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Top 25 Chelsea players of the Premier League era - #11

Sports Mole's countdown of the top 25 Chelsea players in the Premier League era continues with number 11 - Roberto Di Matteo.

Roberto Di Matteo

Roberto Di Matteo scores against Middlesbrough during the FA Cup final on May 17, 1997.© Getty Images

It took just one season for Roberto Di Matteo to forever endear himself to the Chelsea fans following his club-record move from Lazio in 1996, first scoring on his home debut and then ending the campaign with a sensational opening goal in the FA Cup final after just 42 seconds - at the time the fastest FA Cup final goal ever.

There was more silverware in his second campaign as Chelsea won the Cup Winners' Cup and the League Cup, with Di Matteo again scoring in the latter final against Middlesbrough - the same opponents he had helped to beat at Wembley the previous year.

The Italian then completed a special hat-trick by scoring the winning goal in a third cup final at Wembley as Chelsea beat Aston Villa to lift the FA Cup in 2000.

A severe leg break early in the 2000-01 campaign ultimately spelled the end of his playing career, though, and he officially retired from the game in 2002 having scored 26 goals in 119 Premier League appearances for Chelsea.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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2Liverpool34228475344174
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


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