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Chelsea History
Full name:
Chelsea Football Club
Nickname(s):
The Blues
Founded:
14 March 1905
Home stadium:
Stamford Bridge
Chairman:
Bruce Buck
Manager:
Luiz Felipe Scolari
League:
English Premier League
Facts & History
Contents[hide] |
Club Overview
Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously The Pensioners) are an English professional football club based in west London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier in English football.
Club History
Chelsea Football Club, as one of the most famous Association Football clubs in England, has a long, unique and idiosyncratic history, and has experienced both the highs and the lows of the game. From its early days as the butt of a music hall joke for their lack of success, to being 1954-55 Champions following a revamp. From the glamourous, talented and flamboyant team which emerged in swinging London in the mid-1960s to put the club on the footballing map for the first time, to the financial and on-pitch woes that almost forced its extinction in the early 1980s. From the rejuvenated side of the mid-1980s that returned it to stability, to the cosmopolitan renaissance of the late-1990s, which saw it challenge for honours again, to a takeover in June 2003 which contributed to its current status as one of the dominant teams in the country.
Pre-1905
In 1896, Henry Augustus "Gus" Mears, football enthusiast and businessman, along with his brother, Joseph Mears, purchased the Stamford Bridge Athletics Ground in Fulham, West London, with the intention of staging first-class football matches there, though they had to wait until 1904 to buy the freehold, when the previous owner died. They failed to persuade Fulham Football Club to adopt the ground as their home after a dispute over the rent, so Mears considered selling to the Great Western Railway Company, who wanted to use the land as a coal-dumping yard. There is an uncomfirmed story regarding the incident that claims Mears was on the verge of selling, and was being persuaded by his colleague Fred Parker not to, when Mears' scotch terrier bit Parker on the leg. Parker took the incident in good spirit so Mears, impressed by this, decided to take his colleague's advice and found a new football club to play at Stamford Bridge.
Early Years (1905-39)
Chelsea F.C. was founded on March 14, 1905 at The Rising Sun pub (now The Butcher's Hook) opposite today's main entrance to the ground on the Fulham Road. Since there was already a team named Fulham in the borough, the name of the adjacent borough, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, was settled on after London FC, Kensington FC and Stamford Bridge FC had been rejected. Chelsea were denied entry to the Southern League following objections from Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur, so instead applied for admission to the Football League. Their candidacy was endorsed at the Football League AGM on May 29, 1905, with a speech by Parker, which emphasised the new club's financial stability and its impressive new stadium and team playing an important part. Blue shirts were adopted by Mears, after the racing colors of Lord Chelsea, along with white shorts and dark blue socks. The club's first league match took place away at Stockport County on September 2, 1905. They lost the game 1-0. Their first home match was against Liverpool in a friendly. They won 4-0.
Scottish international half-back John Tait Robertson was recruited to be the club's first player-manager. The club began with established players recruited from other teams, such as 308 pound goalkeeper William "Fatty" Foulke, who was a FA Cup winner with Sheffield United, and inside forward Jimmy Windridge who came from Small Heath. The club finished a respectable 3rd in their first season, but Robertson steadily saw his position undermined by board room interference. He lost the power to select the team in November 1906, and by January 1907 he had left for Glossop. Club secretary William Lewis took temporary charge and led the team to promotion at the end of the season, thanks largely to the goals of Windridge and George "Gatling Gun" Hilsdon. The latter was the first of many prolific strikers/forwards to play for Chelsea; he scored five goals on his debut and 27 in the promotion season en route to becoming the first player to score 100 goals for the club.
Lewis was succeeded by David Calderhead, who was to manage Chelsea for the next 26 years. The club's early seasons produced little success, and they yo-yoed between the First and Second divisions. They were relegated in 1909-10, promoted in 1911-12 and finished second-bottom in 1914-15, the final competitive season before football in England was abandoned owing to World War I. The club would normally have been relegated, but the league was expanded after the war, and Chelsea were invited to re-join the First Division.
In spite of their checkered fortunes, Chelsea became one of the best-supported teams in the country, with fans attracted by the team's reputation for playing entertaining attacking football and for signing star players, notably defensive back Ben Warren and striker Bob Whittingham. 67,000 people attended the league game against Manchester United on Good Friday 1906, a then-record for a Second Division match. 55,000 attended the first-ever London derby in the top division, against Woolwich Arsenal, a record for a First Division match. 77,952 attended the fourth round FA Cup tie against Swindon on 13 April 1911.
In 1915, under the shadow of the First World War, Chelsea reached their first FA Cup final, the so-called "Khaki" cup final, owing to the large number of uniformed soldiers in attendance. The match against Sheffield United was played in a sombre atmosphere and staged at Old Trafford in Manchester to avoid disruption in London. Chelsea, minus their top amateur striker, Vivian Woodward, who had sportingly insisted that the team who reached the final ought to keep their places, were seemingly unnerved by the occasion and outplayed for much of the match. Goalkeeper Jim Molyneux's mistake allowed United to score before half-time, but the Blues held out until the final six minutes, when their opponents added two more to win 3-0.
1919-20, the first full season following the war, was Chelsea's most successful up to that point. Led by 24 goal striker Jack Cock, the club's latest glamour signing, they finished 3rd in the league - the highest league finish for a London club - and reached the FA Cup semi-finals, only to be denied by eventual winners Aston Villa, which saw them miss out on a chance to play in the final at Stamford Bridge. The club were relegated again in 1923-24 and in four of the next five seasons were to narrowly miss out on promotion, finishing 5th, 3rd, 4th and 3rd. They finally reached the First Division again in 1929-30, where they were to remain for the next 32 years.
To capitalise on the 1930 promotion, the club spent £25,000 ($49,000) on three big-name players; Scots Hughie Gallacher, Alex Jackson and Alec Cheyne. Gallacher in particular was one of the biggest talents of his era, known for his goalscoring and for having captained Newcastle to a championship in 1926-27. He and Jackson had also been members of the famous Wembley Wizards team, the Scotland team which beat England 5-1 at Wembley in 1928. However, though the team occasionally clicked, such as in a 6-2 win over Manchester United and a 5-0 win over Sunderland, none of the trio had the desired impact. Gallacher was Chelsea's top scorer in each of his four seasons, scoring 81 goals in total, but his time in West London was filled by long suspensions for indiscipline. Jackson and Cheyne struggled to settle at the club and were unable re-capture their previous achievements. The trio didn't make 300 appearances between them and by 1936 all had left at a significant financial loss to the club. Their failure epitomised Chelsea's flaws throughout the decade, whereby performances and results rarely matched the calibre of players at the club. Money was spent, but some feel it was too often spent on inappropriate players, especially forwards, while the defence remained neglected.
The FA Cup was to be the closest the club came to silverware. In 1932, the team secured impressive wins over Liverpool and Sheffield Wednesday, and were drawn against Newcastle United in the semi-finals. Newcastle took a 2-0 lead, before Gallacher pulled one back for Chelsea. The Blues laid siege to the United goal in the second half, but were unable to make a breakthrough and the Geordies reached the final. Calderhead stepped down in 1933 and was replaced by Leslie Knighton, but the appointment saw little change in Chelsea's fortunes. At different times during the decade the club had on its books the likes of Tommy Law, Sam Weaver, Syd Bishop, Harry Burgess, Dick Spence and Joe Bambrick, all established internationals, yet their highest league finish in the decade was 8th. Ironically, two of the club's most reliable players during the decade cost them nothing: goalkeeper Vic Woodley, who was to win 19 consecutive caps for England, and centre-forward George Mills, the first player to score 100 league goals for Chelsea. They avoided relegation by two points in 1932-33 and 1933-34, and by one point in 1938-39. Another promising cup run in 1939, which included wins over Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday, petered out with a home loss to Grimsby Town in the quarter-finals.
The club continued to be one of the country's best-supported teams. The visit of Arsenal on 12 October 1935 attracted 82,905 to Stamford Bridge, which remains a club record and the second highest ever attendance at an English league match. Crowds of almost 50,000 attended Gallacher and Jackson's home debuts. In 1939, with the club having come no closer to on-field success, Knighton stepped down. He was succeeded by Scotsman and former Queens Park Rangers manager, Billy Birrell, a man whose brainchild was to radically change the club's fortunes.
The War, The Visit Of Dynamo and The New Youth System (1940-52)
Birrell was appointed Chelsea manager shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. Three games into the 1939-40 season, first class football was abandoned in Britain for the duration of the conflict, meaning that all wartime results are only regarded as unofficial. Chelsea competed in a series of regional competitions and, like every other club, saw their squad severely depleted by the war effort (only two members of Chelsea's 1938-39 team ever played for them again). The club thus fielded a series of "guest" players, most notably Matt Busby, Walter Winterbottom and Eddie Hapgood. They also competed in the Football League War Cup, during which they made their Wembley debut, losing 1-3 to Charlton Athletic in the 1944 final, and beating Millwall 2-0 a year later in front of crowds of over 80,000. After the latter match, John Harris became the first Chelsea captain to lift a trophy at Wembley, receiving the cup from Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
In October 1945, with the War having just ended, the English football authorities sought a way to celebrate the return of the peace-time game. As part of a goodwill gesture, it was announced that FC Dynamo Moscow, reigning champions of the Soviet Union, would tour the United Kingdom and play several home teams, including Chelsea. The match took place on 13 November at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea wearing an unfamiliar red uniform due to a clash of colors with Dynamo's uniform. Before kick-off, the Dynamo players presented a bouquet of flowers to their opposite number. Despite British people viewing this as a faux pas, the Russian team surprised many observers with their talent and tenacity by fighting back from 0-2 and 2-3 down to a 3-3 draw, albeit with a goal some feel should have been rules out as offside. An estimated crowd of over 100,000 people attended the match, with thousands entering the ground illegally. This crowd is the highest ever recorded at Stamford Bridge. Spectators watched from numerous obscure places, including many on the dog track and on the top of stands.
