Chelsea fc official biography states

Association football club in England

This article is about the restroom football club. For the women's football club, see Chelsea F.C. Women. For other uses, representation Chelsea (disambiguation).

Football club

Chelsea Football Club is a professional football bat based in Fulham, West Writer, England.

Named after neighbouring piazza Chelsea, they compete in grandeur Premier League, the top series of English football. Founded sound 1905, the team play their home games at Stamford Bridge.^[4] The club won their prime major honour, the League backup, in 1955. They won justness FA Cup for the chief time in 1970, won their first European honour, the Toby jug Winners' Cup, in 1971, move became the third English billy to win the Club Artificial Cup in 2022.

Chelsea review one of five clubs shaft the first English club anticipate have won all three pre-1999 main European club competitions, say publicly "European Treble" of the Denizen Cup/UEFA Champions League, European/UEFA Beaker Winners' Cup, and UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League.^[5] They are honourableness only club to have won all three major European competitions twice.

They are the inimitable London club to have won the Champions League and nobility Club World Cup.^[6] Domestically, prestige club has won six association titles, eight FA Cups, quintuplet League Cups, and four No-one Community Shields. Internationally, they put on won the UEFA Champions Friend, the UEFA Europa League, nobility UEFA Cup Winners' Cup reprove the UEFA Super Cup binate each, and the FIFA Mace World Cup once.

In provisos of overall trophies won, Chelsea is the fifth-most successful staff in English football.

The mace has rivalries with neighbouring teams Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, allow a historic rivalry with Metropolis United. In terms of bat value, Chelsea is the ninth-most-valuable football club in the fake (as of 2024^[update]), worth $3.13 billion, and is the ninth-highest-earning realm club in the world.^[7][8]

History

Founding gleam early years (1905–1952)

Main article: Wildlife of Chelsea F.C.

(1905–1952)

In 1904, Gus Mears acquired the Stamford Bridge athletics stadium in Fulham with the aim of spinning it into a football vicar. An offer to lease obvious to nearby Fulham F.C. was turned down, so Mears opted to found his own baton to use the stadium. Pass for there was already a squad named Fulham in the urban community, the name of the local borough of Chelsea was korea for the new club; traducement like Kensington FC, Stamford Go across FC and London FC were considered.^[9] Chelsea F.C.

was supported on 10 March 1905 deed The Rising Sun pub (now The Butcher's Hook),^[1][10] opposite birth present-day main entrance to grandeur ground on Fulham Road, innermost were elected to the Tract League shortly afterwards.

Chelsea won promotion to the First Partitionment in their second season, refuse yo-yoed between the First existing Second Divisions in its trustworthy years.

The team reached loftiness 1915 FA Cup final, swing they lost to Sheffield Unified at Old Trafford, and ripe third in the First Partitioning in 1920, the club's worst league campaign to that point.^[11] Chelsea had a reputation to about signing star players^[12] and drawn large crowds. The club challenging the highest average attendance rivet English football in ten disjoin seasons^[13] including 1907–08,^[14]1909–10,^[15]1911–12,^[16]1912–13,^[17]1913–14^[18] and 1919–20.^[19][20] They were FA Cup semi-finalists in 1920 and 1932 swallow remained in the First Breaking up throughout the 1930s, but happy result eluded the club in significance inter-war years.

Modernisation and rectitude first league championship (1952–1983)

Main article: History of Chelsea F.C. (1952–1983)

Former Arsenal and England centre-forward Chubby Drake was appointed manager worry 1952 and proceeded to modernize the club. He removed probity club's Chelsea pensioner crest, preferably the youth set-up and assurance regime, rebuilt the side uneasiness shrewd signings from the darken divisions and amateur leagues, perch led Chelsea to their head major trophy success – justness League championship – in 1954–55.

The following season saw UEFA create the European Champions' Tankard, but after objections from Dignity Football League, Chelsea were confident to withdraw from the go fast before it started.^[21][22] Chelsea futile to build on this come off, and spent the remainder a few the 1950s in mid-table.

Navigator was dismissed in 1961 weather replaced by player-coach Tommy Docherty.

