César Azpilicueta confirms his retirement at the end of the season.

The 36-year-old has made over 800 appearances for club and country.

Among his honours were two Premier Leagues and the #UCL with Chelsea.

🗣️ “I want to share with you that this season will be my last as a professional footballer. After so many years living my dream, I feel it’s time to start a new chapter in my life.

 

“Being honest, even though I have been preparing myself for this moment, I found it hard to write this letter.  After 20 seasons , many people have played an important role in my career.

 

“When I first kicked a ball as a child in Pamplona with my schoolmates, I never imagined the amazing journey ahead. I’m grateful for every moment: the wins, the tough losses, the challenges, and most of all, the people I’ve met and the friendships I’ve made along the way.”

Chelsea got a great Manager in Xabi Alonso as he has been unveiled officially

Xabi Alonso, unveiled and confirmed as new a Chelsea manager.

Chelsea confirm the appointment of Xabi Alonso on a four-year deal from July 1, 2026! 

 Xabi Alonso on his move to Chelsea: "Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club.

"From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.

"There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies."

Xabi Alonso's appointment reflects the Club’s belief in his broad set of experiences, coaching quality and game model, leadership attributes, character and integrity, which were key to the decision to ask him to help lead the next phase of Chelsea’s journey.

The Eden Hazard Effect

 

Ex-Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman has left fans stunned by his shock new look

 Kezman spent 12 months at Stamford Bridge in Jose Mourinho’s first season at the club, picking up Premier League and League Cup winners medals for his efforts.

The 46-year-old hung up his boots back in 2012 but has since worked as a sports agent, representing players including former Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

His biggest transformation came when he became a monk after declaring his commitment to religion through the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Kezman displays multiple tattoos dedicated to his faith, however the most striking visuals come in his long wavy locks amid a receding hairline and a multi-coloured beard.

And it won't just be Chelsea fans who are left stunned by the Serbian’s new look with supporters of the 11 other clubs he represented during his 16-year career also likely to be taken aback.

Kezman lined up for Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Fenerbahce among others before calling time on his career.

His breakout season came with Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven where he spent four years.

He netted 129 goals in 176 games, earning a £5million move to Chelsea as a reward for his efforts.

Kezman struggled to impose himself at Stamford Bridge as the goals dried up, netting just seven times in 41 appearances.

But a Premier League and League Cup double made sure his time in England was not wasted.

Despite failing to live up to expectations at Chelsea, Kezman later spoke of his pride at representing the club.

"I am very happy and proud of my time in Chelsea in one year, but now it is behind me," Kezman previously told the Evening Chronicle.

"I am very sad because of all the supporters in Chelsea, but it was a year with a lot of stress. For one year they were all behind me, giving me support in the stadium and on the street as well.

"I owe them more goals - one day it might happen. I might be back to Chelsea, you never know. But for now, I want to play and Mourinho was not going to give me a chance."

His former teammate Glen Johnson revealed the depths of Kezman’s frustration during his Chelsea days and how he let out his anger in the dressing room.

"I don't remember what game it was but I remember what the dressing room was like! He smashed a few lockers up, put a few holes in the seats.,” Johnson told Betting Expert.

"It happens all the time, players aren't happy about coming off and he hadn't been playing much at the time and he was given an opportunity but he was frustrated with himself as he'd missed a few chances."

But the former striker was already primed for life after football and even signalled his intention of becoming a monk in an interview in 2012.

"I want to become a monk. It is God's decision. But if God calls me, I will do it,” he told the Standard, as quoted by the Daily Mirror.

SOURCE: talkSport

Frank Lampard Eyes Chelsea Academy Starlet Jesse Derry as Coventry Prepare for Premier League Return

Frank Lampard is keen to bring highly-rated Chelsea youngster Jesse Derry to Coventry City on a season-long loan next term,

The Coventry City manager, a Chelsea legend and former player and coach at Stamford Bridge, has identified the 18-year-old as a key target as the Sky Blues gear up for life back in the Premier League following their promotion. Lampard is understood to be a strong admirer of Derry and views him as an ideal addition to bolster the squad with youthful energy and potential.

Derry, son of former Premier League midfielder Shaun Derry, has impressed in Chelsea’s academy and made his senior debut for the Blues earlier this year. A versatile forward/winger capable of playing on either flank, the England Under-19 international has shown composure, dribbling ability, and a strong work ethic in limited first-team opportunities. Chelsea are open to loan moves for promising academy talents to aid their development, and sources indicate the club would give serious consideration to a temporary switch to Coventry under Lampard’s guidance.

Lampard, who retains close ties with his former club, is already planning ahead for what promises to be a challenging campaign in the top flight. Bringing in Derry would represent a smart, low-risk move leveraging existing connections to integrate a hungry young player into the first-team environment.