Following the war, Chelsea again spent big, and again bought three big-name forwards, this time Tommy Lawton, Len Goulden and Tommy Walker, for around £22,000. The trio provided both goals and entertainment - Lawton scored 26 goals in 34 league games in 1946-47 - but Chelsea finished 15th that season and never finished above 13th under Birrell. Birrell's biggest contribution to Chelsea was off the field. He oversaw the development of an extensive new youth and scouting programme, headed by ex-players Dickie Foss, Dick Spence and Jimmy Thompson. Over the next three decades in particular, the policy was to produce a seemingly unending stream of top-class talent for the first team. The period also the saw the arrival of striker Roy Bentley, signed from Newcastle United for £11,500 in 1948 following Lawton's departure.
1950 seemed at last to be Chelsea's year in the FA Cup. After beating Manchester United 2-0 in a pulsating quarter-final, they were drawn to face London rivals Arsenal at White Hart Lane. Two goals from Bentley put Chelsea in control, but a freak goal from Arsenal (Chelsea's goalkeeper misjudged a corner and punched it into his own net) just before half-time turned the game. Chelsea seemed unable to recover from the blow and Arsenal scored 15 minutes from from full-time and then won the replay 1-0. A year later, Chelsea seemed destined for relegation: with four games remaining, they were six points behind, at the bottom of the table, and without a win in fourteen matches. After unexpectedly winning the first three, Chelsea went into their final match needing to beat Bolton Wanderers and hoping for the right result between fellow relegation candidates Everton and Sheffield Wednesday. Chelsea won 4-0 and Wednesday beat Everton 6-0, thus ensuring Chelsea's survival on goal average by 0.44 of a goal. In 1952, Chelsea again faced Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-finals and after a 1-1 tie in the first match, lost the replay 3-0. Birrell resigned shortly afterwards.
Ted Drake: Modernisation and the Championship (1952-61)
In 1952, former Arsenal and England striker Ted Drake was appointed manager. One of the first "tracksuit managers" who used to shake each player by the hand and wish them "all the best" before each match, Drake proceeded to modernise the club, both on and off the field. One of his first actions was to remove the image of a Chelsea pensioner from the match programme and the club's old nickname was no more. From then on they were to be known as the Blues. He improved the training regime, introducing ballwork to training sessions, a practice rare in England at the time; the youth and scouting systems begun by his predecessor were extended and he abandoned the club's old recruiting policy of signing often unreliable stars, opting instead for reliable and honest players from the lower divisions. He also urged the club's fans to be more partisan and to get behind the team. Drake's early years were unpromising, as Chelsea finished 19th and just a point away from relegation in his first season and 8th in his second.
In 1954-55, the club's jubilee year, everything clicked. The team found a consistency rate not previously there as Chelsea unexpectedly won the First Division title with a team notable for the lack of star players. It included goalkeeper Charlie 'Chic' Thomson, amateur players Derek Saunders and Jim Lewis, central midfielder Johnny 'Jock' McNichol, winger Eric "Rabbit" Parsons, outside-left Frank Blunstone, defender Peter Sillett and future England manager Ron Greenwood at central defender, as well old club stalwarts, right back Ken Armstrong, left-back Stan Willemse and veteran defender John Harris. Perhaps the only genuine star in the side was captain, top-scorer (with 21 league goals) and England international Roy Bentley.
Chelsea had begun the season much as they had finished the last, with four consecutive defeats, including a thrilling 5-6 loss to Manchester United, leaving them 12th in November. From there the team went on a remarkable run, losing just 3 of the next 25 games and won the title with a game to spare after a 3-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday on St George's Day. Key to the success were two league wins against principal rivals and eventual runners-up Wolverhampton Wanderers. The first was a dramatic 4-3 win at Molineux - a game in which Chelsea were trailing 2-3 going into stoppage time - and a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge in April, secured with a Sillett penalty awarded after Wolves captain Billy Wright had punched a goal-bound shot over the bar. Chelsea's points total of 52 for that season remains one of the lowest to have secured the English League title since the First World War. In the final game of the season, Chelsea, now champions, were given a guard of honour by Matt Busby's Manchester United Busby Babes. That same season saw the club complete a unique quadruple, with the reserve, 'A' and junior sides also winning their respective leagues.
Winning the Championship should have ensured that Chelsea became the first English participants in the inaugural European Champions' Cup competition to be staged the following season. Indeed, they were drawn to face Swedish champions Djurgårdens in the first round. However, Chelsea were denied by the intervention of the Football League and the F.A., many of whose leading members were opposed to the idea and felt that primacy should be given to domestic competitions, so the club were persuaded to withdraw. Chelsea did play an unofficial UK championship friendly against Scottish champions Aberdeen, which Aberdeen won. Chelsea presented a plate with the club crest to Aberdeen as a reward.
Chelsea were unable to build on their title success, and finished a disappointing 16th the following season. The team was aging and there followed a succession of uninspiring mid-table finishes; the one major bright spot in this period being the emergence of the ultra-prolific goalscorer Jimmy Greaves, one of Chelsea's best ever youth products, who scored 122 league goals in four seasons. Along with Greaves, a series of other impressive youngsters, informally known as Drake's Duckings, emerged in the first team, though their inexperience ensured that performances remained erratic. One of the lowest points for the club in this period was being knocked out of the FA Cup in the 3rd round by Fourth Division side, Crewe Alexandra, in January 1961. When Greaves was sold to AC Milan in June 1961 the writing was on the wall and, without his goals, the club's performances slumped. Drake was sacked in September after a 4-0 loss to Blackpool with Chelsea bottom of the league table. He was replaced by 33-year-old player-coach Tommy Docherty.
Emergence (1963-71)
Tommy Docherty
The swinging sixties ushered in an era that saw football and inimitable style merge in the heart of London; with the fashionable King's Road at the heart of the swagger. Superstars of the time, including Michael Caine, Steve McQueen, Raquel Welch, Terence Stamp and Richard Attenborough (now Life Vice President of the club) were regularly seen at Stamford Bridge as the team became one of the most glamorous and fashionable in the country. A 60s Chelsea side that oozed charisma and class established the club as a big name for the first time, but ultimately failed to match its swagger with on-field triumphs, and endured several near-misses.
Docherty imposed a regime of strict discipline, sold off many of the club's older players, and replaced them with the talented youngsters beginning to emerge from Birrell's youth system and some shrewd transfers. By the time he took over in January 1962, the team were already all but doomed to relegation and he used the time to experiment and plan for the future. Chelsea were duly relegated and in Docherty's first full season as manager he led them back to promotion as Second Division runners-up, secured with a crucial and hard-fought 1-0 win at rivals Sunderland (and a goal scored via Tommy Harmer's groin) and a 7-0 final day win over Portsmouth.
Chelsea thus returned to the First Division with a new, youthful team which included the uncompromising Ron "Chopper" Harris, goalkeeper Peter Bonetti, prolific goalscoring winger Bobby Tambling (whose 202 goals remain a club record), midfielder John Hollins, full-back Ken Shellito, striker Barry Bridges, winger Bert Murray and captain and playmaker Terry Venables, all products of the youth system. To these, Docherty added striker George Graham, left-back Eddie McCreadie and elegant defender Marvin Hinton for minimal fees to complete the Diamonds line-up - Docherty had referred to the team as his "little diamonds" during a TV documentary and the name stuck.
Chelsea finished a credible 5th in their first season back in the top-flight, and in the next were on course for a domestic "treble" of league, FA Cup and League Cup. Playing a brand of football based on high energy and quick passing - they were also one of the first English teams to use overlapping full-backs; consequently they were twice invited to play against the Germany national football team, containing the likes of Franz Beckenbauer, Uwe Seeler and Berti Vogts. Chelsea won 3-1 and drew the other 3-3 - Chelsea set the early pace and emerged in a three-way tussle for the league title with Manchester United and Leeds United. The League Cup was secured thanks to a 3-2 first leg win against Leicester City, with a memorable solo effort from McCreadie proving to be the difference between the sides, and then a hard-fought 0-0 draw in the second leg at Filbert Street.
However, cracks were also beginning to appear, as the temperamental Docherty increasingly clashed with some of the strong personalities within the dressing room, particularly Venables. The team were beaten by title rivals Manchester United in March and lost 2-0 in their FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool, despite going into the latter match as favourites. They were nonetheless top with four games remaining. Docherty then sent home eight key players (Venables, Graham, Bridges, Hollins, McCreadie, Hinton, Bert Murray and Joe Fascione) for breaking a curfew before a crucial match against Burnley. The bare bones of the team that remained, a collection of reserves and youngsters, were beaten 6-2 as the title challenge collapsed; Chelsea eventually finished 3rd.
The following season proved equally eventful, if ultimately unsuccessful, with Chelsea challenging in the League, the FA Cup and the Fairs Cup. Playing a then-club record total of 60 games in the three competitions in the days before substitutes, the team were hit hard by the fixture pile-up. They finished 5th in the League, while in the FA Cup, Chelsea gained revenge for their semi-final defeat by knocking-out holders Liverpool at Anfield en route to another semi-final, where they were drawn to face Sheffield Wednesday, again at Villa Park. Favourites to reach the final, the side froze on the day and were beaten 2-0 by the Yorkshire club.
Their Fairs Cup run, taking in wins over AS Roma (a violent encounter, during which the Chelsea team coach was ambushed by Roma fans), TSV 1860 München and AC Milan (the last on the toss of a coin after the teams had finished level), ended in a semi-final loss to FC Barcelona. Both home sides won 2-0 and on another coin toss, the replay was staged at the Nou Camp, with Barca winning 5-0. Docherty, his relationship with several players having reached breaking point, then made the decision to break up a team with an average age of 21. Venables, Graham, Bridges and Murray were all sold during the close-season, while classy Scottish winger Charlie Cooke joined for £72,000, as did midfielder Tommy Baldwin, who arrived in part-exchange for Graham. Also emerging from the youth set-up was a highly-rated teenage striker named Peter Osgood.
