Roman Abramovich has gifted Chelsea fans priceless moments over the years. From lifting our first league title trophy in 50 years to becoming two-time Champions League winners. He really has created a dynasty in his 19 years in charge. It is with a heavy heart that we must see him pass on the mantle to someone else, even if the circumstances that precursed his departure must be acknowledged.
We could dwell on unknown possibilities or we can reminisce on what has been the most eventful two decades that any Chelsea fan could have asked for.
Our favourite moments vary between the different writers but the common denominator is victory. Whether it's the Steven Gerrard slip or the Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho touchline tussle, all of our memories end with unforgettable wins.
How do we narrow down our favourite Chelsea moments? There have been so many trophy-lifting occasions, it's virtually impossible to leave any of them out. But for the sake of this article, we will bless you with our nostalgic top four.
Didier Drogba 2012 Champions League final header
I had to put some emphasis on the 'header' there. I may be showing my age, but I remember this moment in 2012 specifically because I was supposed to be studying for my GCSE exams. It was near impossible to focus on the triple science physics revision. How on earth could I concentrate on the laws of physics when Thomas Muller had just defiled it with a fluke of a header.
Didier Drogba was my only hope to cling on to as I watched Chelsea's Champions League final dreams unfold from my dining room table. Then that Juan Mata corner connected with Drogba. The king's head sent the ball into the back of the net, faster than the speed of light. The celebration with my father made that moment special. The way Roman Abramovich celebrated with his son was not something we had really seen before so there was some symmetry behind my situation watching the game and our owner's.
Arsene Wenger's 1000th match
Oh, what a day this was. Everything about this game was unrivalled; it was an absolute classic. Chelsea thrashed Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in what was a six-goal demolition of Arsene Wenger on his 1000th match in management.
The goalscorers - Andre Schurrle, Eden Hazard, Oscar, Samuel Eto'o and Mohamed Salah - the classic Adidas and Samsung kit, the drama of Kieran Gibbs' wrongly-awarded red card, the scenes on the sidelines when Mourinho and Wenger locked horns and threw their toys out the pram.
It was an absolute blockbuster tie and what made it even better was being able to watch it with a mate who just so happened to be an Arsenal fan - happy days!
Signing Eden Hazard
The signing of Eden Hazard was probably one of the club's biggest-ever signings. Not only were Chelsea buying a special player who was linked with some of the Blues' Premier League rivals, including Arsenal who were particularly keen to sign him under Wenger, but he was somebody that gave the club a much-needed X-factor.
Hazard took Chelsea places that Abramovich would have never imagined and the Belgian just made anything possible - on countless occasions he would decide games himself.
Whether it is Salah, Sadio Mane, Alexis Sanchez, whoever it may or will be - Hazard has become the benchmark for a world-class Premier League winger and that's telling in itself.
Very few players in the world - ever may I say - could lift and carry a team to the riches that Hazard did at Stamford Bridge.
Yes, Chelsea's team was always good during his stay but nowhere near the quality of Real Madrid or Barcelona, among others too, who dominated the European football scene.
What a player, what a signing.
Winning the FIFA Club World Cup
What a perfect way to send off the man who gave us everything. Watching right from the executive suites in the Khalifa International Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Roman Abramovich watched his team deliver a performance worthy of world champions.
It is a beautiful goodbye as Abramovich will leave knowing that he has won everything that football had to offer with Chelsea. It only took 19 years to do what several other major clubs have not done before. 19 years to help Chelsea fans live up to the name given to the Blues. The Pride of London has its relevance because of the man that gave us the facilities to become the best team in the city.
We will miss Roman Abramovich but the time for sentiment is now over. On to a new era, where hopefully the level of success will be replicated.
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