Cahill thankful for proper Chelsea goodbye, reminisces about winning all the things

Gary Cahill has seen it all. Gary Cahill has won it all.

Since arriving seven and a half years ago for a measly £7 million in the January 2012 transfer window, he’s won every just about every major trophy available to him, both in England and in Europe. Despite initial reservations about his quality and his wages, he’s proven to be one of the best (bargain) signings of the Roman Era.

But Cahill has found game time hard to come by this season — and recently letting those grievances spill over into the media — making only eight appearances in all competition, the last of which came on Sunday, in the final Premier League match of the season at Stamford Bridge.

As expected, he received hearty applause from all corners of Stamford Bridge while taking the arm band one last time. He lapped up the appreciation of the crowd, and after the lap of honor, also paid tribute to the fans in his interviews.

“It was nice to be able to say thank you to the fans. It was a great moment for me to get out there and say goodbye and just thank the supporters for the great career I have had here of mostly ups. It has been fantastic. It has been a fantastic success.

“I appreciate the club because they have given me the platform to go out and perform at the highest level and challenge for these trophies, and we have been good enough over the years to win them. The memories will stay with me and it was a nice moment at the end of the game.”

It is a dream of every football player to have a career loaded with trophies and be remembered by fans all over the world. Cahill has been one of the lucky ones in that regard, right from the very start. Less than six months after signing from Bolton Wanderers, where he was fighting a relegation battle, he was starting and winning a Champions League final! He would add a Europa League, two Premier Leagues and multiple domestic cups as well to his collection, including last year’s FA Cup triumph.

They’ve all been the sweetest of sweet things, though some stand out more than others.

“Obviously the Champions League in Munich was an amazing night to be part of, to be in the team that enabled Chelsea to win it for the first time was amazing but a very close second for me was the first Premier League I won. I have watched this league since I was a kid and I know how hard it is to go out every single week and try to get three points, as you saw in this game in the first half against Watford, so to do that consistently throughout the period of a season and to win the trophy is one of the best feelings as well.”

“When you start your career you have goals which you keep trying to achieve. I first wanted to play in the Premier League and then you want to go to a big club and then win trophies and then you want to go again and again. Every time I have put the shirt on I have felt I gave everything and it has been a very successful period while I have been at the club.I think we have been good for each other. I appreciate the club a lot and the platform they have given me but at the same time I have given everything for this club as well. It has been a great success”

-Gary Cahill; source: Chelsea FC

And so, barring a surprise appearance in our last 2-3 games this season, England’s Brave Gary Cahill, to use his full name, exits stage left.

One by one, they all leave us. But perhaps we’ll see each other again someday soon.

Fare thee well, Captain Cahill!

Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images (color edited by WAGNH)