Docherty's transfer manoeuvrings initially paid off. Chelsea, with Osgood at the heart of the team, topped the league table in October 1966, the only unbeaten side after ten league games. But Osgood broke his leg in a League Cup tie and the side's momentum was disrupted. To replace Osgood, Docherty broke the club's transfer record immediately in signing striker Tony Hateley for £100,000, but Hateley's aerial game didn't suit Chelsea's style and he struggled to fit in. They drifted down the league and finished 9th. The highlight of that season was reaching the FA Cup final. En route to that final was a win over Leeds United in the semis, the game widely seen as the one which kicked off the fierce rivalry between the two clubs. In his finest moment for Chelsea, Hateley headed in what proved to be the winner, but in a hotly-contested match, Leeds had two goals disallowed, one for offside and one for a Peter Lorimer free-kick taken too quickly.
Chelsea competed with Tottenham Hotspur in the first all-London FA Cup final, known as the Cockney Cup Final. It was Chelsea's first appearance in the final since 1915 and their first ever appearance in the final at Wembley. In leading out the side, Ron Harris, at 22, was the youngest ever captain to take to the field in the competition's finale. In a game which failed to match the anticipation, Chelsea underperformed and a late Tambling header was not enough to prevent a 2-1 loss to a Spurs side containing both Venables and Jimmy Greaves. Docherty, always a controversial figure, was sacked shortly into the next season with the team having won two of their opening ten games, amidst rumours of dressing room unrest over bonus payments and whilst serving a 28-day ban from football management handed out by the FA.
Dave Sexton
In the first match after Docherty's departure, Chelsea lost 7-0 against Leeds United, equalling the club's highest-ever margin of defeat (in 1953-54, they had lost 8-1 to Wolves). Dave Sexton, ex-Chelsea coach and Leyton Orient manager, and a character far more calm and reserved than Docherty, was appointed manager. The core of the side inherited from Docherty remained largely unchanged, and he added more steel to the defence with the signings of John Dempsey and David Webb, as well as signing striker Ian Hutchinson, giving mercurial midfielder Alan Hudson his debut and recalling winger Peter Houseman. Sexton proved a stablising influence and led Chelsea to two more top six finishes, as well as a brief foray into the Fairs Cup in 1968-69, where they were knocked out by DWS Amsterdam on a coin toss.
The club finished 3rd in 1969-70, with Osgood and Hutchinson scoring 53 goals between them, and reached another FA Cup final in the same season. This time the opponents were Leeds United, reigning league champions and one of the dominant (and most uncompromising) sides of the era. Chelsea were generally second best in the first match at Wembley played on a boggy pitch, but twice came from behind to gain a 2-2 draw, first through Houseman and then a late headed equaliser (four minutes from full time) from Hutchinson. The replay was staged at Old Trafford a fortnight later and is as well known for the extremely physical tactics employed by both sides as the skill and talent on display. Chelsea again went behind but equalised for the third time in the match with a diving header from Osgood from Cooke's cross. As the game went into extra time, Chelsea took the lead for the first time when Webb headed in a Hutchinson throw-in to seal a 2-1 win.
Winning the Cup qualified Chelsea to play in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup for the first time. Straightforward wins over Aris Thessaloniki and CSKA Sofia took them to the quarter-finals, where they knocked out Club Brugge thanks to a dramatic comeback. Trailing 2-0 after the first leg, it took an Osgood goal nine minutes from the end of normal time in a tense match to put Chelsea level on aggregate. They went on to win the game 4-0 after extra time. Fellow English side (and holders) Manchester City were dispatched in the semi-final. The first final match against Real Madrid finished 1-1 but a rare goal from Dempsey and another strike from Osgood in the replay - played just two days later - were enough to secure a 2-1 win and Chelsea's first European honour. The song "Blue is the Colour" was released in 1972 with members of the squad singing, and it reached number five in the UK Singles Chart. The song was to become one of the most famous English football songs, and forever associated with the Chelsea team of that era.
Troubled Times (1972-83)
There was no further success in the decade as several major problems combined to almost bring the club to its knees. From the early 1970s, the discipline of the team began to degenerate, as Sexton fell out with several key players, most notably Osgood, Hudson and Baldwin over their attitude and lifestyle. As the spirit of the team declined, so too did results. Chelsea were knocked out of the 1971-72 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup by little-known Åtvidabergs FF, the FA Cup by Second Division Leyton Orient despite having led 2-0, and lost in the League Cup final to Stoke City; on each occasion the team had lost to a technically inferior side despite having dominated for large spells. They finished 12th in 1972-73 and 17th the following season. The feud between Sexton and Osgood and Hudson reached its peak after a 2-4 home defeat to West Ham United on Boxing Day 1973; the pair were both sold a few months later. Sexton himself was sacked early into the 1974-75 season after a poor start, and succeeded by his assistant, Ron Suart, who was unable to reverse the club's decline and they were relegated in 1975.
The building of the pioneering East Stand (which retains its place even in the modern stadium) as part of a plan to create a 60,000 all-seater stadium added to the club's woes. The project had been described as "the most ambitious ever undertaken in Britain". It coincided with a world economic crisis and was hit by delays, a builders' strike and shortages of materials, all of which sent the cost escalating out of control, to the extent that the club were £3.4m in debt by 1976. As a result, between August 1974 and June 1978, Chelsea were unable to buy a single player. The decline of the team was matched by a decline in attendances - those who remained were marred by a fierce reputation for violence amongst a section of the Chelsea support (the boundary between passion and hooliganism being dangerously narrow in those days). The late 1970s and the 1980s were the "golden age" of football firms in England; Chelsea's own such firm, the Chelsea Headhunters, were particularly notorious, known for their violence and links to extremist political groups and would blight the club throughout the following years.
Former left-back Eddie McCreadie became manager shortly before Chelsea's relegation in 1975 and, after a year of consolidation in 1975-76, led the side to promotion again in 1976-77 with a team composed of youth players, most notably Ray Wilkins and 24-goal striker Steve Finnieston, and veterans from more successful times like Cooke, Harris and Bonetti. But McCreadie left following a contract dispute with Brian Mears over a company car and another ex-player was appointed, this time former right-back Ken Shellito.
Shellito kept Chelsea in the First Division in 1977-78, though the highlight of that season was a 4-2 win over European champions Liverpool in the FA Cup. Shellito resigned midway through the following season with the club having won just three league games by Christmas. Even the brief return of Peter Osgood did little to improve the club's fortunes. Shellito's successor, former double-winning Tottenham Hotspur captain Danny Blanchflower was unable to stem the slump and the club were relegated again with just five league wins and 27 defeats, bringing in one of the bleakest periods in Chelsea's history. Wilkins, one of the club's few remaining stars, was sold to Manchester United and England's 1966 World Cup final hero Geoff Hurst became manager in September 1979 with Bobby Gould as his assistant. Their arrival saw an immediate upturn in Chelsea's form, and for a large period Chelsea topped the table, but a late collapse saw them finish 4th, meaning the club missed out on promotion on goal difference. In the next season the team struggled to score goals, going on a nine-match run without one, winning only three matches in twenty and finishing 12th in 1980-81. Hurst was sacked.
In 1981 Brian Mears resigned as chairman, ending his family's 76-year association with the club. One of Mears' last actions was to appoint former Wrexham boss John Neal as manager. A year later, Chelsea Football & Athletic Company, heavily in debt and unable to pay its players, was, at the nadir of its fortunes, acquired from the Mears family interests by businessman and one-time chairman of Oldham Athletic, Ken Bates, for the princely sum of £1, though he declined to buy the stadium and its substantially larger debts, a move he was later to regret. Bates proved to be a real fighter as the new chairman, although his opponents included supporters (who did not take kindly to his suggestion of electrified fences to keep them off the pitch) as well as property developers Marler Estates, to whom David Mears, brother of Brian, had sold his share of the Stamford Bridge freehold instead.
1981-82, an otherwise forgettable season during which Chelsea again finished 12th, Chelsea went on their first significant FA Cup run for years and drew European champions Liverpool in the fifth round. They outplayed their illustrious opponents and won 2-0. In the quarter-finals, they were pitted against old rivals Tottenham Hotspur who, in a pulsating game, won 3-2, despite Chelsea taking the lead through Mike Fillery. 1982-83 season proved to be the worst in Chelsea's history. Following a bright start, the team slumped dramatically, going on a nine-match winless run as the season drew to a close and faced relegation to the Third Division which, given the club's financial troubles, could well have dealt it a killer blow. In the penultimate game of the season at fellow strugglers Bolton Wanderers, Clive Walker hit a last-minute winner from 25 yards to ensure a crucial 1-0 win. A draw at home to Middlesbrough in the final game ensured the club's survival by two points.
A New Beginning (1983-89)
The summer of 1983 marked a turning point in Chelsea's history as manager John Neal made a series of signings who were to be crucial in turning around the club's fortunes. In came striker Kerry Dixon from Reading, skillful and pacy winger Pat Nevin from Clyde, midfielder Nigel Spackman from Bournemouth and goalkeeper Eddie Niedzwiecki from Wrexham in addition to John Hollins returning as player-coach, all for a combined total of less than £500,000. Dixon struck up a prolific strike partnership with fellow Neal signing David Speedie and both linked up well with Nevin, a combination that would produce almost 200 goals in three years. The new-look Chelsea began the 1983-84 season with a 5-0 win against Derby County on the opening day and rarely looked back, winning 5-3 at Fulham and beating Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United 4-0. Dixon hit 36 goals in all competitions - a seasonal record bettered only by Bobby Tambling and Jimmy Greaves - and promotion was sealed with another 5-0 win over old adversaries Leeds United. The team were crowned Second Division champions on the final day with a win away at Grimsby Town, with some 10,000 Chelsea fans making the trip to Lincolnshire.
Upon their return to the First Division, Chelsea were unlikely European contenders in 1984-85, eventually finishing 6th. They were also on course to reach their third League Cup final, drawing relegation candidates Sunderland in the semi-finals. Ex-Chelsea winger Clive Walker inspired his team to a 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge (5-2 on aggregate), which was followed by a near-riot; the game continued with mounted police and supporters on the pitch, with the violence later spilling over onto the streets. Neal retired at the end of the season due to ill health, and was replaced by Hollins.
