Chelsea have been one of the most successful sides in the Premier League since the competition became the Premier League, back in 1992.
They have won league titles, FA Cups, League Cups, and even a couple of UEFA Champions League titles this century, and it is clear that they have fully become one of the best sides in Europe during that timespan.
It does beg the question, though: who are the players that captained Chelsea to these titles? Well, here is the list of every single Chelsea captain since the First Division became the Premier League in 1992, ranked from worst to best. Worst is a bad word, actually. But you get my point.
7. Andy Townsend (1992-1993)
Townsend is famously known for becoming the club’s first captain in the new format of the Premier League. The shift from the First Division to the Premier League happened during Townsend’s stint as the Blues’ captain.
He left for Aston Villa after the end of Chelsea’s first season in the Premier League, but it was always going to be remembered by most.
He was at the club for three years, joining in 1990 and then leaving after serving one year as the coach’s delegate on the pitch.
6. Reece James (2023-)
Chelsea’s latest permanent captain is one of their own. Just the second player after John Terry to become the permanent captain after playing through the academy.
James is the ideal fit. He knows the club inside out, and he has been one of the only staples of the squad in this tumultous period where there are so many signings and sales every season.
James has been around for a while, he acts like a leader on the pitch, and so many times, he leads by example and inspires others.
The only problem with him is being fit for longer periods, but that is really it. He is the perfect choice. With time, he will surely climb up this list.
6. Reece James (2023-)
Chelsea’s latest permanent captain is one of their own. Just the second player after John Terry to become the permanent captain after playing through the academy.
James is the ideal fit. He knows the club inside out, and he has been one of the only staples of the squad in this tumultous period where there are so many signings and sales every season.
James has been around for a while, he acts like a leader on the pitch, and so many times, he leads by example and inspires others.
The only problem with him is being fit for longer periods, but that is really it. He is the perfect choice. With time, he will surely climb up this list.
Chelsea have been one of the most successful sides in the Premier League since the competition became the Premier League, back in 1992.
They have won league titles, FA Cups, League Cups, and even a couple of UEFA Champions League titles this century, and it is clear that they have fully become one of the best sides in Europe during that timespan.
It does beg the question, though: who are the players that captained Chelsea to these titles? Well, here is the list of every single Chelsea captain since the First Division became the Premier League in 1992, ranked from worst to best. Worst is a bad word, actually. But you get my point.
7. Andy Townsend (1992-1993)
Townsend is famously known for becoming the club’s first captain in the new format of the Premier League. The shift from the First Division to the Premier League happened during Townsend’s stint as the Blues’ captain.
He left for Aston Villa after the end of Chelsea’s first season in the Premier League, but it was always going to be remembered by most. He was at the club for three years, joining in 1990 and then leaving after serving one year as the coach’s delegate on the pitch.
6. Reece James (2023-)
Chelsea’s latest permanent captain is one of their own. Just the second player after John Terry to become the permanent captain after playing through the academy.
James is the ideal fit. He knows the club inside out, and he has been one of the only staples of the squad in this tumultous period where there are so many signings and sales every season.
James has been around for a while, he acts like a leader on the pitch, and so many times, he leads by example and inspires others.
The only problem with him is being fit for longer periods, but that is really it. He is the perfect choice. With time, he will surely climb up this list.
5. Marcel Desailly (2001-2004)
Desailly did not win any trophies during his time with the club, but he was important in bringing up and leading the next generation of Chelsea stars and superstars, who would go on to glorify the Blues in years to come.
Obviously, Desailly’s time at the club seemed to have been a transition period, at first under Claudio Ranieri, but he was a good captain, and honestly, just as good of a player, if not better.
Desailly made 222 appearances for Chelsea in his time there, and he did win trophies, but was crucial in leading out the transition from Dennis Wise to Chelsea’s most successful captain of all time.
4. Gary Cahill (2017-2019)
Cahill was never going to be as good of a successor as his predecessor was, but he still did a really good job. He was under Terry’s tutelage in the Englishman’s final year at the club, and Cahill was the captain in several games in the 2016-17 season.
After that, Cahill became the permanent captain for two seasons, winning an FA Cup in his first, and then the Europa League in his second. What a way to bow out, eh?
3. César Azpilicueta (2019-2023)
Azpilicueta just gave that trustworthy feeling that a leader does. Even to fans and watchers along the world, he just looked like a captain.
It seemed like that was his motive when he became a professional footballer, even though it may not have been.
And, it was clear to see when he became just the second captain to lead Chelsea to Champions League glory under Thomas Tuchel in 2021.
Azpilicueta remained the captain of this team for four years before departing for Atletico Madrid, but he did have a successful stint wearing the armband for the Blues.
2. Dennis Wise (1993-2001)
Wise followed from Townsend as the captain of Chelsea for the next eight years. He was an important figure in Chelsea’s history, as he led the club to six trophies during his captaincy, playing a huge part in those titles. He led the team to two FA Cup triumphs, as well as a Cup Winners’ Cup, an FA Charity Shield, a Super Cup, and a League Cup.
He is the club’s second most successful captain, and is easily one of the most important figures in the club’s history as well. It is also worth noting that Chelsea’s first two captains in this new era joined in the same year – 1990.
1. John Terry (2004-2017)
By far Chelsea’s most successful captain to this day, Terry won a record 16 trophies at the club in his 13 years wearing the armband. The most important one, by far, was the Champions League, being the first captain (and one of just two overall) to lead a Chelsea team to victory.
Terry was as good of a leader as you could have, and his leadership qualities speak for themselves. He has multiple testaments around how good he was as a captain, and if this is not enough, he actually became Chelsea’s captain at just 21 years old. Incredible stuff.
He bowed out at the end of the 2016-17 season, but was a crucial figure throughout his tenure as captain. Any future armband holder would look to Terry as the most obvious inspiration to how they want their career to go.
Terry wore the armband on more than 500 occasions for the club, and it was a good time.
