"In the 70s, it was Leeds; in the 80s it was Liverpool; and, in the 90s it [was] Manchester United. Now Chelsea are the team for the millenium. The team that everybody loves to hate, that is."  —Observer

There are few soccer clubs in the world that attract as much interest in the modern game as Chelsea. Whether it is the latest observations from coach Jose Mourinho, big-money transfer targets, the style of play, or results in Europe, everybody thinks they know what's happening—or at least has an opinion on it. The club always was a magnet for well-known names—vaudeville legend George Robey played for the Pensioners in the club's earliest days—and, in the modern era, Stamford Bridge has become home to a dazzling array of world stars. From Ron "Chopper" Harris and Ken Bates through Ruud Gullit, Roberto Di Matteo, and Glenn Hoddle to Mourinho, John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Fernando Torres, there is no lack of characters to draw on for quotes.