In Hollins' first season, Chelsea challenged for the title, topping the table in February, but long-term injuries to Dixon and Niedzwiecki, combined with a poor run of results, especially during the Easter period, during which the side conceded ten goals in two games, appeared to end their chances. A 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford and another by the same scoreline over West Ham at Upton Park - effectively denying the latter the title - left Chelsea three points behind leaders Liverpool with five games remaining. One point from the remaining fixtures, however, denied them and another 6th place finish was the result. In the same season, the inaugural Full Members Cup was won with a 5-4 win over Manchester City at Wembley, thanks to a Speedie hat-trick and in spite of the opposition fighting back from 1-5 down.
Following this new beginning, the form of the side slumped again, finishing 14th in the next season. The spirit of the side began to disintegrate after Hollins had fallen out with several key players, notably Speedie and Spackman, who were subsequently sold off. Hollins was sacked in March the following season with the side again in relegation trouble. Bobby Campbell took over in March but couldn't prevent Chelsea's relegation via the short-lived play-off system with a loss to Middlesbrough, a match which was again followed by crowd trouble and an attempted pitch invasion, resulting in a six-match closure of the terraces the following season. Nevertheless, the club bounced back immediately and emphatically, despite failing to win any of their opening six league games, and were promoted as Second Division champions with 99 points, 17 points clear of nearest rivals Manchester City.
The 1990s: Back On Track
Chelsea had an impressive return to the First Division in 1989-90. Manager Bobby Campbell guided a squad of mostly unremarkable players to a creditable fifth place in the final table. Although the ban on English clubs in European football was lifted that year, Chelsea missed out on a UEFA Cup place because the only English place in the competition that year went to runners-up Aston Villa. In the same season, he led Chelsea to their second Full Members Cup success, with a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough in the final at Wembley. Campbell resigned a year later and he was replaced by Ian Porterfield, who helped Chelsea finish high enough in 1991-92 to qualify for the first-ever season of the Premier League. He quit halfway through the season and was replaced on a caretaker basis by another member of Chelsea's 1970 FA Cup side, David Webb, who guided the team to an 11th place finish. Webb was replaced at the end of the season by 35-year-old former England midfielder Glenn Hoddle, who had just won promotion to the Premiership as player-manager of Swindon Town.
Meanwhile, in 1992, following over a decade of uncertainty about Stamford Bridge and its future, leading to several acrimonious legal disputes and the long-running "Save the Bridge" campaign, Bates finally outmanoeuvred the property developers and reunited the freehold with the Club, by seeing them go bust after a market crash and doing a deal with their banks. This led to the creation of Chelsea Pitch Owners, who in 1997 purchased the freehold of the stadium, the club's naming rights and the pitch to ensure that such a situation could never happen again. Following this, work was begun to renovate the entire stadium (bar the East Stand), making it all-seater and bringing the stands closer to the pitch and under cover, which was finally completed by the millennium.
Hoddle's first season as manager saw Chelsea's league form dip slightly, and for a time they were threatened by relegation, with the goals of £1,500,000 signing Mark Stein playing an important part in survival. In the same season Chelsea reached the FA Cup final, where they faced Premiership champions Manchester United, a team Chelsea had beaten 1-0 in both league games that season. After going in 0-0 at half-time, United were awarded two second-half penalties in the space of 5 minutes, both of which were scored. With Chelsea having to attack, it left gaps in defence and United eventually won 4-0. This was nevertheless sufficient to qualify Chelsea to compete in Europe for the 1994-95 Cup Winners Cup (since Manchester United had independently qualified for the Champions League). They reached the semi-finals of the competition and went out by one goal to eventual winners Real Zaragoza.
Chelsea now had a decent squad with several top class players, the most significant of which was inspirational captain Dennis Wise. But chairman Ken Bates and director Matthew Harding were making millions of pounds available for the club to spend on players, and two world-famous players were signed in the summer of 1995 - Dutch legend Ruud Gullit (free transfer from Sampdoria) and Manchester United's high-scoring striker Mark Hughes (£1.5 m), along with talented Romanian full-back Dan Petrescu. Hoddle guided Chelsea to another 11th place finish in 1995-96, and another FA Cup semi-final, and then quit to become manager of the England team.
Renaissance: Gullit, Vialli and Zola (1996-2000)
Gullit was appointed player-manager for the 1996-97 season, and added several top-class players to the side, including European Cup-winning Juventus striker Gianluca Vialli, cultured French defender Frank Leboeuf and Italian internationals Gianfranco Zola (whose skill would make him a firm favourite with the crowd and see him become one of Chelsea's greatest ever players) and Roberto Di Matteo (the latter for a club record £4,900,000). They were later joined by the powerful and prolific Uruguayan midfielder Gustavo Poyet and Norwegian "super-sub" Tore André Flo. With such players, it was under Gullit and his successor that Chelsea emerged as one of England's top sides again and gained a reputation for playing a neat, entertaining and attractive passing game performed by technically gifted players, which was informally dubbed "sexy football", though the club's inconsistency against supposed "smaller" teams remained. Gullit capped an impressive first season in management by leading Chelsea to their highest league placing since 1990 (6th) and ending their 26-year wait for a major trophy by winning the FA Cup. Perhaps the most memorable match of the run was a remarkable 4th round comeback against Liverpool. Trailing 2-0 at half-time, Hughes was brought on and immediately ruffled Liverpool, scoring within minutes and then setting up Zola for a curler from 25 yards. The comeback was completed after two late goals by Vialli. The 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the final at Wembley got off to a frantic start with Di Matteo scoring the fastest ever Cup final goal after 43 seconds; Eddie Newton's late goal clinched it. The win was a happy end to a season which had looked to be dominated by sadness after the death in October of popular director and financial benefactor Matthew Harding in a helicopter crash following a League Cup match against Bolton Wanderers.
Gullit was suddenly sacked in February 1998, ostensibly after a contract dispute, with the team 2nd in the Premiership, and in the semi-finals of two cup competitions. Another player-manager was appointed - the 33-year-old Vialli. Vialli began his management career in style by winning two trophies in two months. The League Cup was secured with another 2-0 win over Middlesbrough at Wembley (with Di Matteo again on the scoresheet). Chelsea reached the Cup Winners' Cup final following a dramatic semi-final win against Vicenza. Having lost the away leg 1-0 and then conceded an away goal, Chelsea bounced back to win 3-1 on the night and go through, with Hughes again the catalyst. They won their second Cup Winners' Cup title with a 1-0 victory against VfB Stuttgart at the Råsunda Stadium in Stockholm, with Zola scoring with his first touch having been on the pitch for just 17 seconds. Following that, Vialli led the club to a 1-0 win over European champions Real Madrid in the Super Cup at the Stade Louis II in Monaco.
During the 1998-99 Premiership campaign, Chelsea made their first sustained challenge for the title for years. Despite an opening day loss against Coventry City, the side were not beaten in the League again until January and topped the table at Christmas. Their title chances eventually disappeared after a home loss to West Ham United and consecutive draws against Middlesbrough, Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday in April, which saw the Blues finish 3rd, four points behind winners Manchester United. A season which promised much ultimately ended trophyless, with Chelsea's defence of their Cup Winners' Cup title ending in a semi-final loss against RCD Mallorca while they were knocked out of both the other cups in the quarter-finals. Third place in the league was nevertheless high enough for a first-ever appearance in the Champions League.
44 years after being denied entry to the inaugural championship, Chelsea made their debut in Europe's premier competition in August 1999 and they put in a series of impressive performances en route to a quarter-final tie against FC Barcelona. It included memorable draws at the San Siro and the Stadio Olimpico against AC Milan and SS Lazio respectively, as well as a thumping 5-0 win against Turkish side Galatasaray at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium. During the first leg of the quarter-final against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea took a 3-0 lead, only to concede a late Luís Figo away goal. Trailing 2-1 during the second leg at the Camp Nou, the team were just seven minutes away from the semi-finals, but conceded a third and were eventually beaten 5-1 after extra time, losing 6-4 on aggregate.
By now, Chelsea had a top-notch multi-national squad which included Zola, Di Matteo, Poyet, Dutch goalkeeper Ed de Goey, and French World Cup-winning trio Frank Leboeuf, Marcel Desailly and Didier Deschamps. Under Vialli, Chelsea would become the first side in English football to field a starting 11 composed entirely of foreign players, highlighting the increasing internationalization of the game. The 1999-2000 season saw inconsistency return to Chelsea's league form as the side struggled to juggle Premier League and Champions League commitments, ultimately finishing a disappointing 5th. Vialli did lead the team to a second FA Cup win in four years that season - this time against Aston Villa, with Di Matteo again scoring the winner - in the last final to be played at Wembley before its redevelopment. The Charity Shield was added in August with a 2-0 win against Manchester United, to make Vialli Chelsea's then most successful manager.
Claudio Ranieri: The Nearly Men (2000-2004)
Vialli spent almost £26 m on new players during the summer, including high-scoring Dutchman Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and talented Icelandic striker Eiður Guðjohnsen, but was dismissed in September 2000 after winning just one of the opening five matches and, once again, with rumours circulating that the manager had fallen out with important players. He was replaced by another Italian, Claudio Ranieri, who, in spite of his initial problems with the English language, guided them to another top six finish in his first season. Ranieri gradually re-built the side, reducing the average age of the squad by selling some older players, including Wise and Poyet, and replacing them with John Terry, William Gallas, Frank Lampard and Jesper Grønkjær.
Ranieri's second season saw some more progress, mainly in the cups, with Chelsea reaching the League Cup semi-finals and another FA Cup final, but was unable to prevent them from losing to double winners Arsenal in the latter. League form saw little improvement, though, and Chelsea again finished 6th. With rumours of the club's perilous financial state circulating, Ranieri was unable to sign any more players. As a result, expectations of Chelsea in the 2002-03 season were more limited. Chelsea nevertheless made an unexpected title challenge and, in perhaps one of the most significant matches in the club's history, defeated Liverpool 2-1 in the final game of the season to finish 4th and secure the final Champions League berth ahead of the Merseysiders.
With the club facing an apparent financial crisis, Bates unexpectedly sold Chelsea F.C. in June 2003 for £60 million. In so doing, he reportedly recognised a personal profit of £17 million on the club he had bought for £1 in 1982 (his stake had been diluted to just below 30% over the years). The club's new owner was Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who also took on responsibility for the club's £80 million of debt, quickly paying most of it. He then went on a £100 million spending spree before the start of the season and landed players like Claude Makélélé, Geremi, Glen Johnson, Joe Cole and Damien Duff.