Docherty built a new squad around the group of skilful young players emerging from loftiness club's youth set-up, and Chelsea challenged for honours throughout probity 1960s, enduring several near-misses. They were on course for skilful treble of League, FA Containerful and League Cup going gap the final stages of picture 1964–65 season, winning the Matching part Cup but faltering late convert in the other two.^[23] Rope in three seasons the side were beaten in three major semi-finals and were FA Cup runners-up.

Under Docherty's successor, Dave Evangelist, Chelsea won the FA Beaker in 1970, beating Leeds Concerted 2–1 in a final recapitulate. The following year, Chelsea took their first European honour, shipshape and bristol fashion UEFA Cup Winners' Cup hurl, with another replayed win, that time over Real Madrid display Athens.

Redevelopment and financial calamity (1983–2003)

Main article: History of Chelsea F.C.

(1983–2003)

The late 1970s indemnity to the '80s was straight turbulent period for Chelsea. Apartment building ambitious redevelopment of Stamford Span threatened the financial stability advance the club,^[24] star players were sold and the team were relegated. Further problems were caused by a notorious hooligan countenance among the support, which was to plague the club all the way through the decade.^[25] In 1982, tackle the nadir of their good break, Chelsea were acquired by Complete Bates from Mears' great-nephew Brian Mears, for the nominal supplement of £1.

Bates bought unornamented controlling stake in the billy and floated Chelsea on probity AIM stock exchange in Advance 1996 although by now glory Stamford Bridge freehold had back number sold to property developers, role the club faced losing their home.^[27] On the pitch, blue blood the gentry team had fared little solve, coming close to relegation be adjacent to the Third Division for probity first time, but in 1983 manager John Neal put concoct an impressive new team purport minimal outlay.

Chelsea won nobility Second Division title in 1983–84 and established themselves in ethics top division with two top-six finishes, before being relegated adjust in 1988. The club bounced back immediately by winning significance Second Division championship in 1988–89.

After a long-running legal hostility, Bates reunited the stadium freehold with the club in 1992 by doing a deal criticism the banks of the money developers, who had been bankrupted by a market crash.^[28] Pop in the mid-1990s Chelsea fan brook businessman Matthew Harding became practised director and loaned the truncheon £26 million to build the another North Stand and invest discharge new players.^[29] Chelsea's form control the new Premier League was unconvincing, although they did border on the 1994 FA Cup terminating.

The appointment of Ruud Gullit as player-manager in 1996 began an upturn in the team's fortunes. He added several especially international players to the conservation and led the club halt their first major honour on account of 1971, the FA Cup. Gullit was replaced by Gianluca Vialli, whose reign saw Chelsea double the League Cup, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and glory UEFA Super Cup in 1998, and the FA Cup serve 2000.

They mounted a sinewy title challenge in 1998–99, culmination four points behind champions City United, and made their good cheer appearance in the UEFA Champions League. Vialli was sacked outer shell favour of Claudio Ranieri, who guided Chelsea to the 2002 FA Cup final and Champions League qualification in 2002–03.

Abramovich ownership (2003–2022)

Main article: History be incumbent on Chelsea F.C. (2003–2022)

With the baton facing an apparent financial crisis,^[30] Bates unexpectedly sold Chelsea F.C. in June 2003 for £60 million.^[31] In so doing, he reportedly recognised a personal profit pale £17 million on the club let go had bought for £1 multiply by two 1982 (his stake had antediluvian diluted to just below 30% over the years).

The club's new owner was Russian oligarch and billionaire Roman Abramovich, who took on responsibility for dignity club's £80 million of debt, ostentatious paying some of it. Sergei Pugachev alleged Chelsea was bribable on Putin's orders, an application Abramovich has denied.^[32] Bates number that Abramovich was in confer to buy Manchester United viewpoint Tottenham Hotspur before he on the take Chelsea in a deal out of service in a day.^[33]

Over £100 million was spent on new players, nevertheless Ranieri was unable to bulletin any trophies,^[34] and was replaced by José Mourinho.^[35] Under Mourinho, Chelsea became the fifth Dependably team to win back-to-back foil championships since the Second Replica War (2004–05 and 2005–06),^[36] bonding agent addition to winning an None Cup (2007) and two Alliance Cups (2005 and 2007).

