Jersey numbers are an important part of football, icons have blazed their trails all while adorned by a familiar number on their back. R9 rolls off the tongue far better than R44 after all. 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 adorn the number 2 jersey.
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Best Chelsea Players to Wear the Number 2 Jersey – All Time
Peter Sillett
A loyal servant to the Blues, Sillett held down the right-back position for some time, becoming a part of the team who won the first division back in 1956. He spent eight years with Chelsea, making over 280 appearances for the team and winning multiple trophies.
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Despite playing as a right-back primarily, he was able to contribute goals, notching 34 during his time in a blue jersey.
Ron Harris
There are few more iconic names in the history of this club than Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris. The fearsome defender spent almost twenty years in the first team, showing an excellent versatility to play across the back line and even occasionally stepping into midfield if needed.
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Harris jumped between a few different numbers but donned the number 2 jersey on and off during his career. He ended his time with the team as a winner of the FA Cup, League Cup, and European Cup Winners Cup.
The Englishman totalled 724 appearances for the Blues with over 500 coming in the top division of English football. He was a key part of the side for a long time, a cornerstone of the defence and a leader on and off the pitch who wrote his name in the history books of the club.
Dan Petrescu
The Romanian only spent five years at Chelsea but managed to become an integral part of their growth in the late 90s and early 2000s. He made 208 appearances and contributed over 40 goals between strikes himself and assists.
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Primarily operating as a right-sided full-back or occasionally as a wide midfielder, he had a successful stint in London, winning two FA Cups, a League Cup, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup during a successful time for him and the team.
Branislav Ivanovic
The Serbian defender ensured he would be remembered as an all-time great for Blues fans during his successful decade adorning the number 2 jersey for them. His performances on the pitch were rock solid with his profile making him a right-back in a centre-back’s body. He was part of some excellent Chelsea defences either through the middle or on the right, always putting in a reliable effort.
He will forever be remembered as part of the team that infamously won the UEFA Champions League in Munich and scored the winner in a European final, ensuring that fans won’t soon forget the dominant Serb.
Antonio Rudiger
Sometimes you don’t appreciate what you have until it’s gone. The German didn’t have a long stint in London but it was memorable. The at-times fiery centre-back became part of a rock-solid defensive unit that captured the Champions League and his absence was felt for years after with the Blues struggling to handle the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen for multiple years.
He made over 200 appearances for the club, grabbing 19 goal contributions from centre-back and capturing a number of titles, including the aforementioned Champions League, the Europa League, the Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup, completing the set of European honours in just five seasons with Chelsea.