The spending saw a good return, with Chelsea finishing as Premiership runners-up (their best league finish for 49 years) and reaching the Champions League semi-finals after dramatically beating Arsenal in the quarter-finals. But Ranieri may have been sacked because of some bizarre tactical decisions in the semi-final loss against AS Monaco (for example, switching central midfielder Scott Parker to right-back and right-back Glen Johnson to centre-back to accommodate more attackers in the team) and for ending the season trophyless. Nevertheless, Ranieri was given a hero's send-off in his final match in charge. That match also gave Chelsea fans a glimpse of what could easily have been if not for Abramovich's takeover, as Chelsea handily beat Leeds United, who were relegated, managerless, virtually bankrupt and seemingly destined for oblivion. In Ranieri's place, Abramovich recruited José Mourinho (who had lifted two Portuguese league titles, a Portuguese Cup, a European Cup and a UEFA Cup with FC Porto) as the club's new manager. Abramovich also brought legendary Dutch scout Piet de Visser, who scouted Ronaldo and Romario for PSV Eindhoven, and is considered one of the greatest scouts in history.
José Mourinho: Double League Champions (2004-2007)
2004-05 was the most successful season in the history of Chelsea Football Club. After a slow start to the league season, scoring eight goals in their first nine games and trailing leaders Arsenal by five points, Chelsea's title campaign gradually picked up momentum, driven by the high-scoring Frank Lampard and the return from injury of brilliant young Dutch winger Arjen Robben - with the latter in the side, Chelsea both won more and scored more. They topped the table after a win against Everton in November 2004 and never relinquished their lead, losing only one league game all season and winning a record 29, gaining a record 95 points in the process. A record-breaking defence, led by captain John Terry, the versatile William Gallas, midfield linchpin Claude Makélélé and talented goalkeeper Petr Čech, provided the backbone of the side, conceding just 15 goals all season and keeping 25 clean sheets while Čech went a Premiership-record 1025 minutes without conceding a goal. Chelsea eventually secured the title with a 2-0 away win at Bolton Wanderers thanks to two goals from Lampard, almost fifty years to the day since they had won their last league title. Winning the league completed a domestic double for the club, since Chelsea had already won the League Cup in February after a thrilling 3-2 win over Liverpool in the final at the Millennium Stadium.
In the Champions League, Chelsea coasted through the group stages, qualifying for the knockout phase with two games to spare, and were drawn against FC Barcelona, one of the strongest sides in Europe. In the first leg at the Nou Camp, Chelsea took a 1-0 lead but had Didier Drogba controversially sent-off in the second half with Chelsea still ahead, and the Catalans eventually won 2-1. Mourinho claimed that Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard had spoken to referee Anders Frisk at half-time - a claim later proved correct - and that the result had been "adulterated". After receiving death threats from Chelsea fans, Frisk retired and Mourinho received a two-match touchline ban for bringing the game into disrepute. Chelsea won a pulsating return leg 4-2 at Stamford Bridge, with John Terry heading in a controversial winner to send them through. In the quarter-finals, a 4-2 home win over German champions Bayern Munich and a 3-2 loss in Germany were enough to ensure passage through to the semi-finals, where they faced Liverpool. Following a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool went 1-0 up at Anfield thanks to a disputed goal from Luis García and Chelsea were unable to break down a resilient defence, thus missing out on the chance of a treble.
A year later Chelsea retained their league title, setting more records in the process. Winning their first nine games, the side emphatically set the pace in the Premiership - including a 4-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield - and at one stage were 18 points ahead of nearest rivals Manchester United. Following a late-season blip, and with United on a run of nine consecutive wins, the points gap was closed to seven points as Chelsea went into a key match with West Ham United. A goal down after ten minutes and a man down after 17 following Maniche's sending off, the side bounced back to win 4-1 and maintain the gap. The title was eventually secured with a 3-0 win over United at Stamford Bridge. They became the first London club to win back-to-back league titles since the 1930s, and only the fifth side to do so since the Second World War. They also set the record for the most clean sheets (six) from the start of the season and equalled the best home record for a top division team since Newcastle United in 1906-07 (18 wins and 1 draw from 19 games). In the cups, however, there was less success as they were knocked out of the Champions League by FC Barcelona and the FA Cup semi-final by Liverpool.
The 2006-07 season saw Chelsea relinquish the Premier League trophy to Manchester United after remaining second in the league for the majority of the season. The club were still in the running to achieve an unprecedented quadruple at the end of April, and played all but one of the maximum 63 possible games at the start of the season. They won the League Cup by beating Arsenal 2-1 in the last ever English cup final at the Millennium Stadium, and beat United 1-0 in the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium; Chelsea were also the last team to win it at the old Wembley. They reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, only to be knocked out again by Liverpool, this time in a penalty shoot-out.
After Mourinho: Grant takes over (2007-present)
On 20 September 2007, it was announced that Mourinho had left Chelsea by "mutual consent" following several months of well-documented friction between Mourinho and Abramovich. Shortly afterwards Avram Grant, who had been appointed Chelsea's director of football on 8 July 2007, was announced as Mourinho's successor with Steve Clarke as his assistant. Chelsea lost the 2008 League Cup final at Wembley 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur. The Blues took the lead through Didier Drogba before Dimitar Barbatov equalised from the penalty spot and Jonathan Woodgate headed the winner in extra time. On April 30, 2008, Chelsea won the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool on 4-3 aggregate, to reach the final of this competition for the first time in their history.
In the Premier League, Chelsea entered May in second place with 81 points and are level with Manchester United who have a greater goal difference and will also be their opponents in the European Cup final in Moscow.
Club Rivalries
Chelsea do not have a traditional rivalry, in the manner that Liverpool and Everton, or Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur do. The club's nearest neighbours are Fulham, but they are not seen as big rivals by Chelsea fans, because the clubs have spent most of the last 40 years in separate divisions. A 2004 survey by Planetfootball.com found that Chelsea fans consider their main rivalries to be with (in order): Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. Additionally, a strong rivalry with Leeds United dates back to several heated and controversial matches in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly the FA Cup final in 1970.
A more recent rivalry has grown with Liverpool following several clashes in cup competitions.
Stars of the Current Squad
Club Legends
Most Appearances
| Rank | Player | Career Dates | # Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|
Most Goals
| Rank | Player | Career Dates | # Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
Player Recognition & Awards
Team Honours
Club Management
Uniforms
Chelsea have always worn blue shirts, although they initially adopted a lighter shade than the current version, and unlike today wore white shorts and dark blue socks. The lighter blue was taken from the racing colours of then club president, Earl Cadogan. The light blue shirts were short-lived, however, and replaced by a royal blue version in around 1912. When Tommy Docherty became manager in the early 1960s he changed the kit again, adding blue shorts (which have remained ever since) and white socks, believing it made the club's colours more distinctive, since no other major side used that combination; this kit was first worn during the 1964–65 season.
Chelsea's traditional away colours are all yellow or all white with blue trim, but, as with most teams, they have had some more unusual ones. The first away strip consisted of black and white stripes and for one game in the 1960s the team wore Inter Milan-style blue and black stripes, again at Docherty's behest. Other memorable away kits include a mint green strip in the 1980s, a red and white checked one in the early 90s and a graphite and tangerine addition in the mid-1990s.
The 2007/2008 Chelsea away strip consists of an 'electric yellow' shirt with thick black lines forming separate panels of the shirt. The adidas three stripes are black, and run down the arms. It is worn with black shorts and black socks, but in the case of further clashes it is worn with "electric yellow" shorts and/or socks. The crest on the shirt is in "electric yellow" and black to go with the rest of the kit, instead of the usual blue, white, red and gold. For the 07/08 season, there is also a third kit, which is all white with blue and black trim.
Chelsea's kit is currently manufactured by Adidas, which is contracted to supply the club's kit from 2006 to 2011. Their previous kit manufacturer was Umbro. Chelsea's first shirt sponsor was Gulf Air, agreed midway through the 1983–84 season. Following that, the club were sponsored by Grange Farms, Bai Lin tea and Italian company Simod before a long-term deal was signed with computer manufacturer Commodore International in 1989; Amiga, an off-shoot of Commodore, also appeared on the shirts. Chelsea were subsequently sponsored by Coors beer (1995–97), Autoglass (1997–2001) and Emirates Airline (2001–05). Chelsea's current shirt sponsor is Samsung Mobile.
Stadium
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium on the border of Fulham and Chelsea, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham that is home to Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the famous Moore Park Estate or also known as Walham Green. It is nicknamed "The Bridge" by the club's supporters. The capacity is 42,055, making it the eighth largest ground in the Premier League.
History
Name
18th century maps show a 'Stanford Creek' running along the route of what is now a railway line at the back of the East Stand as a tributary of the Thames.
The stream had two local bridges: Stanford Bridge on the Fulham Road (also recorded as Little Chelsea Bridge) and Stanbridge on the King's Road, now known as Stanley Bridge. Stanford Creek, Stanford Bridge and Stanbridge no doubt all contributed in some uncertain way to the eventual name of Stamford Bridge, which must have been further suggested by the well known Battle of Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire, a famous victory by King Harold Godwinson against the Vikings in 1066 that took place shortly before his defeat by the Normans at the Battle of Hastings.
Early history
Stamford Bridge opened in 1877 as a home for the London Athletics Club and was used almost exclusively for that purpose until 1904, when the lease was acquired by brothers Gus and Joseph Mears, who wanted to stage high-profile professional football matches there. However, previous to this, in 1898, Stamford Bridge played host to the World Championship of shinty between Beauly Shinty Club and London Camanachd. Stamford Bridge was built close to Lillie Bridge, an older sports ground which had hosted the 1873 FA Cup Final and the first ever amateur boxing matches (among other things). It was initially offered to Fulham Football Club, but they turned it down. They considered selling the land to the Great Western Railway Company, but ultimately decided to found their own football club instead, Chelsea, to occupy the ground as a rival to Fulham. Noted football ground architect Archibald Leitch, who had also designed Ibrox, Celtic Park, Craven Cottage and Hampden Park, was hired to construct the stadium.
