| Chelsea Football Club play in the Premier League and | | | | replaced by Portuguese coach José Mourinho. |
| have spent most of their history in the top tier of | | | | Under Mourinho, Chelsea became the fifth English |
| English football. Chelsea have been English champions | | | | team to win back-to-back league championships since |
| three times, and have won the FA Cup five times, the | | | | the Second World War (2004–05 and 2005–06), |
| League Cup four times and the UEFA Cup Winners' | | | | in addition to winning an FA Cup (2007) and two |
| Cup twice. | | | | League Cups (2005 and 2007). In September 2007 |
| The club had their first major success in 1955, winning | | | | Mourinho was replaced by Avram Grant, who led the |
| the league championship. Chelsea won several cup | | | | club to their first UEFA Champions League final, in |
| competitions during the 1960s and 1970s, but after that | | | | which they lost on penalties to Manchester United. |
| did not win another major title until 1997. The past | | | | Grant was sacked days later and succeeded by Luiz |
| decade has been the most successful period in | | | | Felipe Scolari in July 2008. |
| Chelsea’s history, capped by winning consecutive | | | | Scolari spent only seven months in the job before |
| Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006, and reaching | | | | being dismissed after a string of poor results. Russia |
| their first UEFA Champions League final in 2008. | | | | coach Guus Hiddink was appointed caretaker |
| Chelsea's home is the 41,841 capacity Stamford Bridge | | | | manager until the end of the 2008–09 season. |
| football stadium in Fulham, West London, where they | | | | Chelsea's season ended with a 2–1 win over |
| have played since their establishment. The club are | | | | Everton in the FA Cup Final. Two days later former |
| based just outside the Royal Borough of Kensington | | | | AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was confirmed as |
| and Chelsea, in the London Borough of Hammersmith | | | | Chelsea's new manager. |
| and Fulham. In 2003, they were bought by Russian oil | | | | Stamford Bridge |
| magnate Roman Abramovich. | | | | The Stamford Bridge pitch, the freehold, the turnstiles |
| Chelsea's traditional kit colours are royal blue shirts and | | | | and Chelsea's naming rights are now owned by |
| shorts with white socks. The club crest has been | | | | Chelsea Pitch Owners, a non-profit organisation in |
| changed several times in attempts to modernize or | | | | which fans are the shareholders. The CPO was |
| re-brand; the current crest, featuring a ceremonial lion | | | | created to ensure the stadium could never again be |
| holding a staff, is a modified version of one first | | | | sold to developers. It also means that if the club |
| adopted in the 1950s. The club has sustained the fifth | | | | moves to a new location, they could not use the |
| highest average all-time attendance in English football. | | | | Chelsea FC name. |
| Their average home gate for the 2008–09 season | | | | The club plans to increase its capacity to over 50,000. |
| was 41,464, the fifth highest in the Premier League. | | | | Owing to its location in a built-up part of London on a |
| History | | | | main road and next to two railway lines, fans can only |
| In June 2003, Bates sold Chelsea to Russian billionaire | | | | enter the stadium through the Fulham Road entrances, |
| Roman Abramovich for £140 million, completing what | | | | which places severe constraints on expansion due to |
| was then the biggest-ever sale of an English football | | | | health and safety regulations. As a result, Chelsea |
| club. Over £100 million was spent on new players, but | | | | have been linked with a move away from Stamford |
| Ranieri was unable to deliver any trophies, so he was | | | | Bridge to sites including the Earls Court Exhibition |
| replaced by Portuguese coach José Mourinho. | | | | Centre, Battersea Power Station and the Chelsea |
| Under Mourinho, Chelsea became the fifth English | | | | Barracks. However, the club have reiterated their |
| team to win back-to-back league championships since | | | | desire to keep Chelsea at their current home. |
| the Second World War (2004–05 and 2005–06), | | | | Chelsea's training ground is located in Cobham, Surrey. |
| in addition to winning an FA Cup (2007) and two | | | | Chelsea moved to Cobham in 2004. Their previous |
| League Cups (2005 and 2007). In September 2007 | | | | training ground in Harlington was taken over by QPR in |
| Mourinho was replaced by Avram Grant, who led the | | | | 2005. The new training facilities in Cobham were |
| club to their first UEFA Champions League final, in | | | | completed in 2007. |
| which they lost on penalties to Manchester United. | | | | Records |
| Grant was sacked days later and succeeded by Luiz | | | | The club's 21–0 aggregate victory over Jeunesse |
| Felipe Scolari in July 2008. | | | | Hautcharage in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1971 |
| Scolari spent only seven months in the job before | | | | remains a record in European competition. Chelsea |
| being dismissed after a string of poor results. Russia | | | | hold the record for the longest streak of unbeaten |
| coach Guus Hiddink was appointed caretaker | | | | matches at home in the English top-flight, which lasted |
| manager until the end of the 2008–09 season. | | | | 86 matches from 20 March 2004 to 26 October 2008. |
| Chelsea's season ended with a 2–1 win over | | | | They secured the record on 12 August 2007, beating |
| Everton in the FA Cup Final. Two days later former | | | | the previous record of 63 matches unbeaten set by |
| AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was confirmed as | | | | Liverpool between 1978 and 1980. Chelsea's streak of |
| Chelsea's new manager. | | | | eleven consecutive away league wins, set between 5 |
| Stamford Bridge | | | | April 2008 and 6 December 2008, is also a record for |
| The Stamford Bridge pitch, the freehold, the turnstiles | | | | the English top flight. |
| and Chelsea's naming rights are now owned by | | | | Chelsea have recorded several "firsts" in English |
| Chelsea Pitch Owners, a non-profit organisation in | | | | football. Along with Arsenal, they were the first club to |