Sustenance a poor start to influence 2007–08 season, Mourinho was replaced by Avram Grant,^[37] who lively the club to their head UEFA Champions League final, which they lost on penalties observe Manchester United. The club sincere not turn a profit send out the first nine years take up Abramovich's ownership, and made not to be mentioned losses of £140m in June 2005.^[38]

In 2009, under caretaker manager Guus Hiddink, Chelsea won another FA Cup.^[40] In 2009–10, his successor Carlo Ancelotti led them to their first Premier League and Nil CupDouble, becoming the first Simply top-flight club to score Cardinal league goals in a stint since 1963.^[41] In 2012, Roberto Di Matteo led Chelsea lock their seventh FA Cup,^[42] take their first UEFA Champions Band title, beating Bayern Munich 4–3 on penalties, the first Writer club to win the trophy.^[43] The following year the cudgel won the UEFA Europa League,^[44] making them the first billy to hold two major Denizen titles simultaneously and one execute five clubs to have won the three main UEFA trophies.^[45] Mourinho returned as manager dilemma 2013 and led Chelsea run into League Cup success in Step 2015,^[46] and the Premier Corresponding person title two months later.^[47] Mourinho was sacked after four months of the following season back end a poor start.^[48]

In November 2012, Chelsea announced a profit fence £1.4 million for the year opposed to 30 June 2012, the gain victory time the club had feeling a profit under Abramovich's ownership.^[38][49] This was followed by shipshape and bristol fashion loss in 2013 and consequently their highest ever profit loom £18.4 million for the year generate June 2014.^[50] In 2018 Chelsea announced a record after-tax intelligent of £62 million.^[51]

In 2017, under newborn coach Antonio Conte, Chelsea won their sixth English title scold the following season won their eighth FA Cup.^[52] In 2018 Conte was sacked after unembellished fifth-place finish and replaced respect Maurizio Sarri,^[53][54] under whom Chelsea reached the League Cup terminating, which they lost on penalties to Manchester City^[55] and won the Europa League for far-out second time, beating Arsenal 4–1 in the final.

Sarri mistreatment left the club to develop manager of Juventus and was replaced by former Chelsea contestant Frank Lampard.^[56]

In Lampard's first opportunity ripe, he guided Chelsea to station place in the Premier Contemporary and reached the FA Beaker final, losing 2–1 to Arsenal.^[57] Lampard was dismissed in Jan 2021 and replaced with Apostle Tuchel.^[58][59]

Under Tuchel, Chelsea reached honourableness FA Cup final, losing 1–0 to Leicester City, and won their second UEFA Champions Combination title with a 1–0 pretend to be over Manchester City in Porto.^[60] The club subsequently won position 2021 UEFA Super Cup aim for the second time by defeating Villarreal 6–5 in a penance shootout, after it had arduous 1–1 in Belfast after added time,^[61] and the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup (the chief for the club) in Abu Dhabi after beating Brazilian Palmeiras 2–1.^[62]

On 18 April 2021, Chelsea announced it would be acent a new European Super Compact, a league competition comprising righteousness biggest European clubs.^[63] After trig backlash from supporters, the cudgel announced their withdrawal days later.^[64] The club opted against furloughing their non-matchday staff during depiction COVID-19 pandemic, with the judgement reportedly coming from Abramovich mortal physically.

Chelsea, one of the eminent clubs to help the Delicate Health Service, lent the club-owned Millennium Hotel for the NHS staff.^[65]

Amidst financial sanctions leveled irate Russian oligarchs by Western governments in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Abramovich stated on 26 February delay he would hand over grandeur stewardship of Chelsea to authority trustees of the Chelsea Foundation.^[68] The trustees did not nowadays agree, due to legal deeds regarding the rules of primacy Charity Commission for England have a word with Wales.^[69] A week later, Abramovich wrote-off the £1.5 billion influence club owed him, and smash into the club up for trade, pledging to donate net prize from it to the casualties of the war in Ukraine.^[70][71]

On 10 March 2022, the Island government announced sanctions on Abramovich with Chelsea allowed to join under a special license forthcoming 31 May.^[72][73] In the multitude weeks, reports emerged of Abramovich's involvement in brokering a hush deal between Ukraine and Country and securing safe evacuation corridors in besieged Ukrainian cities.^[74][75] Scheme American government official revealed go off at a tangent the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy had requested that the Famous government not levy sanctions blaspheme Abramovich given his importance without delay war relief efforts.^[76]

BlueCo ownership (2022–present)

Main article: History of Chelsea F.C.

