Chelsea
1997–98 season
ChairmanKen Bates
ManagerRuud Gullit (until 12 February)
Gianluca Vialli (from 12 February)
Premiership4th
FA CupThird round
League CupWinners
UEFA Cup Winners' CupWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: Vialli/Flo (11)
All: Vialli (19)
Highest home attendance34,845 (vs. Bolton Wanderers, 10 May)
Lowest home attendance29,075 (vs. Blackpool, 19 Apr)
Average home league attendance32,901

The 1997–98 season was Chelsea F.C.'s 84th competitive season, their 9th consecutive season in the English top flight and 92nd year as a club.

Season summary

With conceding goals being a major issue last season, Chelsea signed Dutch international goalkeeper Ed de Goey, who proved to be a relative success. Chelsea's only other major signings were young Norwegian striker Tore Andre Flo and Uruguayan international midfielder Gustavo Poyet from Real Zaragoza, who added more goals from an otherwise very defensive midfield. Chelsea were well on course for a top-five finish and success in the European Cup Winners' Cup and the Coca-Cola Cup when manager Ruud Gullit was sacked on 12 February following a dispute with chairman Ken Bates. His job went to 33-year-old striker Gianluca Vialli, who took on the role of player-manager and achieved instant success - within three months of his appointment, Vialli had guided the Blues to glory on the continent and at Wembley. This success gave Chelsea fans hope that the following season could spell the end of their title wait which began in 1955.

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
2 Manchester United 38 23 8 7 73 26 +47 77 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
3 Liverpool 38 18 11 9 68 42 +26 65 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
4 Chelsea 38 20 3 15 71 43 +28 63 Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 1]
5 Leeds United 38 17 8 13 57 46 +11 59 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[lower-alpha 2]
6 Blackburn Rovers 38 16 10 12 57 52 +5 58
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. Chelsea qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as defending champions. As they were also the League Cup winners, the UEFA Cup berth vacated was awarded to Blackburn Rovers.
  2. Aston Villa was rewarded entry to the UEFA Cup through UEFA Fair Play ranking.
Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
38 20 3 15 71 43  +28 63 13 2 4 37 14  +23 7 1 11 34 29  +5
Results by round
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundAAAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHHHAAAHHHHAH
ResultLWWWWLDWLWLWWLWWWDWDLWLWLLLLWLWLWWWLLW
Position1411643554544444322333323224554445443344
Source: 11v11.com: 1997-98 Chelsea results
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

Premier League

9 August 1997 1 Coventry City 3–2 Chelsea Coventry, West Midlands
Dublin 41', 42', 88' Sinclair 39'
Flo 71'
Stadium: Highfield Road
24 August 1997 2 Barnsley 0–6 Chelsea Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Petrescu 25'
Poyet 38'
Vialli 44', 57', 65', 82'
Stadium: Oakwell
27 August 1997 3 Wimbledon 0–2 Chelsea Croydon, London
Di Matteo 60'
Petrescu 64'
Stadium: Selhurst Park
21 September 1997 6 Chelsea 2–3 Arsenal Fulham, London
Poyet 40'
Zola 60'
Bergkamp 45', 59'
Winterburn 89'
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
5 October 1997 9 Liverpool 4–2 Chelsea Liverpool, Merseyside
Berger 20', 35', 57'
Fowler 64'
Zola 22'
Poyet 85' (pen.)
Stadium: Anfield
1 November 1997 12 Aston Villa 0–2 Chelsea Birmingham, West Midlands
Hughes 38'
Flo 82'
Stadium: Villa Park
26 November 1997 15 Chelsea 2–0 Everton Fulham, London
Wise 80' (pen.)
Zola 90' (pen.)
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
29 November 1997 16 Chelsea 4–0 Derby County Fulham, London
Zola 12', 66', 77'
Hughes 35'
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
6 December 1997 17 Tottenham Hotspur 1–6 Chelsea Haringey, London
Vega 43' Flo 40', 63', 90'
Di Matteo 48'
Petrescu 59'
Nicholls 78'
Stadium: White Hart Lane
13 December 1997 18 Chelsea 0–0 Leeds United Fulham, London
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
26 December 1997 20 Chelsea 1–1 Wimbledon Fulham, London
Vialli 8' Mi. Hughes 28' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
29 December 1997 21 Southampton 1–0 Chelsea Southampton, Hampshire
Davies 16' Stadium: The Dell
10 January 1998 22 Chelsea 3–1 Coventry City Fulham, London
Nicholls 65', 70'
Di Matteo 78'
Telfer 30' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
18 January 1998 23 Everton 3–1 Chelsea Liverpool, Merseyside
Speed 39'
Ferguson 62'
Duberry 83' (o.g.)
Report Flo 37' Stadium: Goodison Park
31 January 1998 24 Chelsea 2–0 Barnsley Fulham, London
Vialli 23'
Hughes 47'
Report Stadium: Stamford Bridge
8 February 1998 25 Arsenal 2–0 Chelsea Islington, London
S. Hughes 4', 42' Stadium: Highbury
11 March 1998 29 Chelsea 6–2 Crystal Palace Fulham, London
Vialli 15', 44'
Zola 17'
Wise 84'
Flo 89', 90'
Hreiðarsson 7'
Bent 87'
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
25 April 1998 35 Chelsea 4–1 Liverpool Fulham, London
Hughes 11', 78'
Clarke 67'
Flo 72'
Riedle 45' Stadium: Stamford Bridge