As originally constructed, Stamford Bridge was an athletics track and the pitch was initially located in the middle of the running track. This meant that spectators were separated from the field of play on all sides by the width of running track and, on the north and south sides, the separation was particularly large because the long sides of the running track considerably exceeded the length of the football pitch. The stadium had a single stand for 5,000 spectators on the east side. Designed by Archibald Leitch, it is an exact replica of the Johnny Haynes stand he had previously built at the re-developed Craven Cottage (and the main reason why Fulham had chosen not to move into the new ground). The other sides were all open in a vast bowl and thousands of tons of material excavated from the building of the Piccadilly Line provided high terracing for standing spectators exposed to the elements on the west side.
Stamford Bridge had an official capacity of around 100,000, making it the second largest ground in England after Crystal Palace, the FA Cup final venue. Stamford Bridge itself hosted the final for the first three years after the First World War from 1920 to 1922, after which it was replaced by Wembley.
Expansion
In 1930, a new terrace was built on the south side for more standing spectators. Only part of this was roofed and it became known as "The Shed". This became the favoured spot for the loudest and most die-hard support until the terrace was demolished in 1994 (when all-seater stadium became compulsory by law as a safety measure in light of the Taylor Report following the Hillsborough disaster). The seated stand which replaced it is still known as the Shed End (see above).
In 1939, a small two storied North Stand including seating was erected. It was originally intended to span the entire northern end, but the outbreak of World War II and its aftermarth compelled the club to keep the stand small. It was demolished and replaced by open terracing for standing supporters in 1975. The North Terrace was closed in 1993 and the present North Stand of two tiers (the Matthew Harding Stand) was then constructed at that end.
In 1964-65, a seated West Stand was built to replace the existing terracing on the west side. Most of the West Stand consisted of rising ranks of wooden tip up seats on iron frames, but seating at the very front was on concrete forms known as "the Benches". The old West Stand was demolished in 1998 and replaced by the current West Stand.
A vast new East Stand was built in 1973, originally intended as the start of a comprehensive redevelopment of the stadium which was abandoned when the football club ran into financial difficulties. The East Stand essentially survives in its 1973 three tiered cantilevered form, although it has been much refurbished and modernised since.
Crisis
The cost of building the East Stand escalated out of control after shortages of materials and a builders' strike; this, combined with other factors, saw the club go into decline. As part of financial restructuring during the late 1970s, the freehold was separated from the club and when new Chelsea chairman Ken Bates bought the club for £1 in 1982, he didn't buy the stadium. A large chunk of the Stamford Bridge freehold was subsequently sold to property developers Marler Estates instead. This resulted in a long and acrimonious legal fight between Bates and Marler Estates; the latter were ultimately forced in bankruptcy after a market crash in the early 1990s, allowing Bates to do a deal with their banks and re-unite the freehold with the club.
The re-building of the stadium commenced again and successive building phases during the 1990s have eliminated the original running track: the 1973 East Stand began this process. All stands are now roofed and all-seater, and are immediately adjacent to the pitch. This has had the effect of concentrating and capturing the noise of the supporters, which paradoxically appears louder now than when support was dispersed at a distance from the pitch on open terraces, although the stadium capacity is approximately half of what it was. The pitch, the turnstiles, and the naming rights of the club are now owned by Chelsea Pitch Owners, an organisation set up to prevent the stadium ever being purchased by property developers again.
Miscellaneous
Stamford Bridge speedway team operated from the stadium from 1929 until 1932, winning the Southern League in their opening season. Initially open meetings were held there in 1928. A nineteen year old junior rider, Charlie Biddle, was killed in a racing accident. In 1931, black cinders were laid onto the circuit suitable for use by speedway and athletics.
Greyhound racing was first held at the stadium on 31 July 1937 and continued until 1 August 1968. A midget car meeting reportedly attracted a crowd of 50,000 people in 1948.
In 1945, Stamford Bridge staged one of the most notable matches in its history. Soviet side FC Dynamo Moscow were invited to tour the United Kingdom at the end of the Second World War and Chelsea were the first side they faced. An estimated crowd of over 100,000 crammed into Stamford Bridge to watch an exciting 3-3 draw, with many spectators on the dog track and on top of the stands.
The stadium was also one of the home venues for the London XI team that played in the original Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, today called the UEFA Cup. Having played at various other stadia in London in the group and knockout stages, the team played the home leg of the two-legged final at Stamford Bridge, drawing 2-2 with FC Barcelona; they lost the away leg 6-0, however.
The ground was used in 1980 for the first major day-night floodlit cricket match between Essex and West Indies (although organised by Surrey) which was a commercial success; the following year it hosted the final of the inaugural Lambert & Butler county cricket competition. It, however, failed and the experiment of playing cricket on football grounds was ended.
Stamford Bridge also briefly hosted American football - despite not being long enough for a regulation-size gridiron field - when the London Monarchs were based there in 1997.
Current stands
Matthew Harding Stand Capacity: 10,884
The Matthew Harding Stand, previously known as the North Stand, is along the north edge of the pitch. It is named after former Chelsea director Matthew Harding, who transformed the club in the early 1990s before his death in a helicopter accident in October 22, 1996. It was due to a considerable investment in the club by Harding that the stand was able to be completed, and as such the tribute is fitting. It was completed during the 1997-98 season, a year or so after Mr Harding's death. The stand has two tiers and is the area where a majority of Season Ticket Holders will be found. As such, this stand is considered the area where the best and most consistent atmosphere will emanate from, particularly the Lower Tier. There are rumours that owner Roman Abramovich will make this bigger, however it would be necessary to knock down the 'Chelsea World of Sport' (for 2005/6 the 'Chelsea Centenary Museum') which falls behind the Matthew Harding stand.
For some European matches, sections of this stand are unusable, as large television vans block entrances to the stand. Therefore, the stadium operates with a reduced capacity for these occasions.
East Stand The East Stand Capacity: 10,925
The oldest stand, the East Stand is located along the east side of the pitch. Previously it was the home to away supporters on the bottom tier, however at the start of the 2005/2006 season then-manager José Mourinho requested the move of the family section to this part of the stand to boost team morale. The stand has three tiers and is the heart of the stadium, housing the tunnel, dugout, dressing rooms, conference room, press centre, AV and commentary box. The middle tier is occupied by facilities, clubs, and executive suites. The upper tier provides spectators with one of the best views in the stadium.
Shed End Capacity: 6,814
The Shed End is located along the south side of the pitch. The stand has two tiers. The lower tier used to be home to the family centre, however for the 2005/2006 season and beyond the club has moved the away fans to the East corner of the stand (Gates 1-3 of the Upper Tier and around half of the Lower). The Shed also contains the centenary museum and a memorial wall where families of deceased fans are able to leave a permanent memorial of their loved ones indicating their eternal support for the club.
This stand was built during the mid 1990s.
The New Stamford Bridge West Stand - Entrance.
West Stand Capacity: 13,432
The West Stand, recently updated, is located along the west side of the pitch. It has three tiers, in addition to a row of executive boxes that stretches the length of the stand. This stand houses Abramovich on match days. Due to this, Abramovich installed heaters so fans (and himself) are warm on the terraces during the cold winter days.
The construction of the stand was almost responsible for Chelsea's financial crisis, which would've seen the club fall into administration but for the intervention of Abramovich. In borrowing some £70m from Eurobonds to finance the project, Ken Bates put Chelsea into a perilous financial position, primarily because of the repayment terms.
Now complete, the stand is the main external 'face' of the stadium, being the first thing fans see when entering the primary gate on Fulham Road. The Main Entrance is flanked by the Spackman and Speedie hospitality entrances, named after former Chelsea players Nigel Spackman and David Speedie. The stand also features the largest concourse area in the stadium.
Other features
When Stamford Bridge was redeveloped in the Ken Bates era many additional features were added to the complex including two hotels, apartments, bars, restaurants, the Chelsea Megastore, and an interactive visitor attraction called Chelsea World of Sport. The intention was that these facilities would provide extra revenue to support the football side of the business, but they were less successful than hoped and before the Abramovich takeover in 2003 the debt taken on to finance them was a major burden on the club. Soon after the takeover a decision was taken to drop the "Chelsea Village" brand and refocus on Chelsea as a football club. However, the stadium is sometimes still referred to as part of Chelsea Village or "The Village".
Centenary Museum
2005 saw the opening of a new club museum, known as the Chelsea Museum or the Centenary Museum, to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the club. The museum is located in the former Shed Galleria. Visitors are able to visit the WAGs lounge and then watch an introductory video message from the vice-president Richard Attenborough. They are then guided decade by decade through the club's history seeing old programmes, past shirts, José Mourinho's coat and other memorabilia.
The Future
The club has announced that it wants to extend Stamford Bridge to around 55,000 seats; however, its location in a heavily built-up part of Inner London near a main road and two railway lines makes this very difficult. The dispersal of an additional 13,000 fans into the residential roads, of the Moore Park Estate opposite, would not be desirable and the club is said to be looking at all possible solutions to this.
The club have therefore been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge to a variety of locations, including the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, White City, Battersea Power Station, the Imperial Road Gasworks (off the Kings Road on the Fulham and Chelsea border) and the Chelsea Barracks. Furthermore, due to the terms of the Chelsea Pitch Owners, the club could have to relinquish the name 'Chelsea Football Club' should it ever move from Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United History
Full name:
Manchester United Football Club
Nickname(s):
Man United, M.U.F.C., United, Red Devils
Founded:
1878
Home stadium:
Old Trafford, Manchester
Chairman:
Joel and Avram Glazer
Manager:
Sir Alex Ferguson
League:
Facts & History
Contents[hide] |
Manchester United Football Club
Manchester United Football Club is an English football club based at the Old Trafford Stadium in Greater Manchester in the North of England. Manchester United FC was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992 and has played in the top division of English football since 1975. Also known as the Red Devils, it is the most popular football team in the world with over 330 million supporters worldwide and one of the most successful in English and European Football, with 16 league titles, 11 FA Cups and 2 UEFA Champions Leagues! Since 1986, Sir Alex Ferguson has been manager of the team, leading them to win 18 trophies in 20 years! According to Forbes Magazine, Manchester is the richest football club in the world, with a $1.5 Billion value.
