Top 5 - Favourite Chelsea Players (No. 4)

4) Ruud Gullit

Back in 1996 Chelsea were managed by Glenn Hoddle. In his 3 year tenure at the blues, the club never finished higher than 11th nor lower than 14th, practically the definition of mid-table obscurity.

Of course the inevitable glamour of Hoddle as a player, and a manager, couldn't help but raise the club's profile and the introduction of a new passing philosophy, plus the excitement of numerous cup runs, meant that long suffering fans finally had something to chant about.

Perhaps his most lasting legacy however, was the signing of the dread locked Dutch man. Gullit was a considerable gamble, uncertain as experts were over the state of his knees. But despite being perceived as a little over the hill, he was the first 'big name' to come to Chelsea and as a result, I was enthralled by him.

His laid back persona and the grace with which he played made him an instant hit with the fans. Everything he did seemed effortless and his range of passing, vision and control were still all present even if some of the dynamism had been left behind in Italy.

My lasting memory of Gullit was a home game against Manchester City. Dad and I had got tickets on the cheap as it was a re-arranged game played midweek. It hadn't been a particularly noteworthy contest until Gullit came on as a sub midway through the 2nd half.

Instantly, he was directing play from the midfield and suddenly Chelsea were a different team. Picking the ball up in Man City's half he looked up to his left seeking a potential through ball. Nothing on, he turned back to his right, evading the attentions of a Man City player with ease. Still nothing on, he didn't, as many would, look to lump the ball forward in hope but with great elegance, strode forward to the edge of the box unchallenged and struck a rasper into the top corner of the net.

It was a great goal but more importantly seemed to sum up Gullit's ability to control a game with endless poise.