(2022–present)

On 7 May 2022, Chelsea confirmed that terms own been agreed for a newfound ownership group, led by Chemist Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Mark Conductor and Hansjörg Wyss, to shop for the club.

The group was later known as BlueCo.^[78] Influence UK government approved the £4.25bn takeover,^[79] ending Abramovich's 19-year hold of the club.^[80]Bruce Buck, who served as chairman since 2003, was replaced by Boehly,^[81] behaviour long-serving club director and de factosporting directorMarina Granovskaia left,^[82] by reason of did Petr Čech from prestige role of technical and bringing off advisor.^[83]

The club brought in Choreographer Potter from Brighton & Impetus Albion to replace Tuchel ditch 8 September 2022.

Chelsea won six of the first 11 games of the 2022–23 patch, but only five of significance remaining 27. Potter would aptly sacked on 2 April 2023 and eventually be replaced moisten Frank Lampard as caretaker manager.^[84] Under Lampard the club would only win one of their last 11 matches resulting break down a 9% win percentage.

Lampard's win percentage was the crush for any Chelsea manager who managed three games or more.^[85] Chelsea scored a record-low 38 goals across the entire patch and finished in the radix half of the table acquire the first time since 1995–96.^[86]

Mauricio Pochettino was announced as Lampard's replacement on 29 May 2023 and would take over supervisory duties starting on 1 July 2023 on a two-year contract.^[87] He led Chelsea to practised 6th-place finish after winning their final five games of illustriousness 2023–24 season, which earned dignity club a Conference League play-off round qualification.^[88] After clashing and the sporting directors Laurence Player and Paul Winstanley over usage and management of the juvenile squad,^{[89][90][91][92]} Pochettino agreed to end the club at the detail of the season.^[93][94]

On 3 June 2024, Enzo Maresca was declared as Pochettino's replacement, with position Italian beginning his term chimpanzee manager on 1 July 2024.^[95]

League history

L1 = Level 1 designate the football league system; L2 = Level 2 of representation football league system

Stadium

Main article: Stamford Bridge (stadium)

Chelsea have only difficult one home ground, Stamford Break off, where they have played by reason of the team's foundation.

The sphere was officially opened on 28 April 1877 and for rank next 28 years it was used by the London Husky Club as an arena misunderstand athletics meetings. In 1904, justness ground was acquired by industrialist Gus Mears and his relation Joseph, who had purchased close by land (formerly a large shop garden) with the aim medium staging football matches on blue blood the gentry now 12.5 acre (51,000 m²) site.^[96] Stamford Bridge was designed for significance Mears family by the wellknown football architect Archibald Leitch, who had designed Ibrox, Craven Shelter assemblage and Hampden Park.^[97] Most acreage clubs were founded first, keep from then sought grounds in which to play, but Chelsea were founded for Stamford Bridge.

Starting with an open bowl-like pattern and one grandstand with chairs, Stamford Bridge had an modern capacity of around 100,000, construction it the second biggest arena in England after Crystal Palace.^[96] The early 1930s saw position construction of a terrace arraignment the southern part of say publicly ground with a roof become absent-minded covered around 20% of description stand.

As the roof resembled that of a corrugated persuasive shed, the stand eventually became known as the "Shed End", although it is unknown who first coined this name. Depart from the 1960s, it became careful as the home of Chelsea's most loyal and vocal supporters.^[96] In 1939, another small desk-bound stand was added, the Northern Stand, which remained until dismay demolition in 1975.^[96]

In the untimely 1970s, the club's owners proclaimed a modernisation of Stamford Condense with plans for a state-of-the-art 50,000 all-seater stadium.^[96] Work began in 1972 but the consignment was beset with problems existing ultimately only the East Experience was completed; the cost corruption lie down the club close to hiccup.

The freehold was sold able property developers and the cudgel were under threat of ejection from the stadium.^[96] Following calligraphic long legal battle, it was not until the mid-1990s walk Chelsea's future at Stamford Condense was secured and renovation outmoded resumed.^[96] The north, west promote southern parts of the prominence were converted into all-seater stands and moved closer to honourableness pitch, a process completed infant 2001.

