Jersey numbers are an important part of football, icons have blazed their trails all while adorned by a familiar number on their back. Similarly, some players have besmirched a number, leading to the narrative of a number nine curse among some fans. For some clubs steeped in history, they won’t have had just one notable player wearing a particular number, which is why in this, we’ll be looking at the best Chelsea players to ever wear the number 7 jersey.
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Best Chelsea Players to Wear the Number 7 Jersey of All Time
Peter Osgood
One of the many kit numbers worn by the striker but only for one season. Despite that, Peter Osgood always deserves a mention for being the goalscoring leader of one of the most well-remembered Blues sides in history. Before Roman Abramovich and before the 90s revival, there was the Osgood crew winning silverware.
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His time as a blue ended with 140 strikes to his name in over 300 appearances. He is remembered today for having a statue outside Stamford Bridge as a testament to his legend.
Terry Venables
An academy-grown talent Terry Venables began his senior career with the Blues in 1960 and became a regular over the coming years. By the time he left in 1966, he had amassed 237 appearances for the club, notably being part of the League Cup winning squad in 1965.
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While he is likely most known for his managerial career which saw him take over the English national team as well as some major clubs, his on-field impact for Chelsea makes him one of the best to ever take the number 7 jersey.
Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps only spent one season with the team but his pedigree on arrival and impact were second to none. That 1999/2000 team had a strong defence with Ed de Goey behind them keeping a lot of clean sheets. The French international played in 43 matches during his year in England and won the FA Cup.
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Arriving off the back of a World Cup win, Deschamps was one of the key pieces of the pre-Abramovich rise that turned Chelsea from pretenders to contenders.
Ramires
Something of a cult hero Ramires was a precursor of sorts to the Moises Caicedos of the world. He was an all-action midfielder who could do a bit of everything and provided some energy as the engine of the team in midfield. He was a key cog in the machine that won the Champions League and scored some vital goals during his time in blue.
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He made 251 appearances for the club and contributed to 52 goals either by scoring himself or setting them up. During his tenure, he won the aforementioned UCL, the Premier League, the FA Cup, the Europa League, and the League Cup.
N’Golo Kante
You knew it was coming. No list of the best number 7’s in Chelsea history is complete without one of the best of his generation. The signing of Kante for free might be one of the best moves the club ever made as he instantly reshaped the team and led them to a Premier League title in his debut campaign.
He almost completed the set while in blue, claiming the PL, a UCL, the Europa League, the Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and an FA Cup in his 269 appearances. He will possibly be most remembered for terrorising Manchester City in the Champions League final when the Cityzens themselves had to admit he was unstoppable.
