelsea continue to be one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs and sit in the top of the world’s most valuable clubs. The Blues are followed by fans around the globe and every season have the ability to claim one of the trophies on offer in England and Europe.
