Chelsea F.C were founded at the Rising Sun pub in 1905 and soon joined the Football League. Their late entry to the league meant they lacked the class of some of the more professional outfits and only managed one losing FA Cup final in their first 50 years of existence. 

Ted Drake revolutionised the club when he took over in 1952 by moving away from their "Pensioners" tag and improving the youth system as well as the training regime. Success soon followed as the Blues won their first major silverware during the 1954-55 season. 

The sixties was a period of consistent excellence with some disappointing near-misses as they failed to turn their form into trophy-wins. Despite Cup Winners' Cup glory in 1971, the next three decades were turbulent for the Blues as they struggled with a hooligan minority and relegation. The Premier League and Ken Bates' opportunism blew fresh wind into their sails as Chelsea gained a reputation for playing exciting football with top European talent under the guidance of Dutchman Ruud Gullit. Gianfranco Zola, Marcel Desailly and Roberto Di Matteo all lit up the early Premiership years. 

It wasn't until 2003 that Chelsea became a force to be reckoned with; billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club and assembled a dream team of footballing talent. He found the coach to match his ambition in the enigmatic José Mourinho who moulded a strong spine of players who have won numerous domestic titles and consistently challenge for the top prize: the Champions League.

Numerous managers have followed including Scolari, Hiddink and Villas-Boas but it was an ex-player; Di Matteo who brought home European glory.