Club History
Founded in 1878, the club was originally named Newton Heath L&YR F.C. as the works team of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway depot at Newton Heath. In 1892, they entered the Football League and changed their name, becoming Newton Heath F.C. However, in 1902, the club was near bankruptcy with more than £2500 in debts: it was saved by J.H Davies, who was the managing director of Manchester Breweries, becoming club chairman. The new staff first decided to rename the team, in order to start fresh: Manchester Central and Manchester Celtics were among the names suggested before Louis Rocca mentioned Manchester United. On April 26, 1902, Manchester United was born. New name implied new club's colours: they abandoned the green and gold halves in favour of red and white. Ernest Mangnall was appointed as head coach to get the club in the First Division. That year, Manchester finished 5th in Division 2, a good result for a first attempt. The next season, thanks to new players such as Charlie Roberts, who cost the club a then-record £750, Manchester finished 3rd, only 1 point short from the promotion in First Division. Finally, in 1906, they were promoted to First Division, finishing 8th in their first season in the top-flight.
In 1907, 18 players of Manchester City were banned from playing for them ever again: United quickly signed some of them (Sandy Turnbull, Billy Meredith…). They made a huge impact on the team, leading them to win their first league title in 1909! The following season was also very successful for the Red Devils: they won the first edition of the Charity Shield and their first FA Cup! That same year, the team moved to their new stadium, Old Trafford: they played their first game there on February 19, 1910 against Liverpool in a 4-3 loss, despite a 3–0 lead. In 1911, they won their second league title, which was also their last one for 41 years. Manchester was relegated in Division 2 in 1922, struggling for the next ten years between promotions and relegations. They were back in Division 1 in 1939, right before WWII.
After WWII, Matt Busby was appointed as manager and revolutionized coaching, bringing in players from the youth team whenever possible. He was allowed to pick his own team, choose which players to sign and direct the team's training sessions himself, which were usually the tasks reserved to the club’s directors. Manchester trusted him and finished 2nd in 1947, 1948 and 1949. Moreover, they won the 1948 FA Cup, thanks to the ‘magic trio’ of Stan Pearson, Jack Rowley and Charlie Mitten. With an average age of only 22, the Red Devils won the league title again in 1956: Busby’s Youth policy was working. The following season, the Busby Babes who were led by Duncan Edwards won another league title and reached the FA Cup Final, which United lost against Aston Villa. The same season, they were the first English team to compete in the European Cup, reaching the semi-finals before being knocked out by Real Madrid. During their European campaign, they also recorded their biggest win in all competitions, beating Belgian champions Anderlecht 10–0 at Maine Road!
On February 6, 1958, the plane carrying the team home from a European Cup match crashed in Munich, Germany: 8 players (Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor and Liam "Billy" Whelan) died and 15 persons were injured. Despite the accident, United reached the FA Cup Final, losing against Bolton Wanderers and even managed to finish 2nd in Division 1 the following year.
Busby was rebuilding the team at the beginning of the 1960s, signing players such as Denis Law, Pat Crerand and the eventual legend George Best. Best was known for his control of the ball. The Red Devils won the 1963 FA Cup, despite finishing 19th in Division 1. They reached the 2nd place the next year, and won the league title in 1965 and 1967. In 1968, United became the first English club to win the European Cup, wining 4-1 against Eusebio’s Benfica in the final! Denis Law, Bobby Charlton, and George Best were named European Footballer of the Year, respectively in 1964, 1966 and 1968. Matt Busby resigned as manager in 1969 and was replaced by former United player Wilf McGuinness.
United struggled under Wilf McGuinness, finishing 8th in 1970: McGuinness was demoted and Busby came back for 6 months. Results were better, although he left the club for the last time in the summer of 1971. Frank O'Farrell was named as Busby's successor but only lasted less than 18 months. However, in the mean time, he brought new players such as Martin Buchan for £125,000 to make up the team's poor form. Tommy Docherty, or 'the Doc', became manager at the end of 1972. Despite saving United from relegation that season, the Red Devils were relegated in 1974. Moreover, the golden trio of Best, Law and Charlton had left the club: Law moved to Manchester City in the summer of 1973, and scored the goal that relegated United, and politely refused to celebrate the goal with his team mates. In 1975, they were promoted again, back to the top flight, and reached the 1976 FA Cup Final, but were beaten by Southampton. They reached the final again in 1977, beating Liverpool 2-1. In spite of this success and his popularity with the supporters, Docherty was fired soon after the final.
In 1977, Dave Sexton was appointed as manager and made the team play in a defensive formation, which is why Sexton was unpopular with supporters. This defensive formation failed to win any trophies: Manchester United lost the FA Cup Final against Arsenal in what was known as the "five-minute final" for the flurry of goals in the last minutes and finished once 2nd in Division 1. Sexton was fired in 1981 and replaced by Ron Atkinson.
Ron Atkinson's first move was to sign Bryan Robson from his old club for £1.75 million, breaking the British record transfer fee. Robson was considered as United's best midfielder since Duncan Edwards. The Red Devils won the 1983 and 1985 FA Cups. In the 1985-1986 season, they won their first ten league games, opening a ten-point gap over their rivals as early as October and were favourites to win the league. However, they finished only 4th and the following season, with United on the edge of the First Division's relegation zone, Atkinson was fired.
In 1986, Alex Ferguson arrived from Aberdeen to replace Atkinson. For his first season as head coach, United finished 11th, and the following season, they finished 2nd with Brian McClair becoming the first United player to score more than 20 league goals in a season since George Best! However, the team struggled the next 2 seasons, and Ferguson was on the edge to be sacked! Fortunately, the team won the 1990 FA Cup, beating Crystal Palace in the final. In 1991, United won their first and only one European Cup Winners' Cup, beating Spanish champions Barcelona. The 1992-1993 season was very successful for Manchester United: the arrival of Eric Cantona, combined with the talent of Ryan Giggs and Paul Ince, led the team to win its first league title since 1967! Moreover, they won their first double League and FA Cup the following year, helped by a newcomer named Roy Keane, who would eventually become the team captain. However, on January 20, 1994, the club and all the fans were plunged into mourning following the death of Sir Matt Busby. United finished runner-up in both league and FA Cup in the 1994-1995 season.
The 1995-1996 season was a key period for the Red Devils. Actually, Ferguson brought new players from the club's youth team such as David Beckham, Paul Scholes or Gary Neville, in order to replace some of the key players. The team did surprisingly well, wining the double again. This was the first time any English club had won the double twice, and the feat was nicknamed the "Double Double".
The 1998-1999 season was the most successful season in the English Football Club History as United became the first and only English team to win The Treble Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League! United won the title on the final day beating Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 and they won the FA Cup Final 2-0 against Newcastle United, the 2 goals were scored by Teddy Sheringham and Paul Scholes. In the UEFA Champions League Final, they won against Bayern Munich: they scored twice in injury time to finally win 2-1! Moreover, they won the Intercontinental Cup after beating Palmeiras 1–0 in Tokyo. Ferguson was subsequently knighted for his services to football. They won the league in 2000 and 2001.
In 2000, Manchester United became one of the 14 founders of the G-14 group of leading European football clubs. They finished 3rd in the 2002 Premiership, but they regained the title the following season (2003), securing their 8th title in 11 seasons. Ferguson even described this success as his greatest achievement since becoming United manager in 1986. The 2004 FA Cup was the only trophy United won during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. However, they rebuilt the team, signing Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand respectively for £12.24 million, £23 million and £29.1 million. Roy Keane left United to join the Celtics in 2005 and the club failed to qualify for the knock-out phase of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in more than 10 years. They finished 2nd in the Premiership and were eliminated in the FA Cup by Liverpool. However, they won the 2006 League Cup, beating Wigan Athletic 4-0 in the final. At the end of the season, Ruud Van Nistelrooy left to join Real Madrid due to a row with Ferguson.
On May 6, 2007, United won the English Premier League title, 4 years after their last one: it was their 9th Premiership title in the 15 seasons of its existence. Moreover, they scored 20 more goals in 32 matches than second placed Chelsea. However, they lost 1-0 against Chelsea in the FA Cup Final. In the Champions League, they advanced to the semi-finals, but they lost against eventual winner A.C Milan 5-3 on aggregate.
In the 2007-2008 season, they are currently leading the Premiership followed by Chelsea and Arsenal. In the FA Cup, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Portsmouth. In the 79th, after Van Der Saar was substitute at half-time, second goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak was sent off for a professional foul on Milan Baroš. Rio Ferdinand was given the responsibility of attempting to save the penalty but he failed: United were knocked out of the FA Cup. In the Champions League, they are qualified for the quarter-finals, after beating Lyon in the first knockout round: they will face A.S Roma.
Club Rivalries
Manchester United has 3 'traditional' rivals: Liverpool, Manchester City, Leeds United. Although, most fans see Liverpool as the number 1 rival, due to the success of both clubs as well as their proximity to each other.
Liverpool
The rivalry with Liverpool began during the 1960s, when both clubs were the best in England. Here is an interesting fact: the fixture is usually played at midday to discourage fans from drinking before the game! Ryan Giggs even said that "it is the most famous fixture in English football". Liverpool has a total of 40 trophies and Manchester United of 32, and both clubs claim the title of 'the Greatest English Football Club'. Unfortunately for Liverpool, only one team has it right.
Manchester City
The Manchester City rivalry dates back to the Newton Heath era of the 1890s. The game between the 2 teams is called the Manchester derby. United fans point out that City have gone awhile without winning a major trophy, whereas City fans claim United do not actually come from Manchester. The 2 teams have met 149 times, United have won 59 and City 41.
Leeds United
The Rivalry with Leeds began during the late 60s, reaching its apex when Leeds won the league title in 1992, Manchester United finishing 2nd. One of the rivalry's nicknames is the Roses rivalry, a historical reference to the Wars of the Roses. Moreover, when British Football Hooliganism was at its height, the fights between Leeds' Service Crew and Manchester United's Red Army became known as the most violent clashes in British football. Nowadays, there is a high level of security when the clubs face each other.
