Despite the 'fact' that Chelsea had absolutely no history before Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003, the Blues have still had some top, top players over the years.
Whether winning the Premier League, the Champions League or everything in between, the last 17 years have been kind to Chelsea, but that's not to say that all the talent has been reserved for Abramovich's reign. Even before the Russian's arrival, Chelsea had some real stars on their books.
Narrowing all those stars down to a squad of just 25 players who have played for Chelsea in the Premier League era is pretty tough. Some big names have to miss out, but here's what the Blues' dream squad might look like.
Goalkeepers
Carlo Cudicini - One of Chelsea's stars in the pre-Roman Abramovich era, Cudicini was easily good enough for a few more years in the starting lineup, but
Centre Backs
John Terry -
Ricardo Carvalho - Terry's partner in crime, Carvalho was a machine during his six years at the Bridge. To be part of a defence which conceded just 15 goals in 2004/05 is ridiculously impressive.
Marcel Desailly - Often overlooked in the conversation of the league's best ever, Desailly was an attacker's nightmare. A physically dominant, yet technically elegant defender, he really had it all.
Gary Cahill - It feels like the world doesn't want to admit that Cahill used to be a top talent. He won it all at the Bridge and deserves to be seen as one of the greats.
Right Backs
Left Backs
Ashley Cole - The best left-back in the history of English football? Cole was a machine before he came to Chelsea, but he elevated his game even more after he made the switch to the Bridge. So many players have tried to replace him, but none have ever come close.
Graeme Le Saux - Le Saux's first spell at Chelsea wasn't great, but by the time he returned as the most expensive defender in English football in 1997, he was the real deal. He helped lead the Blues to the Cup Winners' Cup in 1998, which was the start of the team's rise to prominence.
Central Midfielders
Frank Lampard - One of the easiest inclusions in this entire squad, Lampard was something else as a player. His goalscoring numbers alone warrant inclusion, but when you remember his creativity, leadership and longevity, you realise just how special Lampard was.
Michael Ballack - Bringing Ballack in on a free transfer in 2006 was one of the finest deals in Chelsea history. The German was overwhelmingly dominant in midfield, bringing goals, assists and sheer power for four years.
Claude Makélélé - It came down to straight shoot-out with N'Golo Kanté, but Makélélé just edges this one. He redefined what it meant to be a defensive midfielder, becoming the standard against which every new player is compared to this day.
Michael Essien - Essien's fitness struggles nearly opened the door for Dennis Wise here, but when the Ghanaian was fit, he was utterly outstanding. Plus, that goal against Arsenal definitely works in his favour.
Right Midfielders
Joe Cole - Cole didn't bring many goals and assists, but that wasn't what his game was about. His love of weaving through defenders was vital to Chelsea's dominance, and his involvement in three Premier League titles speaks for itself.
Damien Duff - During his three-year spell at the Bridge, Duff transformed what it meant to be a winger at Chelsea. The Irishman formed one of the league's most devastating partnerships with a certain someone who will soon be mentioned, and he was inspirational in the first two title victories.
Left Midfielders
Eden Hazard - You'll find some fans who will argue that Hazard is the single-greatest player in Premier League history, and while that's up for debate, his status as one of Chelsea's star talents is not.
Arjen Robben - The second half of that combination with Duff, Robben made his name on the left side of Chelsea's attack (despite his signature move being the cut in from the right). The Dutchman terrorised defenders for three years, and fans are still pleading for Chelsea to sign someone like him once more.
Attacking Midfielders
Gianfranco Zola - Another of those in the all-time greats discussion, there's a reason Zola was known as the 'Little Magician'. He scored huge goals en route to winning plenty of silverware, and his famous number 25 shirt has been unofficially retired in his memory.
Ruud Gullit - Gullit was past his best when he joined Chelsea in 1995, but he was still absurdly impressive. The Dutchman's power and grace were a core part of what the Blues did back then, and his leadership even saw him become player-manager just one year after his arrival.
Juan Mata - This was a tough one. Roberto Di Matteo can feel a little aggrieved to have missed out, but a prime Mata was something special. His record of 19 goals and 35 assists in 64 games in the 2012/13 season is outrageous and speaks volumes of what he brought to the team.
Strikers
Didier Drogba - When you ask some of the Premier League's best defenders who they enjoyed playing against the least, many will say Drogba. The Ivorian was outstanding for years at the top of the team sheet, blending pace, power and technical ability to completely overwhelm opponents.
Diego Costa - Costa was the closest Chelsea have come to replacing Drogba since the Ivorian's initial departure in 2012. He was a bully who loved battling with defenders and taunting them after he scored, and his cutting edge has been sorely missed.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - Hasselbaink was Drogba before it was cool to be Drogba. His brute force was too much for the league to handle, and it took someone of Zola's quality to force him out the team.
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Source : 90min