| which fans are the shareholders. The CPO was | | | | play with shirt numbers on 25 August 1928 in their |
| created to ensure the stadium could never again be | | | | match against Swansea Town. Chelsea were the first |
| sold to developers. It also means that if the club | | | | English side to travel by aeroplane to a domestic |
| moves to a new location, they could not use the | | | | away match, when they visited Newcastle United on |
| Chelsea FC name. | | | | 19 April 1957, and the first First Division side to play a |
| The club plans to increase its capacity to over 50,000. | | | | match on a Sunday, when they faced Stoke City on |
| Owing to its location in a built-up part of London on a | | | | 27 January 1974. On 26 December 1999, Chelsea |
| main road and next to two railway lines, fans can only | | | | became the first British side to field an entirely foreign |
| enter the stadium through the Fulham Road entrances, | | | | starting line-up (no British or Irish players) in a Premier |
| which places severe constraints on expansion due to | | | | League match against Southampton. On 19 May 2007, |
| health and safety regulations. As a result, Chelsea | | | | they became the first team to win the FA Cup at the |
| have been linked with a move away from Stamford | | | | new Wembley Stadium, having also been the last to |
| Bridge to sites including the Earls Court Exhibition | | | | win it at the old Wembley. After the conclusion of the |
| Centre, Battersea Power Station and the Chelsea | | | | 2007/08 season, Chelsea became the highest ranked |
| Barracks. However, the club have reiterated their | | | | club under UEFA's five-year coefficient system used in |
| desire to keep Chelsea at their current home. | | | | the seeding of European club competitions in the |
| Chelsea's training ground is located in Cobham, Surrey. | | | | following season, the first English club to do so in the |
| Chelsea moved to Cobham in 2004. Their previous | | | | 21st century. |
| training ground in Harlington was taken over by QPR in | | | | The club's 21–0 aggregate victory over Jeunesse |
| 2005. The new training facilities in Cobham were | | | | Hautcharage in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1971 |
| completed in 2007. | | | | remains a record in European competition. Chelsea |
| Chelsea Football Club play in the Premier League and | | | | hold the record for the longest streak of unbeaten |
| have spent most of their history in the top tier of | | | | matches at home in the English top-flight, which lasted |
| English football. Chelsea have been English champions | | | | 86 matches from 20 March 2004 to 26 October 2008. |
| three times, and have won the FA Cup five times, the | | | | They secured the record on 12 August 2007, beating |
| League Cup four times and the UEFA Cup Winners' | | | | the previous record of 63 matches unbeaten set by |
| Cup twice. | | | | Liverpool between 1978 and 1980. Chelsea's streak of |
| The club had their first major success in 1955, winning | | | | eleven consecutive away league wins, set between 5 |
| the league championship. Chelsea won several cup | | | | April 2008 and 6 December 2008, is also a record for |
| competitions during the 1960s and 1970s, but after that | | | | the English top flight. |
| did not win another major title until 1997. The past | | | | Chelsea have recorded several "firsts" in English |
| decade has been the most successful period in | | | | football. Along with Arsenal, they were the first club to |
| Chelsea’s history, capped by winning consecutive | | | | play with shirt numbers on 25 August 1928 in their |
| Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006, and reaching | | | | match against Swansea Town. Chelsea were the first |
| their first UEFA Champions League final in 2008. | | | | English side to travel by aeroplane to a domestic |
| Chelsea's home is the 41,841 capacity Stamford Bridge | | | | away match, when they visited Newcastle United on |
| football stadium in Fulham, West London, where they | | | | 19 April 1957, and the first First Division side to play a |
| have played since their establishment. The club are | | | | match on a Sunday, when they faced Stoke City on |
| based just outside the Royal Borough of Kensington | | | | 27 January 1974. On 26 December 1999, Chelsea |
| and Chelsea, in the London Borough of Hammersmith | | | | became the first British side to field an entirely foreign |
| and Fulham. In 2003, they were bought by Russian oil | | | | starting line-up (no British or Irish players) in a Premier |
| magnate Roman Abramovich. | | | | League match against Southampton. On 19 May 2007, |
| Chelsea's traditional kit colours are royal blue shirts and | | | | they became the first team to win the FA Cup at the |
| shorts with white socks. The club crest has been | | | | new Wembley Stadium, having also been the last to |
| changed several times in attempts to modernize or | | | | win it at the old Wembley. After the conclusion of the |
| re-brand; the current crest, featuring a ceremonial lion | | | | 2007/08 season, Chelsea became the highest ranked |
| holding a staff, is a modified version of one first | | | | club under UEFA's five-year coefficient system used in |
| adopted in the 1950s. The club has sustained the fifth | | | | the seeding of European club competitions in the |
| highest average all-time attendance in English football. | | | | following season, the first English club to do so in the |
| Their average home gate for the 2008–09 season | | | | 21st century. |
| was 41,464, the fifth highest in the Premier League. | | | | is the most specialized and fully dedicated football |
| History | | | | ticket website offering the best place to buy Chelsea |
| In June 2003, Bates sold Chelsea to Russian billionaire | | | | tickets and champions league tickets for all the popular |
| Roman Abramovich for £140 million, completing what | | | | football matches around. You can buy your favourite |
| was then the biggest-ever sale of an English football | | | | Chelsea tickets online through our secure and |
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| Ranieri was unable to deliver any trophies, so he was | | | | champions league final tickets here!. |