Stars of the Current Squad
Edwin Van der Sar is a Dutch goalkeeper and the captain of the Dutch national team. In 1990, he joined the Ajax's youth centre. In 9 years with Ajax, he played in 226 games, won the 1992 UEFA Cup and the 1995 Champions League. He then moved to Juventus for 2 years making only 66 appearances and eventually lost his place to Gianluigi Buffon. He joined the Premiership with Fullham in 2001 for around £7.7 million. He has been playing for Manchester since 2005, Sir Alex Fergusson consider him as one of the best goalkeeper in the world. Van der Sar’s solid presence, agility and reliability have been crucial to United’s success in recent years. He started his international career in 1995 against Belarus, and has played in all the major international competitions since then. On October 2007, he said he intends to retire from international football following the 2008 Euro.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese right winger/striker. The wonder boy from Ilha da Madeira joined local Nacional before going to Sporting in Lisbon. In 2003, after a friendly between Sporting and Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson decided to go for the boy, at that time only 18 years old, and signed him for £12.24 million. He was presented at Old Trafford weeks after David Beckham left the club to join Real Madrid. He was handed the number 7 shirt, a shirt number that has belonged to some of the greatest Manchester United legends, such as George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and Beckham. With a difficult start, he finally became the most important player of the team. Last season, after a polemic game between England and Portugal in Germany, Ronaldo became hated by most of the English fans, except the Red Devils' ones as Cristiano became the best player of the season at Manchester side. So far, he has 228 appearances and scored 84 goals.
Wayne Rooney is an English striker, and is always where he is supposed to be! Opportune like no other, he’s the key reference to every play in the English team. Rooney never gives up on a ball and is one of the top strikers in the powerful offensive line of Manchester United with Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. He started his professional career in 2002 with Everton, before joining United in 2004 for £23 million. In his first game at Old Trafford, he produced a stunning display to blast an unforgettable debut hat-trick against Fenerbahce! Sir Alex Ferguson describes him as “the best young player I have seen in my time”. He has scored a total of 72 goals in 179 appearances. Gary Neville is an English defender. He started his professional career in 1992 with the Reds, and has been playing for them since then. In December 2005, Gary was appointed the new captain of Manchester United, following Roy Keane's departure. He enters every game refusing to contemplate defeat, and the fans love him for it. He has won an impressive amount of trophies, with seven Premiership titles, three FA Cups, one European Cup and one League Cup! Since his debut with the Red Devils, he has played in 540 matches and scored 7 goals! His brother Phil Neville is a former player of United (1993-2005). Gary Neville made his debut with the English National Team in 1995, in a friendly against Japan and has earned 85 caps so far.
Rio Ferdinand is an English centre back. He started his professional career in 1995 with West Ham United. In 2000, he joined Leeds United for a £18 million transfer fee, becoming the world's most expensive defender. On July 22, 2002, he signed with United for £29.1 million! One of the best defenders in the world, he has an incredible reading of the game. In September 2003, he missed a routine drugs test and, despite appealing, was banned from playing for 8 months in January 2004. He has a personal record of 255 appearances and 7 goals. On November 15 1997, he made his international debut with England in a friendly against Cameroon, making him the youngest defender to play for England at 19 years and 8 Days old at that time. He was named captain of England for the friendly against France on March 26, 2008.
Club Legends
Sir Bobby Charlton is a former English striker. He played almost his entire career at Manchester United and was well-known for his attacking instincts and his amazing long-range shot. He started his professional career in 1954 with United. Having survived the Munich air disaster, he played as if every game was for his fallen colleagues. One of the Busby Babes, he played a record of 754 games, scoring 247 goals, holding both appearances and goals records in United's history. Named European Footballer of the Year in 1966, he also won the World Cup with England the same year. Part of the famed Best-Law-Charlton triumvirate, he retired in 1973. In June 1984 Charlton became a director of Manchester United, a position he still holds today.
George Best was a Northern Irish winger. He started his professional career in 1963 with Manchester United at the age of 17. Spotted by United scout Bob Bishop, who famously told Matt Busby: “Boss, I think I’ve found you a genius”, he was one of the key players alongside Bobby Charlton and Dennis Law in United's first European Cup in 1968. Nicknamed The Fifth Beatle for his long hair, good looks and extravagant celebrity lifestyle, he was named European Footballer of the Year in 1968 and won 2 League titles and the 1968 European Cup with the Reds. In 1974, he left United with 470 appearances and 179 goals! He then joined several clubs in Australia, Scotland and in the US. He played his first international game with Northern Ireland in 1964 and scored a total of 9 goals in 37 caps. He died on December 3, 2005 at the age of 59: 100,000 people were at his funeral in Belfast.
Dennis Law is a former Scottish striker. He started his professional career in 1956 at second division Huddersfield Town. In 1960, Manchester City signed him for a transfer fee of £55,000, setting a new British record. A year later, he was bought by Italian club Torino for £110,000. He spent only one year in Italy, having a difficult time to settle there. In 1962, he signed with Manchester United for £115,000, setting another British record. In 11 years with the Reds, he won 2 league titles, 1 FA Cup and the 1968 European Cup. He scored a total of 237 goals in 404 appearances. He was named European Footballer of the Year in 1964 and was nicknamed The King and The Lawman by supporters. He left United in 1973 and joined Manchester City. Law also played for Scotland, making his international debut in 1958. He earned 55 caps and scored 30 goals for his national team.
Roy Keane is a former Irish midfielder. He started his professional career in 1990 with Nottingham Forrest. He then signed with United in 1993 for £3.75 million, a British transfer record at the time. In his first season, he won the club's first ever double League title and FA Cup! In 1995, younger players such as David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes were brought into the team, which left Keane as the most experienced player in midfield. That season, Keane won his second double in 3 years! He took over the United captaincy from Eric Cantona at the start of the 1997/98 campaign, but he missed most of the season due to a knee ligament injury! He returned for the 1998-1999 season, and was one of the key players in United's Treble (Premiership, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League). In 2000, he was named Footballer of the Year and Players' Player of the Year. On November 18, 2005, he left Manchester United with a personal record of 480 appearances and 51 goals scored, and joined Celtic. Six months after joining Celtic and helping them secure the Scottish Premier League title and Scottish League Cup, Keane announced his retirement from professional football. Manchester United....
Most Appearances
| Rank | Player | Career Dates | # Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ryan Giggs | 1991-present | 759 |
Most Goals
| Rank | Player | Career Dates | # Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sir Bobby Charleton | 1956-1973 | 249 |
Player Recognition & Awards
Dennis Law
* European Player of the Year - 1964
Bobby Charlton
* European Player of the Year: 1966
* Footballer of the Year: 1966
George Best
* European Player of the Year: 1968
* Footballer of the Year: 1968
Eric Cantona
* Players' Player of the Year: 1995
* Footballer of the Year: 1996
Roy Keane
* Footballer of the Year: 2000
* Players' Player of the Year: 2000
Cristiano Ronaldo
* Footballer of the Year: 2007
* Players' Player of the Year: 2007
Team Honours
League Title (16): 1907–08, 1910–11, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07
FA Cups (11): 1909, 1948, 1963, 1977, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
League Cups (2): 1992, 2006
FA Charity/Community Shield (16): 1908, 1911, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965*, 1967*, 1977*, 1983, 1990*, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007 (* joint holders)
UEFA Champions League (2): 1968, 1999 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1991 European Supercup: 1991 Intercontinental Cup: 1999
The Club's Best Season
The 1998-1999 season was United's most successful season as they became the first and only English team to win The Treble Premiership, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League! In particular, United went undefeated from December 1998 – May 1999, a run of 33 matches. United won the title on the final day beating Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 and they won the FA Cup Final 2-0 against Newcastle United, the 2 goals were scored by Teddy Sheringham and Paul Scholes. In the UEFA Champions League Final, they won against Bayern Munich: they scored twice in injury time to finally win 2-1! Moreover, they won the Intercontinental Cup after beating Palmeiras 1–0 in Tokyo.
Club Management
On May 12, 2005, American businessman Malcolm Glazer took control of United through his investment vehicle Red Football Ltd. for £800 million. On May 16, he increased his share to the 75% necessary to de-list the club from the Stock Exchange, making it private again. On June 8, he appointed his sons to the Manchester United board as non-executive directors.
Owner: Malcolm Glazer Chairmen: Joel and Avram Glazer Head Coach: Sir Alex Ferguson
Coach: Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Alex is a Scottish football manager and former player. He has been the manager of Manchester United since 1986. Considered as one of the best managers in the world, he is the second-longest serving manager in the history of Manchester United after Sir Matt Busby and the most successful manager in the history of English football! He has won 9 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, 1 Champions League, 1 Supercup, 1 Cup Winners Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup. In 1999, he became the first manager to lead an English team to the treble of Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League.
Uniforms
From 1878 to 1902, the club's shirts were green and gold halves. When the was renamed Manchester United in 1902, the staff also changed the jerseys, abandoning the green and gold halves of Newton Heath, and picking red and white as new colours.
Stadium
From 1878 to 1893, The Heathens were playing on a small field on North Road, near to where Manchester Piccadilly Station is currently located. In 1893, when United entered the Football League, they moved to a new home at Bank Street in nearby Clayton. In April 1909, Old Trafford was named as the home of Manchester United, following the purchase of the land for around £60,000. Architect Archibald Leitch was hired by United chairman John Henry Davies, and given a budget of £30,000 for construction. The inaugural game was played on 19 February 1910 against Liverpool F.C. in a 4–3 win for the visitors. Most of the stadium was destroyed during WWII, but it was rebuilt in 1949. Currently, it has a capacity of 76,212.
Sponsors
AIG (Principal Sponsor), Nike (Official Sportswear Partner), Audi (Official Car Supplier and Dugout Seat Provider), Budweiser, Betfred (Official Betting Partner), Xfm Manchester (Official Radio Station)
AIG was announced as the new shirt sponsors of Manchester United in a record sponsorship deal of £56.5 million on April 6, 2006.
Important Links
Official team site: http://www.manutd.com/
Official league site: http://www.premierleague.com/
Official ticket site: http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={833A50E3-D881-494E-911F-28054F2734B9}
References
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