The East Stand was retained from the 1970s get up. In 1996, the north sit was renamed the Matthew President stand, after the club bumptious and benefactor who was attach in a helicopter crash formerly that year.^[98]

When Stamford Bridge was redeveloped in the Bates harvest many additional features were additional to the complex including fold up Millennium & Copthorne hotels, chamberss, bars, restaurants, the Chelsea Megastore, and an interactive visitor attract called Chelsea World of Guide.

The intention was that these facilities would provide extra return to support the football inhabit of the business, but they were less successful than hoped and before the Abramovich takeover in 2003 the debt entranced on to finance them was a major burden on rendering club. Soon after the takeover a decision was taken be introduced to drop the "Chelsea Village" nature and refocus on Chelsea type a football club.

However, magnanimity stadium is sometimes still referred to as part of "Chelsea Village" or "The Village".

The Stamford Bridge freehold, the association, the turnstiles and Chelsea's empathy rights are now owned do without Chelsea Pitch Owners, a non-profit organisation in which fans gust the shareholders.

The CPO was created to ensure the hippodrome could never again be wholesale to developers. As a hesitation for using the Chelsea FC name, the club has stop working play its first team matches at Stamford Bridge, which substance that if the club moves to a new stadium, they may have to change their name.^[99] Chelsea's training ground wreckage located in Cobham, Surrey.

Chelsea moved to Cobham in 2004. Their previous training ground think it over Harlington was taken over be oblivious to QPR in 2005.^[100] The fresh training facilities in Cobham were completed in 2007.^[101]

Stamford Bridge hosted the FA Cup final make the first move 1920 to 1922,^[102] has kept 10 FA Cup Semi-finals (most recently in 1978), ten No-one Charity Shield matches (the hard in 1970), and three England international matches, the last inferior 1932; it was the conduct for an unofficial Victory International in 1946.^[103] The 2013 UEFA Women's Champions League final was played at Stamford Bridge monkey well.^[104] The stadium has archaic used for a variety regard other sports.

In October 1905 it hosted a rugby oneness match between the All Blacks and Middlesex,^[105] and in 1914 hosted a baseball match amidst the touring New York Giants and the Chicago White Sox.^[106] It was the venue intend a boxing match between sphere flyweight champion Jimmy Wilde viewpoint Joe Conn in 1918.^[107] Rank running track was used affection dirt track racing between 1928 and 1932,^[108]greyhound racing from 1933 to 1968, and Midget automobile racing in 1948.^[109] In 1980, Stamford Bridge hosted the primary international floodlitcricket match in birth UK, between Essex and dignity West Indies.^[110] It was character home stadium of the Writer MonarchsAmerican Football team for integrity 1997 season.^[111]

The previous owner Abramovich and the club's then entrustment board determined that a preponderant stadium is necessary in disposition for Chelsea to stay agonistic with rival clubs who be blessed with significantly larger stadia, such bit Arsenal and Manchester United.^[112] In a good way to its location next accede to a main road and mirror image railway lines, fans can unique enter Stamford Bridge via authority Fulham Road, which places reins on expansion due to welfare and safety regulations.^[113] The cudgel have consistently affirmed their want to keep Chelsea at their current home,^[114][115] but have withal been linked with a produce to various nearby sites, inclusive of the Earls Court Exhibition Core, Battersea Power Station and righteousness Chelsea Barracks.^[116] In October 2011, a proposal from the cudgel to buy back the freehold to the land on which Stamford Bridge sits was favorite down by Chelsea Pitch Owners shareholders.^[117] In May 2012, say publicly club made a formal convoke to purchase Battersea Power Cause to be in, with a view to burgeoning the site into a virgin stadium,^[118] but lost out persist a Malaysian consortium.^[119] The mace subsequently announced plans to revive Stamford Bridge into a 60,000-seater stadium,^[120] and in January 2017 these plans were approved unhelpful Hammersmith and Fulham council.^[121] Still, on 31 May 2018, decency club released a statement locution that the new stadium enterprise had been put on halt or stop in one`s t indefinitely, citing "the current sinister investment climate."^[122]

In July 2022, spot was reported that the club's new owner Todd Boehly confidential appointed American architect Janet Marie Smith to oversee the improvement of the stadium.^[123]

Identity

Crest

Chelsea has difficult to understand four main crests, which depreciation underwent minor variations.

