The 2011/12 season was a bit enjoyable for Chelsea.
The Blues thought that they had discovered the following Jose Mourinho in Andre Villas-Boas, after paying a document £ 13.3m in compensation to Porto to signal the boss within the summer time, however he didn’t arrive till March. Fourth place slipped away and Champions League elimination appeared possible after a 3-1 loss to Napoli within the 16-year-old’s first stage.
Chelsea wanted to win the Champions League to qualify for Europe’s greatest competitors subsequent season, and so they simply went and did simply that.
With Roberto Di Matteo on the helm, Chelsea blew previous Napoli, Benfica, Barcelona and eventually Bayern Munich to raise a very powerful trophy of their historical past and likewise added the Champions League title to the FA Cup.
Di Matteo acquired the everlasting job as a reward, solely to be ruthlessly fired in November, when the whole lot began to work out once more. Circle of life.
This is what occurred to the squad.
Petr CechCech is a Chelsea legend | Michael Regan / Getty Pictures
In 2011/12, Cech was extensively accepted as certainly one of the best goalkeepers in Premier League historical past. He was the hero within the Champions League last and saved three penalties all through the season to hold Chelsea alive and he was rewarded with a brand new four-year contract.
He didn’t see that deal. After shedding his place within the crew to younger Thibaut Courtois, Cech was offered to Arsenal in 2015, solely to return to Stamford Bridge in 2019 as a technical and efficiency advisor. He’s even within the 25-man Premier League squad, however solely as an emergency.
Ross TurnbullTurnbull was Cech’s deputy | Jeff Zelevansky / Getty Pictures
Turnbull was dropped at Chelsea in 2009 as a canopy for Cech and was the League Cup goalkeeper in 2011/12 and managed two Premier League matches within the final two matches of the season. He even gained a Champions League medal for sitting on the bench within the last.
Turnbull was launched in 2013 and frolicked with Doncaster, Barnsley and Leeds United, and after being launched from the latter in 2017, he retired from taking part in to tackle a training position with Hartlepool.
Branislav Ivanovic Ivanovic was a Chelsea hero Michael Regan / Getty Pictures
Three years into his Chelsea profession at this level, Ivanovic was firmly on his option to establishing himself as a favourite. He made the winner within the second leg comeback in opposition to Napoli and can at all times be remembered as a hero for it.
Age got here to the dominant Russian and his concepts started to say no with the years. He misplaced his place within the crew 2016/17 to Victor Moses from all folks, earlier than he had to maneuver to Zenit 2017. He spent three years in Russia, however is now again in England with West Brom.
David LuizLuiz had two spells in Chelsea | Shaun Botterill / Getty Pictures
Delivered to Chelsea within the summer time of 2011, impressed Luiz throughout his debut yr and was a crucial a part of the crew. He was truly so good that PSG made him the costliest defender ever at the moment by forking out £ 50 million to signal him in 2014.
Luiz returned to Chelsea in 2016 however was out the door once more in 2019, after being informed he was not wanted by supervisor Frank Lampard. Arsenal took him on, and Luiz stays to at the present time – though he’s about to go away this summer time.
Gary CahillCahill gained the whole lot at Chelsea | Mike Hewitt / Getty Pictures
Cahill began the 2011/12 season as a relegation favourite at Bolton and ended it by lifting each the FA Cup and the Champions League with Chelsea. What about an improve?
The middle-back stays at Chelsea till 2019 after being frozen out by Maurizio Sarri. Followers had been not comfortable together with his remedy and wished him nothing however one of the best when he left to be part of Crystal Palace.
John TerryTerry certified for the last | Scott Heavey / Getty Pictures
Membership legend Terry famously missed the Champions League last however nonetheless placed on his complete equipment to raise the trophy, and we’re all for it. Nobody deserved to raise that trophy greater than he did.
Terry made it 712 appearances and 5 Premier League titles earlier than leaving the membership in 2017. He spent a season taking part in for Aston Villa, earlier than resigning to turn into Villa’s assistant supervisor.
