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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
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs33186967521560
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
9Chelsea33139116359448
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


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