The greatest, adopted when the club was founded, was the image pressure a Chelsea Pensioner, the legions veterans who reside at depiction nearby Royal Hospital Chelsea. That contributed to the club's modern "pensioner" nickname, and remained expose the next half-century, though last out never appeared on the shirts. When Ted Drake became Chelsea manager in 1952, he began to modernise the club.

Believing the Chelsea pensioner crest disparagement be old-fashioned, he insisted drift it be replaced.^[124] A stop-gap badge which comprised the colophon C.F.C. was adopted for dialect trig year. In 1953, the billy crest was changed to spruce upright blue lion looking invest in and holding a staff. Pass was based on elements assume the coat of arms warning sign the Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea^[125] with the "lion rampant regardant" taken from the arms show consideration for then club president Viscount Chelsea and the staff from rendering Abbots of Westminster, former Patricians of the Manor of Chelsea.

It featured three red roses, to represent England, and flash footballs.^[124] This was the chief Chelsea crest to appear retrieve the shirts, in the anciently 1960s. In 1975, a heraldist badge was granted by grandeur College of Arms to probity English Football League for employ by Chelsea.

The badge took the form of the everyday lion and staff encircled prep between a blue ring but out lettering and without the flush roses and red footballs (blazoned as "A lion rampant reguardant azure supporting with the forepaws a crozier or all in prison an annulet azure").^[126] In 1986, with Ken Bates owner comatose the club, Chelsea's crest was changed again as part end another attempt to modernise subject because the old rampant celeb badge could not be trademarked.^[127] The new badge featured practised more naturalistic non-heraldic lion, mud white and not blue, perception over the C.F.C.

initials. That lasted for the next 19 years, with some modifications specified as the use of dissimilar colours, including red from 1987 to 1995, and yellow plant 1995 until 1999, before ethics white returned.^[128] With the modern ownership of Roman Abramovich, discipline the club's centenary approaching, united with demands from fans rep the popular 1950s badge be carried be restored, it was arranged that the crest should tweak changed again in 2005.

Ethics new crest was officially adoptive for the start of loftiness 2005–06 season and marked marvellous return to the older representation, used from 1953 to 1986, featuring a blue heraldic warrior big name holding a staff. For primacy centenary season this was attended by the words '100 Years' and 'Centenary 2005–2006' on influence top and bottom of picture crest respectively.^[129]

Colours

Chelsea have always level blue shirts, although they at the start used the paler eton depressed, which was taken from justness racing colours of then truncheon president, Earl Cadogan, and was worn with white shorts person in charge dark blue or black socks.^[131] The light blue shirts were replaced by a royal common version in around 1912.^[132] Suspend the 1960s Chelsea manager Fighter Docherty changed the kit fiddle with, switching to blue shorts (which have remained ever since) duct white socks, believing it forceful the club's colours more pristine and distinctive, since no further major side used that combination; this kit was first the worse for wear during the 1964–65 season.^[133] Because then Chelsea have always battered white socks with their habitat kit apart from a little spell from 1985 to 1992, when blue socks were reintroduced.

Chelsea's away colours are by and large all yellow or all ghastly with blue trim. More currently, the club have had dialect trig number of black or black blue away kits which interchange every year.^[134] As with swell teams, they have had multifarious more unusual ones. At Docherty's behest, in the 1966 No-one Cup semi-final they wore lowspirited and black stripes, based give up Inter Milan's kit.^[135] In blue blood the gentry mid-1970s, the away strip was a red, white and sour kit inspired by the Ugric national side of the 1950s.^[136] Other away kits include mammoth all jade strip worn deseed 1986 to 1989, red gain white diamonds from 1990 on touching 1992, graphite and tangerine alien 1994 to 1996, and fine yellow from 2007 to 2008.^[134] The graphite and tangerine shed has appeared in lists star as the worst football kits ever.^[137]

Songs and fan chants

The song "Blue is the Colour" was free as a single in rectitude build-up to the 1972 Confederacy Cup final, with all comrades of Chelsea's first team platoon singing; it reached number quintuplet in the UK Singles Chart.^[138] The song has since bent adopted by a number slope other sports teams around description world, including the Vancouver Whitecaps (as "White is the Colour")^[139] and the Saskatchewan Roughriders (as "Green is the Colour").^[140]

Chelsea floating the song "No One Package Stop Us Now" in 1994 for reaching the 1994 None Cup final.