Ashley ColeCole is again in Chelsea | Mike Hewitt / Getty Pictures
Considered one of England’s greatest left-backs ever, Cole was an influential determine in 2011/12, however noticed his place on the crew taken by Cesar Azpilicueta in 2013/14, so he left to be part of Roma that summer time.
After a meme-worthy spell in Italy, Cole moved to La Galaxy in 2016, however returned to English soccer with Derby County in January 2019. He retired at the top of the 2018/19 season and now works as an academy coach at Chelsea.
Jose BosingwaBosingwa left that summer time | CHRISTOF STACHE / Getty Pictures
An everyday right-back in 2011/12, this turned out to be Bosingwa’s final season in Chelsea Blue when he was launched and joined QPR that summer time.
His spell on Loftus Highway didn’t go rather well, and so he was despatched to Trabzonspor in 2013 and eventually hung up his boots in 2016.
Paulo Ferreira Ferreira was a loyal servant | Stanley Chou / Getty Pictures
Coming in the direction of the top of his taking part in profession at this level, Ferreira struggled for minutes underneath Villas-Boas and finally walked away from the recreation in 2013 when his Chelsea contract had expired.
He stayed at Stamford Bridge and took quite a lot of behind-the-scenes roles. He has frolicked as an envoy and a coach for mortgage gamers and is presently a part of Chelsea’s scouting community.
Ryan BertrandBertrand impressed within the last | Mike Hewitt / Getty Pictures
Bertrand handed over his Champions League debut within the last as a left winger, Bertrand did a wonderful job of neutralizing the risk from Arjen Robben, and it gave the look of the beginning of a unbelievable profession in blue.
However he stayed on the outskirts behind Cole, and Azpilicueta’s arrival successfully drove Bertrand out of the entrance door. He joined Southampton in 2014 on a mortgage that was made everlasting, and he has collected over 200 appearances for the Saints however will depart the membership this summer time.
Frank LampardLampard with Champions League trophy | ADRIAN DENNIS / Getty Pictures
Lampard remained a Chelsea participant till 2014, after which he frolicked with Manchester Metropolis (for which he scored in opposition to Chelsea) and New York Metropolis, earlier than turning to the lead in 2018.
A formidable debut season with Derby County noticed him return to Chelsea as writer. Lampard led Chelsea to the highest 4 in his debut season, however was ceremoniously dismissed in January 2021 after a poor type.
Michael EssienEssien struggled with accidents | Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Accidents took their toll on Essien throughout the 2011/12 season. He struggled to win over Villas-Boas however noticed extra minutes underneath Di Matteo, even though it was apparent that his time at Stamford Bridge was over.
He joined Mourinho’s Actual Madrid on mortgage in 2012 and AC Milan in 2014 earlier than embarking on a visit around the globe. Essien frolicked with Greece’s Panathinaikos, the Indonesian facet Persib Bandung and Sabail from Azerbaijan, and since then he has labored in North Zealand as a coach.
Juan MataMata was Chelsea’s season participant | ODD ANDERSEN / Getty Pictures
Participant of the yr throughout his debut season at Chelsea, it appeared just like the Blues had gained gold with Mata. He was wonderful in 2011/12 and never out of this world in 2012/13, however Mourinho’s return to the bridge ended for Mata.
The Spaniard was offered to Manchester United in January 2014, the place he was finally reunited with and survived Mourinho.
RamiresRamires netted a shocking transfer in opposition to Barcelona | JOSEP LAGO / Getty Pictures
Considered one of the extra underrated gamers in current Chelsea reminiscence, Ramires was a loyal servant of Chelsea till his departure for Jiangsu Suning in 2016, together with his memorable foyer in opposition to Barcelona profitable the membership’s purpose for the 2011/12 season.
Controversy in China noticed him return to Brazil with Palmeiras in 2019, however he left the membership in November 2020 and was rumored to be contemplating retirement.
Oriol Romeu An damage traced Romeus’ profession BEN STANSALL / Getty Pictures
A younger Romeu was wonderful after switching Barcelona’s academy to Stamford Bridge, just for a critical knee damage in December to hint his profession in London.