FA Cup

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
4 January 19983Manchester UnitedH3–534,792Le Saux, Vialli (2)

League Cup

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
15 October 19973Blackburn RoversH1–118,671Di Matteo
After extra time, Chelsea won on 4–1 on penalties
19 November 19974SouthamptonH2–120,968Morris, Flo
7 January 1998QFIpswich TownA2–222,088Le Saux, Flo
After extra time, Chelsea won on 4–1 on penalties
28 January 1998SFArsenalA1–238,144Hughes
18 February 1998SFArsenalH3–134,330Petrescu, Di Matteo, Hughes
29 March 1998FMiddlesbroughN2–077,698Sinclair, Di Matteo

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
8 September 19971Slovakia Slovan BratislavaH2–023,067Danny Granville, Di Matteo
2 October 19971Slovakia Slovan BratislavaA2–013,850Di Matteo, Vialli
23 October 19972Norway TromsøA2–36,438Vialli (2)
6 November 19972Norway TromsøH7–129,363Leboeuf, Petrescu (2), Vialli (3), Zola
5 March 1998QFSpain Real BetisA2–131,000Flo (2)
19 March 1998QFSpain Real BetisH3–132,300Sinclair, Di Matteo, Zola
2 April 1998SFItaly VicenzaA0–119,319
16 April 1998SFItaly VicenzaH3–133,810Poyet, Zola, Hughes
13 May 1998FGermany VfB StuttgartN1–030,216Zola

First team squad

Squad at end of season[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Netherlands NED Ed de Goey
2 DF Romania ROU Dan Petrescu
3 DF Nigeria NGA Celestine Babayaro
5 DF France FRA Frank Leboeuf
6 DF Scotland SCO Steve Clarke
7 DF France FRA Bernard Lambourde
8 MF Uruguay URU Gus Poyet
9 FW Italy ITA Gianluca Vialli
10 FW Wales WAL Mark Hughes
11 MF England ENG Dennis Wise (captain)
12 DF England ENG Michael Duberry
13 GK England ENG Kevin Hitchcock
14 DF England ENG Graeme Le Saux
15 DF England ENG David Lee
16 MF Italy ITA Roberto Di Matteo
17 DF England ENG Danny Granville
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 DF England ENG Andy Myers
19 FW Norway NOR Tore André Flo
20 DF Jamaica JAM Frank Sinclair[note 1]
21 MF England ENG Paul Hughes
22 FW England ENG Mark Nicholls
23 GK Russia RUS Dmitri Kharine
24 MF England ENG Eddie Newton
25 FW Italy ITA Gianfranco Zola
26 DF France FRA Laurent Charvet (on loan from Cannes)
28 MF England ENG Jody Morris
29 DF England ENG Neil Clement
31 GK Republic of Ireland IRL Nick Colgan
32 MF Scotland SCO Steven Hampshire
33 FW England ENG Joe Sheerin
34 MF England ENG Nick Crittenden
35 DF England ENG Jon Harley

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
30 GK Norway NOR Frode Grodås (to Tottenham Hotspur)
4 DF Netherlands NED Ruud Gullit (retired)
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF England ENG David Rocastle (on loan to Hull City)

Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
DF England ENG Stephen Broad
DF England ENG John Terry
No. Pos. Nation Player
FW South Africa RSA Mark Stein

Statistics

No. Pos Nat Player TotalPremier LeagueFA CupFootball League CupCup Winners Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Netherlands NED Ed de Goey 420280104090
2 DF Romania ROU Dan Petrescu 428315103172
3 DF Nigeria NGA Celestine Babayaro 13080001+1030
4 MF Netherlands NED Ruud Gullit 1000+60003+1000
5 DF France FRA Frank Leboeuf 466325104091
6 DF Scotland SCO Steve Clarke 40122+41104+2070
7 DF France FRA Bernard Lambourde 1305+20003030
8 MF Uruguay URU Gus Poyet 18511+34000041
9 FW Italy ITA Gianluca Vialli 331914+7110+122+1086
10 FW Wales WAL Mark Hughes 391225+49103+3231
11 MF England ENG Dennis Wise 393263004090
12 DF England ENG Michael Duberry 330230103060
13 GK England ENG Kevin Hitchcock 2000002000
14 DF England ENG Graeme Le Saux 343261114130
15 DF England ENG David Lee 3010000+2000
16 MF Italy ITA Roberto Di Matteo 431028+24104383
17 DF England ENG Danny Granville 2019+40003041
18 DF England ENG Andy Myers 17011+100+101030
19 FW Norway NOR Tore André Flo 441516+1811103+1252
20 DF Jamaica JAM Frank Sinclair 32220+21004+1150
21 MF England ENG Paul Hughes 1105+40001010
22 FW England ENG Mark Nicholls 2438+113102020
23 GK Russia RUS Dmitri Kharine 100100000000
24 MF England ENG Eddie Newton 29017+10003+1070
25 FW Italy ITA Gianfranco Zola 401223+48104084
26 DF France FRA Laurent Charvet 1327+42001010
28 MF England ENG Jody Morris 1429+21001120
32 FW Scotland SCO Steven Hampshire 1000001000
34 MF England ENG Nick Crittenden 300+20001000
35 DF England ENG Jon Harley 3030000000

Statistics taken from Archived 20 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Squad details and shirt numbers from and .

Transfers

In

Out

Notes

  1. Sinclair was born in Lambeth, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally.

References

  1. "FootballSquads - Chelsea - 1996/97". www.footballsquads.co.uk.
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