Chelsea declined to comment on specific player movements at this stage.

Fernando Torres - All the Goals! | Best Goals Compilation | Chelsea FC

Fernando Torres arrived at Chelsea in January 2011 as one of the most high-profile and expensive signings in Premier League history. Seeking the major trophies that had eluded him at Liverpool, the Spanish striker—then 26 and still fresh off a strong international career—joined for a British record £50 million fee on a five-and-a-half-year deal. It was a dramatic move: Liverpool had rejected a £40m bid days earlier, Torres handed in a transfer request, and Chelsea pounced on deadline day. He inherited the iconic No. 9 shirt and immediately faced sky-high expectations as the club's marquee forward.

### Early Struggles and Adaptation (2010–11 Season)

Torres' Chelsea debut came on 6 February 2011 in a 1–0 home defeat to his former club Liverpool—an emotional, goalless return against familiar faces. He endured a frustrating start, going 903 minutes without a goal across 14 league appearances and 18 total games. His first Chelsea goal finally arrived on 23 April 2011: a well-taken strike in a 3–0 win over West Ham United on a sodden Stamford Bridge pitch. It was a moment of relief, but the season ended without silverware for him personally, as Chelsea finished second in the Premier League. The big fee and initial drought set the tone for much of the narrative around his time at the club—high expectations clashing with a dip in form and confidence.

### Breakthrough Season: Trophies and Iconic Moments (2011–12)

The 2011–12 campaign marked Torres' first real impact. He scored 11 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions, including six in the Premier League. Early highlights included a brace in a 5–0 Champions League thrashing of Genk and his first Premier League goal of the season against Manchester United (though he famously missed an open goal in that same game). A red card against Swansea (his first in English football) led to a three-game ban, but he bounced back strongly.

The defining moment came in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona at the Camp Nou. With Chelsea down to 10 men and clinging to a 1–0 aggregate lead, Torres came off the bench in the 91st minute. He raced clear, produced a composed first touch to control a long clearance, rounded Víctor Valdés, and slotted home to make it 2–2 on the night (and secure a 3–2 aggregate win). It was a moment of pure composure under pressure that sent Chelsea to the final in Munich—the goal that silenced critics and cemented his place in club folklore.

He added a hat-trick in a 6–1 league win over QPR days later. In the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, he came on as a substitute, won a crucial corner that led to Didier Drogba's equalizer, and watched Chelsea win on penalties. He also featured in the FA Cup final victory over Liverpool (his former club), completing a domestic and European double in his first full season.

*(Torres' iconic goal and celebration vs. Barcelona in 2012 – one of the most memorable moments in Chelsea's Champions League triumph.)*

### Peak Contribution and Europa League Glory (2012–13)

Torres enjoyed his most productive season at Chelsea in 2012–13, netting 22 goals in 64 appearances. He started with the opener in the Community Shield (a 3–2 loss to Manchester City) and scored regularly in the league, including against Arsenal and Norwich. In Europe, he was prolific: he became the first player to score in seven different competitions in a single season, with crucial strikes in the Europa League quarter-finals against Steaua București and Rubin Kazan (a brace in the first leg).

The crowning achievement came in the 2013 UEFA Europa League final against Benfica in Amsterdam. Torres opened the scoring with a clinical finish in a 2–1 win, helping Chelsea lift the trophy. He also scored in the Club World Cup semi-final (though they lost the final). Despite occasional red cards and dips (including one for diving), his link-up play and finishing showed glimpses of the "El Niño" of old. Chelsea finished third in the Premier League.

*(Torres celebrating his opening goal in the 2013 Europa League final vs. Benfica.)*

### Later Years and Transition (2013–14 and Beyond)

Under new manager José Mourinho in 2013–14, Torres scored 11 goals in 41 games. Notable moments included two goals on his 100th start (a 3–0 Champions League win over Schalke) and a dramatic 90th-minute winner against Manchester City. However, form became inconsistent, with more goal droughts and another red card. Injuries and a loss of explosive pace (a lingering issue from earlier knee problems) limited his explosiveness.

In August 2014, he moved to AC Milan on a two-year loan (later made permanent). He made just a handful of appearances for Chelsea in the early 2014–15 season before departing. Overall, across four-and-a-half seasons, Torres made 172 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 45 goals (20 in the Premier League from 110 games) and providing key assists.

### Achievements and Legacy at Chelsea

Despite never fully replicating his Liverpool goal-scoring rate (where he was a phenomenon), Torres delivered exactly what he came for: **major trophies**. At Chelsea, he won:

- **UEFA Champions League** (2012)

- **FA Cup** (2012)

- **UEFA Europa League** (2013)

He also played in the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup final (runners-up).

*(Torres lifting the Champions League trophy in 2012 – the pinnacle of his Chelsea career.)*