4 Best Chelsea Left Backs Ever – All Time Greats

Posted on April 26, 2020

Out of all the Premier League legends to have played for Chelsea over the years, left-backs do not really make a strong point for themselves. This is mainly because there have been two standout players that have carried a huge bulk of the load upon themselves.

In an otherwise decorated lineup, Chelsea always had some sort of woes regarding the famous left-back position. While it is a crucial position in terms of defence, handling the left flank and delivering crosses. Apart from a few notable players, the position has always been something which the blues wish to fill.

Here, we’ll see who they are and who else makes our top left-backs for Chelsea list.

4. Marcos Alonso

This is a questionable choice but such is the lack of quality left-backs over Chelsea’s history that Alonso sneaks in here at 4th position. Signed from Fiorentina in 2016, Alonso made quite an instant impact at Stamford Bridge. He was bought by Antonio Conte and was brought on at half-time for Cesc Fabregas when Chelsea was trailing 3-0. A change in shape saw Chelsea go 3 at the back, a move which saw even Barcelona try their hand at it.

Must Read: 12 Facts about Marcos Alonso you must know

Alonso has since made 140 appearances for the blues scoring a remarkable 22 goals, winning the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Europa League. He took the left-wing-back spot like a duck to water, as it also managed to shadow his weak defensive abilities. The dismissal of Conte in 2018 saw a reversal in Alonso’s fortunes as the left-back spot didn’t quite suit him as well as the wing-back spot. His lack of recovery pace and concentration were regularly exposed, making him a regular criminal in the eyes of Chelsea’s fans. However, Alonso has done impeccably well whenever Chelsea have gone for a back three in the odd game.

With Emerson also not doing very well, Chelsea will look to the market for an upgrade, however, Alonso does make a strong case for himself as he gives Chelsea some good tactical flexibility and a good source of attacking thrust from left-back.

3. Eddie McCreadie

Eddie was a Scottish footballer who had signed for Chelsea for 5000 pounds in 1962 to help push the club’s promotion from the second division. Chelsea was promoted to the first division later in 1962 and Eddie then became a permanent fixture in the Chelsea defence.

He was a full-back well ahead of his time as he was very efficient going forward and defending. His bombing runs down the left flank were a part of the flamboyant Chelsea sides of the 1960s and 1970s featuring Bobby Tambling, Charlie Cooke and Peter Osgood.

He made 331 appearances for Chelsea over 12 years scoring 4 goals. His most memorable moment in a Chelsea shirt came in the league cup final of 1965 when he dribbled 80 yards up the pitch to slot it pass then Leicester City goalkeeper Gordon Banks. This goal gave the team a first-leg advantage of 3-2 which ultimately won them the cup as the second leg finished in a 0-0 draw.

Eddie also went on to manage Chelsea for 3 years from 1975-1977.

2. Graeme Le Saux

Graeme Le Saux started his career in Jersey and then moved to England and signed for Chelsea in 1989. He shifted to Blackburn in 1993 during their rebuild and was a constant fixture in Blackburn’s title-winning side of 1994-95. He shifted back to Chelsea in a deal worth 5 million, then a record amount for a defender in English football. He ended his career at Southampton when he shifted there in 2003. Over two stints at Chelsea, he made 230 league appearances and scored 12 goals for the club.

He was an important part of the sides that won the League cup and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1998. He also won the 2000 FA Cup with Chelsea alongside Gianfranco Zola, Marcel Desailly and a young John Terry

Le Saux won 5 major trophies at Chelsea and was a regular part of the defence for a combined 10 years making him one of the best left-backs to have ever played for Chelsea.

Alongside 312 club appearances for Chelsea, Le Saux also had 36 caps for England in which he scored a solitary goal against Brazil. He also started all four of England’s matches at the 1998 World Cup.

He moved to Southampton in 2003 in a deal which saw Wayne Bridge move the opposite way.

1. Ashley Cole

Signed from direct rivals Arsenal for a sum of 5 million + William Gallas proved to be one of the best bits of business done by Chelsea. Cole was found guilty of making contact with Chelsea without informing Arsenal, who were unwilling to increase his wages as much as he wanted. Often dubbed as ‘Cashley’ due to this infamous transfer saga, Cole went on to make 338 appearances for Chelsea and winning every possible trophy there is to be won at club level.

He was considered as one of the best left-backs in the world being a part of an airtight Chelsea defence for nearly a decade. He was the starting left-back for Chelsea’s most successful times and Chelsea never needed an upgrade in that position.

Cole was as efficient going forward as he was defending deep. He was famous for his well-timed goal-line clearances and last-ditch tackles. He made two goal-line clearances during Chelsea’s run in the 2011-12 Champions League. One in the first leg Round-of-16 defeat to Napoli and second in the semi-final against Barcelona. Both proved to be vital as Chelsea won both rounds by one goal on aggregate.

During Cole’s tenure at Chelsea, he often managed to get the better of Ronaldo and Messi, whenever he played them. This showed how much he had improved defensively despite being labelled weak in his defensive positions by former Arsenal teammates.

In 2014, Chelsea knew it would be difficult replacing a man with 107 national caps, but they didn’t know it would be virtually impossible. Since Cole’s departure, the left-back spot has always been Chelsea’s Achilles heel.