View attachment 329173Formed in 1905, Chelsea FC quickly attained a reputation for signing big name players and they attracted huge crowds but despite all this, failed to win a major trophy in their first fifty years. They spent 30 of their first 40 seasons in the First Division, although were usually seen mid-table or in relegation scrap. The closest Chelsea came to success was in the FA cup, but they lost and finished runners-up in 1915. Their trophy-less days were soon ended when manager Ted Drake was introduced and led them to the League Championship in 1955. From then on Chelsea started to get more involved with the big boys. They won the League Cup in 1965, FA Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1971.
Sadly, problems began to appear and over the next decade, there was some real struggles. However a man by the name of John Neal took over the club in the mid-1980s, his revival led to the club winning the Second Division and then re-establishing themselves in the top flight.
A further revival under managers Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli from 1996 to 2000 saw Chelsea win the FA Cup in 1997 and 2000, the League Cup and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1998, and qualify for the Champions League for the first time; the club have not finished outside of the top six in the Premier League since the 95-96 season. In 2003, Chelsea was bought by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, ushering in the club's current phase of success. Jose Mourinho led them to two league titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups in three seasons. The club added a further FA Cup in 2009, and then their first League and FA Cup in 2010. Under the stewardship of former player Roberto Di Matteo, the club won a seventh FA Cup in 2012, before going on play in the UEFA Champions League Final. The game saw goals from Muller and Drogba before going to penalties. In the end Drogba scored the final penalty to win Chelsea’s its first UEFA Champions League title.
View attachment 329174
Soon into the next season, Di Matteo was sacked. His replacement has proved controversial. Unconfirmed rumours circulating on the terraces and on social media sites suggest that Lewis D was hired because of a conversation between Roman Abramovich and himself back in 2012 while celebrating the Champions League win. The conversation is believed to have been along the lines that Lewis’s joke offer to manage the side based on his success on the popular manager Football Manager, while the chairman is believed to have retorted, 'should the club ever find themselves manager-less and you've actually grown up, apply and it will be given serious consideration'. Whether Mr Abramovich expected the club to be manager-less, or he was just severely high, no one knows. But if anything, he is a man of his word, because a 26 year old Lewis did apply when Di Matteo was sacked, and the application was given serious consideration. Serious enough consideration that he finds himself manager of Chelsea FC today!
The appointment induced despair amongst the players, with many threatening to leave. It seems Lewis may have bitten off far more than he could ever hope to chew...
Sadly, problems began to appear and over the next decade, there was some real struggles. However a man by the name of John Neal took over the club in the mid-1980s, his revival led to the club winning the Second Division and then re-establishing themselves in the top flight.
A further revival under managers Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli from 1996 to 2000 saw Chelsea win the FA Cup in 1997 and 2000, the League Cup and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1998, and qualify for the Champions League for the first time; the club have not finished outside of the top six in the Premier League since the 95-96 season. In 2003, Chelsea was bought by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, ushering in the club's current phase of success. Jose Mourinho led them to two league titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups in three seasons. The club added a further FA Cup in 2009, and then their first League and FA Cup in 2010. Under the stewardship of former player Roberto Di Matteo, the club won a seventh FA Cup in 2012, before going on play in the UEFA Champions League Final. The game saw goals from Muller and Drogba before going to penalties. In the end Drogba scored the final penalty to win Chelsea’s its first UEFA Champions League title.
View attachment 329174
Soon into the next season, Di Matteo was sacked. His replacement has proved controversial. Unconfirmed rumours circulating on the terraces and on social media sites suggest that Lewis D was hired because of a conversation between Roman Abramovich and himself back in 2012 while celebrating the Champions League win. The conversation is believed to have been along the lines that Lewis’s joke offer to manage the side based on his success on the popular manager Football Manager, while the chairman is believed to have retorted, 'should the club ever find themselves manager-less and you've actually grown up, apply and it will be given serious consideration'. Whether Mr Abramovich expected the club to be manager-less, or he was just severely high, no one knows. But if anything, he is a man of his word, because a 26 year old Lewis did apply when Di Matteo was sacked, and the application was given serious consideration. Serious enough consideration that he finds himself manager of Chelsea FC today!
The appointment induced despair amongst the players, with many threatening to leave. It seems Lewis may have bitten off far more than he could ever hope to chew...
