Five Portuguese stars that featured for Chelsea in the Premier League.
With Chelsea travelling to Lisbon on Tuesday to take on Sporting, we at CaughtOffside have decided to pay homage to the club’s continuous links with Portugal by highlighting some of the country’s finest exports to these shores that have pulled on a blue shirt.
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5. Tiago
2004-05: 52 appearances, four goals
The classy midfielder may have only been with the club for one season, but fans took to him instantly after making a name for himself with Benfica. He sealed himself into Chelsea folklore after scoring an absolute peach against Manchester United at Old Trafford that landed the club their first top flight title in 40 years. He was tipped to make a return to Stamford Bridge over the summer, but remained with Atletico Madrid, where he played alongside current Blues stars Diego Costa, Felipe Luis and Thibaut Courtois.
4. Deco
2008-10: 58 appearances, six goals
Brazilian born, but Portuguese by law, the midfield maestro was brought to the club by former Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari shortly after he made the club himself. The former Barcelona man may not have had the impact that many Blues fans had been hoping for during his first term, but he quickly became an integral member of the squad that won the league and cup double a year later.
3. Jose Bosingwa
2008-12: 126 appearances, three goals
The flying full-back was often moved forward up the flank thanks to his direct running and lightning pace. However, his versatility also saw him used as a makeshift centre-back when needed. It was these qualities that made him a vital member of the squad and his efforts were eventually rewarded with a Champions League victory over Bayern Munich in 2012. Now seeing out the remainder of his career with Turkish club Trabzonspor.
2. Ricardo Carvalho
2004-10: 210 appearances, 11 goals
A key member of the club’s air-tight back line during Mourinho’s first season, the gallant defender gelled with John Terry like peas in a pod. Winning the 2007/08 Players’ Player of the Year award, he was also known to chip in with his fair share of goals, too, popping up with 11 though out his six-year stint. Still at Monaco in Ligue 1, he is beginning to move into a coaching role as he approaches the end of his playing career.
1. Paulo Ferreira
2004-13: 217 appearances, two goals
A true legend of Chelsea’s recent history, he became a firm fan favourite at Stamford Bridge thanks to his dedicated professionalism over a nine-year stretch. He was another regular member of the stingy defence in 2004/05 that set a new Premier League record by conceding just 15 goals, and he departed the club having won three league titles and just about every other major club honour going.
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