Chelsea have had some remarkable shot-stoppers over the years at Stamford Bridge.
At such a successful club like Chelsea, where trophies have come in abundance, there are bound to have been some sensational players between the sticks.
You’d have to be mad to be one, right? Well, these Blues icons must be clinically insane. Stamford Bridge has seen a tremendous amount of talent over the years deranged enough to take up the role of the Chelsea #1.
So, with this – let’s take a trip down memory lane and shine a spotlight on the extraordinary keepers who’ve donned the iconic blue jersey. Here are Chelsea’s top 10 goalkeepers of all time, ranked from worst to best.
10 – William Foulke
William Foulke was Chelsea’s first-ever goalkeeper and remains one of their most famous despite playing only one season at the club.
Foulke was renowned for his great size and weight, reaching perhaps 24 stone at the end of his career, although reports on his weight vary. He makes the list for this feat alone!
9 – Dmitri Kharine
Dmitri Kharine played 118 times for Chelsea and was impressive in his earlier years at the club.
He was a constant presence in their run to the 1994 FA Cup Final, although he did concede four goals in the final itself – and then the club’s UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup run to the semi-final a year later.
Injury problems blighted his later years at the club and the signing of a new shot-stopper meant that he would only feature 20 times in his last three seasons.
8 – Edouard Mendy
Edouard Mendy is a controversial take on the list, but at the end of the day, he was a Champions League-winning goalkeeper for Chelsea.
He also equalled the record for most clean sheets in a Champions League season, which was nine. His efforts led to him winning the FIFA Best Goalkeeper award for the 2020-21 campaign.
Sadly, the Senegalese shot-stopper went on a decline from here on in. He was subsequently sold to Al Ahli in June 2023.
7 – Bill Robertson
Bill Robertson spent 14 long years around the Cobham Training Centre from 1946 to 1960. Emerging as an academy graduate, Robertson would go on to hold down the number-one spot for years to come.
He made his debut at the age of 22, on the 21st of April 1951 against Liverpool, when he kept a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory. This then cemented him as a regular in the Chelsea setup, with Robertson ultimately playing 199 games for the Blues before leaving for Leyton Orient in 1960.
6 – Ed de Goey
After a shaky start to English football, Ed de Goey was fabulous in his inaugural season at Chelsea. He put in great performances which led to the Blues emerging victorious in the League Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup.
Ed won a third major trophy at Chelsea, the FA Cup, in 1999/2000, a season in which he broke the club records for most appearances (59) and clean sheets (27), although these have now been surpassed. In all, Ed had kept 72 clean sheets in his 179 games. What a record!
5 – Eddie Niedzwiecki
Eddie Niedzwiecki was signed by John Neal in 1983 from his former club Wrexham for just £55,000. This turned out to be an absolute bargain.
He was immediately given the number one shirt and was outstanding as we won the Second Division Championship in his first season, playing in every fixture and conceding less than a goal a game.
Sadly, Eddie suffered serious knee ligament damage in the spring of 1986 while he was at the peak of his game. Although he managed one come back he was soon injured again, playing his last game in October 1987 at the age of just 28.
A terrible end. as he could have gone on to be Chelsea’s greatest-ever shot-stopper, no doubt.
4 – Carlo Cudicini
Carlo Cudicini was a criminally underrated goalkeeper, who thrived at Stamford Bridge. He was recommended to the Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli by his friend, the Lazio goalkeeper Luca Marchegiani, and was sold to the Blues for a fee of £300,000 in 1999.
No more than four years later, he was voted Chelsea’s Player of the Year for the 2001–02 season by fans and was definitely at his peak. Sadly, after Jose Mourinho arrived and through injury problems, he fell out of favour but still remained loyal to the Blues until 2009 – then departing for Tottenham.
Cuducini even came back to Chelsea after his playing days, playing a role in the coaching staff from 2016 to 2019.
3 – Thibaut Courtois
Signed as a promising young talent, Thibaut Courtois then spent several successful seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid, honing his skills and gaining invaluable experience.
Upon his return to Chelsea, he quickly established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper, showcasing exceptional shot-stopping ability. Courtois played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s Premier League title triumphs, earning plaudits for his consistent performances and crucial saves.
His time at the club was marked by numerous accolades, including multiple Golden Glove awards. However, his departure to Real Madrid in 2018 marked the end of his tenure. It also left Chelsea fans more than a little annoyed.
2 – Peter Bonetti
Peter Bonetti is one of Chelsea’s greatest-ever goalkeepers. He made over 700 appearances between 1959 and 1979. He was nicknamed “The Cat” due to his agility and quick reflexes.
Bonetti also represented the England national team. He was part of the England squad that won the 1966 FIFA World Cup, although he didn’t play in any matches during the tournament. He just misses out on the top spot though…
1 – Petr Cech
Petr Cech was nothing short of legendary at Chelsea. Signed in 2004 from Rennes, the Czech shot-stopper quickly established himself as one of the world’s best goalkeepers.
His imposing presence, exceptional shot-stopping ability, and commanding leadership guided Chelsea to numerous domestic and international honours. Cech played a pivotal role in the Blues’ Premier League triumphs and FA Cup victories. – He also nearly secured a Champions League medal in 2012.
Renowned for his iconic helmet after a severe head injury, Cech’s resilience epitomized his dedication to the team. His 494 appearances for Chelsea solidified his status as one of the club’s greatest-ever players. He is the best Chelsea goalkeeper of all-time.