It reached count 23 in the UK Singles Chart.^[141] In the build-up finish off the 1997 FA Cup terminating, the song "Blue Day", superlative by Suggs and members pageant the Chelsea squad, reached expect 22 in the UK chart.^[142] In 2000, Chelsea released rendering song "Blue Tomorrow". It reached number 22 in the UK Singles Chart.^[141]

At matches, Chelsea fans sing chants such as "Carefree" (to the tune of "Lord of the Dance", whose text altercation were probably written by admirer Mick Greenaway),^[143][144] "Ten Men Went to Mow", "We All Tow chase the Chelsea" (to the well-timed of "Land of Hope unthinkable Glory"), "Zigga Zagga", and depiction celebratory "Celery".

The latter legal action often accompanied by fans throwing celery at each other, conj albeit the vegetable was banned spirit Stamford Bridge after an bang involving midfielder Cesc Fàbregas improve on the 2007 League Cup final.^[145] Popular fan chants include, "Super Chelsea", "Super Frank" (dedicated calculate all-time leading goal scorer Sound off Lampard), "We love you Chelsea" and "Come on Chelsea".

Near are situation-specific or team-specific chants meant to rile up comparison teams, managers or players.^[146]

Support

Chelsea task among the most widely trim football clubs in the world.^[147][148] It has the sixth-highest recurrent attendance in the history dying English football,^[149] and regularly inveigle over 40,000 fans to Stamford Bridge; they were the 9th best-supported Premier League team dust the 2023–24 season, with apartment building average gate of 39,700.^[150] Chelsea's traditional fanbase comes from boxing match over the Greater London open place including working-class parts such bit Hammersmith and Battersea, wealthier areas like Chelsea and Kensington, reprove from the home counties.

Forth are numerous official supporters clubs in the United Kingdom become calm all over the world.^[151] Halfway 2007 and 2012, Chelsea were ranked fourth worldwide in yearly replica kit sales, with barney average of 910,000.^[152] As defer to 2023, Chelsea has 118.9 million apartment on social media, the rooms highest among football clubs.^[153]

During honesty 1970s and 1980s in exactly so, Chelsea supporters were associated pertain to football hooliganism.

The club's "football firm", originally known as interpretation Chelsea Shed Boys, and later on as the Chelsea Headhunters, were nationally notorious for football physical force, alongside hooligan firms from hit clubs such as West Player United's Inter City Firm spreadsheet Millwall's Bushwackers, before, during build up after matches.^[154] The increase considerate hooligan incidents in the Eighties led chairman Ken Bates alongside propose erecting an electric confine to deter them from incursive the pitch, a proposal desert the Greater London Council rejected.^[155]

Since the 1990s, there has anachronistic a marked decline in organization trouble at matches, as well-organized result of stricter policing, CCTV in grounds and the parousia of all-seater stadia.^[156] In 2007, the club launched the Take back to the Shed campaign be carried improve the atmosphere at soupзon matches, with notable success.

According to Home Office statistics, 126 Chelsea fans were arrested honor football-related offences during the 2009–10 season, the third highest reside in the division, and 27 enjoining orders were issued, the fifth-highest in the division.^[157]

Rivalries

Main articles: Armory F.C.–Chelsea F.C.

rivalry, Chelsea F.C.–Liverpool F.C. rivalry, Chelsea F.C.–Tottenham Madcap F.C. rivalry, West London derbies, and Chelsea F.C.–Leeds United F.C. rivalry

Chelsea have long-standing rivalries secondhand goods North London clubs Arsenal pivotal Tottenham Hotspur.^[158][159] A strong feuding with Leeds United dates promote to several heated and doubtful matches in the 1960s with the addition of 1970s, particularly the 1970 Nobody Cup final.^[160] More recently clean up rivalry with Liverpool has big following repeated clashes in containerful competitions.^[