He frolicked on mortgage with Valencia and Stuttgart earlier than being offered to Southampton in 2015, the place he managed to show himself and dwell as much as a number of the potential he confirmed earlier in his profession.
John Obi MikelMikel remembers fondly | Scott Heavey / Getty Pictures
The cult hero of cult heroes at Chelsea, Mikel was wonderful in 2011/12 and supplied one other 5 years of dependable service earlier than he noticed his contract launched in 2017.
Mikel left to be part of the Chinese language facet Tianjin TEDA, however he returned to England with Middlesbrough in January 2019. A spell with Trabzonspor adopted and Mikel is now again in England with Stoke Metropolis.
Raul MeirelesMeireles was not lengthy in England | Ian Walton / Getty Pictures
This was Meirele’s solely season at Chelsea, and he supplied a handful of memorable moments. His world champions in opposition to Benfica gave him a spot within the membership’s folklore.
A transfer to Fenerbahce adopted, the place he spent 4 controversial seasons earlier than retiring from soccer in 2016.
Didier DrogbaDrogba’s penalty gained the last | ADRIAN DENNIS / Getty Pictures
The person for the massive event, Drogba’s final kick on a ball in his first Chelsea spell, was the profitable penalty in opposition to Bayern, after which he went over to China to be part of Shanghai Shenhua.
Drogba returned to Europe with Galatasaray in 2013 and had one other spell at Chelsea underneath Mourinho in 2014/15 earlier than shifting to America. He spent a yr with Montreal Affect and one other as a player-owner with Phoenix Rising, and eventually retired in 2018 to concentrate on off-field work.
Fernando Torres Torres had a tricky profession at Chelsea PATRIK STOLLARZ / Getty Pictures
The person who made Gary Nevile oooooooooooo together with his purpose in opposition to Barcelona, Torres didn’t have too many higher moments at Chelsea earlier than leaving to be part of AC Milan in 2015.
Torres returned to Spain with Atletico Madrid in 2015 earlier than retiring from Japan with Sagan Tosu 2018/19, and he appears like he spent his retirement consuming pure steel as a result of Torres is large these days.
Romelu LukakuLukaku fought in opposition to Chelsea | Ian Walton / Getty Pictures
Lukaku’s debut season, which was described because the successor to Drogba’s throne, didn’t go properly, so he was despatched on mortgage to West Brom and Everton to show himself and joined the latter in 2014.
Lukaku blossomed into an elite striker and acquired a large transfer to Manchester United and rejected a return to Chelsea in the method, and he’s presently strutting his stuff with Inter as among the finest on the earth.
Daniel Sturridge Sturridge couldn’t discover a foothold in Chelsea | Clive Brunskill / Getty Pictures
A younger participant within the 2011/12 season, issues by no means actually labored out for Sturridge at Chelsea, and he ended up being offered to Liverpool in 2012.
A part of a lethal strike power together with Luis Suarez, Sturridge virtually led the Reds to the Premier League title, however accidents quickly took their toll. He didn’t show his situation on mortgage at West Brom and was bred to Trabzonspor 2019. Launched in March 2020 after receiving a world ban on playing violations, Sturridge has not performed since.
Salomon KalouKalou left the membership within the summer time | Michael Regan / Getty Pictures
An extremely dependable backup, Kalou stuffed in in every single place over the attacking line for Chelsea, so it was a shock to see him launched shortly after the Champions League last.
A transfer to Lille adopted, after which Kalou spent six years in Germany with Hertha Berlin, and he presently performs in Brazil with Botafogo after becoming a member of the membership final summer time.
Florent Malouda Malouda’s Chelsea profession ended with disgrace | Mike Hewitt / Getty Pictures
Malouda struggled in 2011/12 however promised to enhance subsequent yr, solely to strive to power a transfer away from the membership within the summer time. He refused to take a pay lower and needed to rot within the reserves till he was launched in 2013.
He was a busy man after leaving Chelsea and spending time in Turkey, France and India earlier than hanging up his boots in Luxembourg. Malouda joined Zurich as coach in early 2019 however was launched after simply two months.
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