Chelsea have developed into one of Europe's most successful clubs despite spending much of their early history without sustained domestic dominance. Founded in 1905, the club immediately joined the Football League and quickly built one of England's largest fanbases thanks to Stamford Bridge, one of the country's biggest stadiums at the time. Although Chelsea won the First Division title in 1954/55 under Ted Drake, the club spent many years alternating between cup success and inconsistent league performances.
A new era began in 2003 when Roman Abramovich purchased the club. Significant investments transformed Chelsea into title contenders almost overnight, and two years later José Mourinho guided the team to its first Premier League championship. Chelsea finished the 2004/05 campaign with 95 points while conceding just 15 league goals, a defensive record that still stands today. Players such as John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Petr Čech and Claude Makélélé formed the backbone of a side that would dominate English football throughout the following decade.
European success initially proved difficult despite several deep runs in the Champions League. Against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, Didier Drogba headed in an 88th-minute equalizer before converting the decisive penalty in the shootout, securing Chelsea's first European Cup. The club added a second Champions League title in 2021 by defeating Manchester City by 1-0, with Kai Havertz scoring the only goal of the final.
Chelsea's royal blue shirts have become one of England's most recognizable kit designs. The club switched to an all-blue strip during the 1960s, creating the identity that remains today. Umbro manufactured many memorable Chelsea shirts before Adidas became manufacturer in 2006, producing several iconic kits from the club's most successful period. Nike took over in 2017 and continues to make their shirts. Among collectors, the 2011/12 home shirt is especially desirable because it represents Chelsea's first Champions League triumph, while the 2004/05 shirt has become another modern classic after Mourinho's record-breaking debut season. Earlier Coors-sponsored shirts from the late 1990s also remain highly valued by supporters who remember Gianfranco Zola leading one of Chelsea's most entertaining squads before the club's modern dominance began.
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