Marcel Desailly

Marcel Desailly (born September 7, 1968 in Accra, Ghana as Odonkey Abbey) is a Ghanaian football player, of Ga descent, currently a citizen of France and a former star for its national team, with whom he won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

Chelsea Career

Desailly moved to Chelsea for a reported 4.6 million pounds prior to the 1998 World Cup. It has been said that if Chelsea bought Desailly after the world cup, they would have paid double, such were his displays in helping the side to its first World Cup victory. Desailly quickly adapted to the English game and Ruud Gullit deployed him in a variety of roles, usually either as a defensive midfielder or centre back. Desailly showed his class as a central defender and was moved next to Franck Leboeuf to form a formidable pairing. Labelled 'The Rock', Desailly's reputation had been cemented in England after his first season at Chelsea as he propelled them to third in the League. His experience was crucial the following year during the club's Champions League campaign and eventual FA Cup win.

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Following Dennis Wise's departure from Chelsea, Desailly was handed the captain's armband and he led the club superbly. His reputation had grown and he was widely regarded among the top few centre-backs in the world. He became the mentor for his evetual successor John Terry as he formed a strong partnership with William Gallas, who was bought to cover the loss of Franck Leboeuf.

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Desailly scored an important goal for Chelsea in the final game of the season against Liverpool in 2002/2003 with a powerful header past Jerzy Dudek. The following season, however, Desailly's age began to catch up with him, as he succumbed to injuries and his performances suffered. His lowest moment came in the first leg of the semi-final of the Champions League against Monaco, where he was sent off. However, his final season will not blemish his outstanding record and he goes down as a Chelsea - and football - legend. He was voted as centre back in Chelsea greatest ever XI, next to John Terry.

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