Ranking the 10 Best Chelsea Defenders of All-Time

Chelsea is a club that prides itself on its knack for winning silverware. However, to do so, they have had to build strong foundations for each of their silverware-winning sides, which was a huge task in itself. While some of their greatest products came from their academy, the Blues have shown their willingness to make big moves in the transfer market repeatedly.

A blend of these strategies has allowed the club to have some of the best defenders in world football, helping them win in turn. Having said that, let’s take a look at the 10 best Chelsea defenders of all time who have been key figures in the defense for the Blues over the years.

List of the Top 10 Best Chelsea Defenders

10. Antonio Rudiger

Rudiger came through the ranks at VfB Stuttgart in Germany and signed for AS Roma in 2015, where he made a mark in European football over the next two seasons. Following that spell, Chelsea snapped him up in 2017 and he became an integral part of their lineup.

A strong, quick and witty defender, Rudiger can play the game as well as he can prevent an opponent from playing theirs. He made 203 appearances for the Blues, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists as well. He won the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup, among other honours, making him one of the best Chelsea defenders.

9. Branislav Ivanovic

Ivanovic is one of the most iconic defenders in Chelsea’s history due to his involvement in some of their biggest moments in the 2010s. The Russian signed for the Blues from Lokomotiv Moscow in January 2008 but it took a couple of seasons before he became a mainstay in the starting XI.

A robust and versatile player, Ivanovic mainly played as a right-back but could also slot in as a centre-back when needed. He made 377 appearances for the club, scoring 34 goals and assisting 34 as well. He won three Premier League titles, three FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League, among other honours.

8. Gary Cahill

Cahill began his playing career at Aston Villa’s youth academy in 2000, before breaking into their first-team setup in 2004. He spent four years with them, followed by four years at Bolton, before joining Chelsea in 2008 for a modest fee.

He was initially brought in as backup for John Terry or David Luiz but soon started featuring regularly after the latter’s departure for Paris Saint-Germain. He made 290 appearances for the Blues, scoring 25 goals and providing six assists. He is a two-time Premier League winner, a two-time Europa League winner and a two-time FA Cup winner, among other honours, making him one of Chelsea’s best defenders.

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7. Marcel Desailly

One of the most solid and imposing defenders in the 1990s, Desailly began his early career with French side Nantes in 1986. He represented Milan for a year in 1992/93, before spending five years with AC Milan. The Frenchman came to Stamford Bridge as a seasoned veteran looking to guide a young team and establish them as Premier League contenders.

He made 222 appearances for the Blues, scoring seven goals and providing three assists. Desailly helped the Blues win one FA Cup, one UEFA Super Cup and one FA Charity Shield.

6. Ricardo Carvalho

One of the key components of Jose Mourinho’s famous Champions League-winning FC Porto side in 2004, Carvalho was brought along to Stamford Bridge by his manager that summer. He spent almost seven seasons at the club, forming a solid record-breaking partnership with John Terry.

Carvalho made 210 appearances for the club, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists as well. He won three Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and two League Cups, among other honours, cementing his spot among the best Chelsea defenders.

5. Ron Harris

Harris began his youth career with Chelsea in 1960, before being promoted to the first team two years later, where he spent nearly two decades. Harris made 682 appearances for the Blues during his tenure at the club and his record for most appearances of all time still stands strong today.

Harris finished runner-up in the Second Division twice, and helped Chelsea win the FA Cup once, the League Cup once, as well as the European Cup Winners’ Cup. The Englishman has made a staggering 684 appearances for the Blues while scoring 14 during his entire stay at Stamford Bridge.

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4. Thiago Silva

Already an established defender who had represented and won trophies with AC Milan and PSG, Silva arrived at Chelsea towards the end of his illustrious career. However, given the generational player he is, Silva showed age is just a number with his incredible displays for the Blues after joining.

He made 155 appearances for the club, scoring nine goals and providing four assists as well. Adept with being a ball-playing defender, his presence helped his team be tactically flexible. He has one the Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup with the Blues, making him one of the best Chelsea defenders.

3. Cesar Azpilicueta

Signed for a very small fee from Marseille in August 2012, Azpilicueta went on to establish himself as one of the best Chelsea defenders over his 11 years with the club. The Spaniard initially played as a full-back but was also deployed as a centre-back in a back three under Antonio Conte.

An intelligent and hard-working player, Azpilicueta warmed himself to Chelsea supporters with his effort on the pitch. He was club captain after Terry departed and took up the responsibility of mentoring young players. He won two Premier League titles, two Europa League titles, one Champions League and one FA Cup, among other honours.

2. Ashley Cole

Arguably the only defender that could be included in the top 5 defenders for two massive English clubs, Ashley Cole was one of the best Chelsea defenders of all time. He came through the youth ranks at Arsenal and spent seven years with the club between 1999-2006, before joining the Blues.

A quick, intelligent and hard-tackling defender, Cole was one of the toughest opponents for wingers in the 2000s. He made 337 appearances for Chelsea, scoring seven goals and providing 37 assists. He won one Premier League title, four FA Cups, one Champions League and one Europa League with the club.

1. John Terry

If there ever were a title of ‘Mr. Chelsea’, only one man in history has done enough to deserve that. Terry formed Chelsea’s identity that they have today along with Frank Lampard and others in the 2000s, making them the feared club they are. He came through their youth ranks in 1998 and spent 19 successful years at Stamford Bridge.

Terry made 717 appearances for the Blues, scoring 67 goals and providing 27 assists in his time at the club. He is the most decorated defender in the club’s history, having won a total of 17 team trophies. This includes five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League, among other honours. He is also a two-time Chelsea Player of the Year winner and one of the best Chelsea defenders ever.

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