Chelsea has had some world-class strikers throughout their history, propelling the club to domestic and continental glory in the Premier League fixtures. But, Chelsea’s top goal scorer of all time is a central midfielder: Frank Lampard, a club legend who did not last long as Chelsea manager.
And despite the recent influx of money in the Premier League era, not all of Chelsea’s greats are from recent memory.
Here is a list of the top five Chelsea strikers of all time. Our number one should not surprise any Chelsea faithful.
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
In terms of goal output in the Premier League era, it doesn’t get much better than Dutchman Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Hasselbaink scored 69 times in just 136 Premier League appearances for The Blues.
During his time at the club, trophies were limited, but on the back of his goals, Chelsea finished second in the Premier League in his final season at the club.
His first three seasons at the club were electric with 20-plus goal returns and teaming up with striking partner Eiður Guðjohnsen for some of the most entertaining football in club history.
- Bobby Tambling
It may seem a bit harsh to have Chelsea’s top goal scorer for 40 years at number four, but the three above him are also club legends.
Tambling played the majority of his football in the 60s and debuted for the London side when he was only 15. Tambling scored a whopping 37 goals in 62-63, his best seasons.
Despite his goal-scoring prowess, Chelsea only won one trophy, the Football League Cup, during his time at the club. Tambling also only played three times for England and scored once.
Therefore, he falls slightly lower on our list, but as Chelsea’s top goalscorer until Lampard nabbed that right from him, he deserves to be on this list.
- Peter Osgood
Osgood took over the reins from Tambling and kept the goals flowing. While Osgood didn’t score as much as Tambling, his 105 goals at the club often came at crucial times, and his flashy play for a striker at the time made him a Chelsea legend.
Osgood scored two crucial goals over two legs of the European Cup Winners’ Cup Final, bagging the club its first continental trophy.
Similar to Tambling, Osgood found much more success at club level than country, only appearing for England four times in his career.
- Gianfranco Zola
Now, I know what you’re saying: was Zola ever an out-and-out striker? No, but the game changes and so has the position.
Zola is one of the best players to ever pull on a shirt at Stamford Bridge, so it’s hard not to find a way to fit him into this list.
The Italian talisman scored 80 times during his 7 seasons in England as the club enjoyed its most success to date. Chelsea solidified as a Top 6 Premier League team and won the FA Cup twice to pair with two European cup titles.
Not only did he lead the club to glory, but he also captured the fans’ hearts and became the first true club legend in the Premier League era.
- Didier Drogba
It could only be one man at the top of this list, none other than Didier Drogba, a fan favourite for his work on and off the field.
When fans think of Chelsea’s rise in world football, the man most associated with the success is the Ivorian.
In his time at the club, Chelsea won the Premier League and FA Cup four times, and their only Champions League victory. Drogba led the line with powerful play and 164 goals during his time in London.
Drogba’s greatest heroics came in the club’s biggest game ever, the 2012 Champions League Final against Bayern Munich. Underdogs entering the game, Drogba equalised for Chelsea in the 88th minute, sending the game in extra time and later penalties. In the shootout, Drogba scored the winning penalty, resulting in scenes the Chelsea faithful will remember for the rest of their lives.