A Tribute to Wayne Bridge - a Chelsea Legend
By dixon9
January 5 2009
Time to say goodbye to a Chelsea legend - Wayne Bridge. “Legend”? Yes, indeed - a legend. Every now and then, a player does something special which makes a certain occasion go down in history for a generation of a club’s fans. What the player did gets talked about in pubs, telephone conversations and chat sites at any given time –usually when reminiscing – Wayne Bridge is one of those players.
He had been at Southampton for seven years, firstly playing as a forward when a trainee, then on the left-wing for the first team and then eventually settling as a left-back.
His performances had alerted various top clubs – Chelsea were first with the cheque book open and we signed him from the south coast club for £7 million in the summer of 2003.
Bridge pretty much delivered for Chelsea, enjoying consistent performances which earned him comparison with Ashley Cole, then at Arsenal, over who was the best left-back in the league.
Alan Shearer then injured Bridge in a challenge in an FA Cup match at St James Park in 2005 and in the summer of that year Chelsea signed Basque left-back Asier Del Horno. Del Horno would obviously give Bridge competition for his spot in the team but Bridge didn’t spit his dummy out; he carried on smiling with that agreeable disposition of his and worked patiently on his recovery.
During the qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, Bridge played out in left-midfield and played well, his crossing proving to be a forte for the England strikers but once injured, Joe Cole took over the role which Bridge wasn’t able to recoup.
Once recovered from injury Mourinho decided to give him a brief loan spell “on the other side of the road” at Fulham where he acquitted himself well and earned himself a call up for the England 2006 World Cup squad.
The following season Del Horno was to be sold to Valencia but in twist of fate for Bridge “Colegate/Gallasgate” happened and he was to find himself behind Ashley Cole in the pecking order not long after his return to Chelsea during the start of the 2006/7 season.
Bridge remained cheerful and trained hard (in fact, he is supposed to be the hardest trainer in the squad) and after Ashley Cole's injury against Blackburn early in 2007, Bridge immediately slotted back into the first team.
During the period of Cole’s absence, Bridge played well and some even felt that he should be picked ahead of Cole, who had not been at 100% due to a niggling injury picked up from his time at Arsenal.
Bridge went on to earn himself two cup final winners medals after playing in both the 2007 League cup final against Arsenal and in the 2007 FA cup final against Manchester United.
Since recovering from perisistant injuries, Ashley Cole began to discover the form that had earned him the plaudits from his time before his injury at Arsenal and Bridge found his opportunities even harder to come by. Nevertheless, Chelsea were happy to have in their squad what many saw as the two best left-backs in the Premier League and Bridge signed a new four-year deal in the summer of 2008.
Bridge had been extremely patient and worked hard during his five years at Chelsea, never complained to the media and was a popular figure in the dressing room but at 28 years of age in the prime of his football life and the 2010 World Cup looming on the horizon, the defender didn’t have to think too hard when Man City expressed an interest.
Mark Hughes negotiated a reported £12m deal to bring him to the new rich kids of Manchester – I don’t think there’s one Chelsea fan who begrudges him the opportunity.Bridge had made 142 appearances for Chelsea in over five years (124+17) and earned 32 caps for England and we wish him and his family all the best.
Bridge had scored four goals for Chelsea; one at Stamford Bridge against Portsmouth, one against Besiktas in the Champions League, another against Wycombe whilst briefly reprising his attacking role from his early days at Southampton and finally, this one, during what was a truly magical night at Highbury during a Champions League quarter final – this is the reason why he will always be such a legend to Chelsea fans (and it was such a special moment I’m going to put BOTH classic versions of this video up!):
What does astound me is the failure of Chelsea managers to play Bridge on the left in midfield where his defensive failings would have made him less of a liability.
Any way, good luck Wayner.
He was very one footed of course and could often be seen gyrating around so that he could get the ball on his left! Good crosser of the ball and I think you definitely have a point re using him more out wide in midfield.
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
Still cant believe we lost that tie. If we'd beat you we would have had a really good chance of winning the European cup that season. You lost out to Monaco didnt you in the semis?
Quote:carefree2008
Why the name change Claret
kept getting told i look like him yesterday,,there are couple of pics on thread bfc board,mate.
Quote:pk_gunner
The goal he scored at Highbury (Sm35)
Still cant believe we lost that tie. If we'd beat you we would have had a really good chance of winning the European cup that season. You lost out to Monaco didnt you in the semis?
Well Ranieri co-ck-ed it up for us against Monaco in the semis otherwise we might have won it. Then again, maybe we wouldn´t have got Mourinho if we had.
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.