Chelsea has had some remarkable shot-stoppers over the years who have held on to the clean sheet creating a story of its own. These Blues icons have put on a show at Stamford Bridge over the years cementing their position in their history. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and witness some extraordinary keeper stories who’ve donned the iconic blue jersey.
Here are Chelsea’s top 10 goalkeepers of all time:
10. William Foulke
Chelsea’s first-ever goalkeeper William Foulk remains one of their most famous despite playing only one season at the club. Even though renowned for his massive size and weight, reaching around 24 stone at the end of his career, he makes the list for this achievement alone!
9. Dmitri Kharine
Dmitri Kharine made 118 appearances for Chelsea and was a peach in his earlier years at the club. He was a symbolic presence in their run to the 1994 FA Cup Final, although he conceded four goals in the final itself, and a year later helped in the club’s UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final run. Consecutive Injuries blighted his later years at the club and the signing of a new shot-stopper was imminent as he played only 20 times in the last three seasons.
8. Edouard Mendy
Might be a controversial member of the list, but in the end, Mendy was a Champions League winner with Chelsea.
In the 2020-21 campaign, he equalled the record for most clean sheets in a Champions League season with nine and reaped its reward, winning the FIFA Best Goalkeeper award.
Sadly, the sweetness did not last long as the Senegalese shot-stopper went on a decline and was subsequently sold to Al Ahli in June 2023.
Also Read: Top 10 Best Premier League Strikers of All-time
7. Bill Robertson
Having spent 14 long years around the Cobham Training Centre from 1946 to 1960. Bill Robertson emerged as an academy graduate going on to hold down the number-one spot for years to come. On the 21st of April 1951, at the age of 22, he made his debut against Liverpool, where he kept a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory. This cemented him as a regular in the Chelsea squad, with Robertson ultimately playing 199 games for the Blues before moving to Leyton Orient in 1960.
6. Ed de Goey
After an unsettled start to English football, Ed de Goey found his feet at Chelsea. He put on a remarkable show which led to the Blues coming out victorious in the League Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup. Ed won three major trophies at Chelsea, the FA Cup, in 1999/2000, a season broke where he made the most club appearances (59) and clean sheets (27), although surpassed now. He kept 72 clean sheets in 179 games.
5. Eddie Niedzwiecki
Signed by John Neal in 1983 from his former club Wrexham for just £55,000 turned out to be an absolute bargain. Eddie was immediately given the number one shirt, winning the Second Division Championship in his first season. He played every fixture and conceded less than a goal per game. Unfortunately, a serious knee ligament damage in the spring of 1986 while he was at the prime of his career dented his game. He played his last game at the age of 28.
4. Carlo Cudicini
Carlo Cudicini was a highly underrated goalkeeper, who thrived at Stamford Bridge. He was recommended to the Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli by his friend Luca Marchegiani (Lazio GK) and was sold to the Blues for £300,00 in 1999. He was voted Chelsea’s Player of the Year for the 2001–02 season by fans and was definitely at his peak in just four years. Sadly, Jose Mourinho’s arrival meant he fell out of favors but remained at Blues until 2009 before departing to Tottenham.
Cuducini returned to Chelsea after his playing days and joined the coaching staff from 2016 to 2019.
3. Thibaut Courtois
A promising young talent Courtois proved his worth at Chelsea after spending several successful seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid, honing his skills and gaining experience in the English game. He quickly established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper upon his return, showcasing exceptional ability. Courtois was crucial in Chelsea’s Premier League title triumphs, earning praise for his consistent performances and saves. He won accolades, including multiple Golden Glove awards. However, his departure to Real Madrid in 2018 marked the end of his tenure leaving the Chelsea faithful a little annoyed.
2. Peter Bonetti
One of Chelsea’s greatest-ever goalkeepers is Peter Bonetti who made over 700 appearances between 1959 and 1979 getting the nickname “The Cat” for his agility and quick reflexes. Bonetti represented the England national team that won the 1966 FIFA World Cup, although he didn’t play in any matches during the tournament and sadly missed the top spot.
1. Petr Cech
Legendary is just the perfect word that fits Petr Cech’s Chelsea career. Since his debut in 2004, the Czech shot-stopper quickly established himself as one of the world’s best goalkeepers. His presence, exceptional saving ability, and commanding leadership guided Chelsea to numerous Premier League triumphs, FA Cup victories, and a Champions League medal in 2012. Renowned for his iconic helmet after a severe head injury, Cech’s resilience stood for 494 appearances, which solidified his status as one of the club’s greatest-ever if not the best Chelsea goalkeeper of all time.
FAQ
Q. Who is Chelsea’s best goalkeeper ever?
Petr Cech
Q. Who is Chelsea’s number one goalkeeper?
Petr Cech
Q. Who are Chelsea goalkeepers currently?
Robert Sánchez, Filip Jörgensen, and Marcus Bettinelli
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