Top 5 - Favourite Chelsea Players (No.3)

3) Dennis Wise

Alex Ferguson described him as a "man who could start a fight in an empty room", but perhaps more than that, he was the epitomy of a player all opposing fans loved to hate.

At a time when the influx of foreign players was changing the nature of the club beyond all recognition, 'Wisey' was the one player who seemed to encapsulate the roots of Chelsea.

Throughout the late 90's, Wise was the heart of the midfield but also the heartbeat of the club. The 'tea ladies favourite', he managed to bed in the likes of Vialli, DiMatteo and Leboeuf almost instantly, initiating them into pre-planned goal celebrations and press conference renditons of 'Singing In The Rain'.

More than just the 'cheeky chappy' with the 'Crazy Gang' outlook, he could play a little too. Again his abilities on the ball were subtle but many a time he kept play ticking over, winning posession and generally bossing the midfield while the 'superstars' struggled on a wet, away day in Middlesborough.

Perhaps his defining moment in a Chelsea shirt was during one of the teams early forays into the Champions League. A group game away to Milan was a massive fixture, of the type most fans are now used to, and his equalising goal in a 1-1, come from behind, draw gave rise to a chant that would be sung many years after the event.

"Oh Dennis Wise/Scored a bloody great goal/In the San Siro/With ten minutes to go." Not elegant but cheeky and memorable. A little like the man himself.