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While the focus is obviously on Chelsea’s current situation, performance, and fight for the top-four, and rightly so, we’d be remiss not to pause for a second and acknowledge something a bit longer in the making. Nearly nine years in fact.
Chelsea captain César Azpilicueta made his 411th appearance for the club last night, and as we noted a couple appearances ago, that means he’s now all alone in tenth spot on the all-time appearance list. That’s right, only nine (9!) players in the entire (nearly) 116-year history of the club (birthday coming up in five days!) have pulled on the Chelsea shirt more often than the man we just call Dave.
- Chopper Harris: 795
- Peter Bonetti: 729
- John Terry: 717
- Frank Lampard: 648
- John Hollins: 592
- Petr Čech: 494
- Dennis Wise: 445
- Steve Clarke: 421
- Kerry Dixon: 420
- César Azpilicueta: 411
It’s the most illustrious company for the right back who was a comparatively unremarkable singing in the wake of Chelsea’s biggest night in 2012, joining the club the same summer as Eden Hazard, Oscar, and several others (including a 16-year-old Andreas Christensen!).
Now Azpi stands in the innermost sanctum of club legends. And he’s not done yet!
G’wan, Dave!
Yes lads! Great performance from the whole team! pic.twitter.com/jwQKQ6JoGQ
— César Azpilicueta (@CesarAzpi) March 4, 2021