Born: Amsterdam, Holland, 1.9.62 Height: 191cms (6'3") Weight: 88kgs (13st12lbs) Previous clubs: Haarlem, Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, AC Milan, Sampdoria, AC Milan, Sampdoria Signed: June 1995 on a free transfer. Chelsea debut: Everton (h) 19.8.95 Drew 0-0 Chelsea Honours: Footballer of the Year runner-up 1996. Player of the year 1996. Honours with other clubs: Dutch League Championship and Dutch FA Cup 1984 (Feyenoord). 2 Dutch League Championships 1986 & 1987, 2 Dutch Footballers of the Year 1986 & 1987 (PSV Eindhoven),. World Club Championship and European Super Cup Winner 1990. 2 European Cups 1989 & 1990. 3 Italian League Championships 1988, 1992 & 1993 (AC Milan). Italian FA Cup 1994 (Sampdoria). International Honours: Captained Holland to winning the 1988 (Germany) International Recognition: 65 Holland caps, 16 goals. 4 Holland U21 caps, 1 goal. Holland Youth. Played in 1990 (Italy) World Cup finals and 1992 (Sweden) European Championship finals.

Vialli's joy Gianluca Vialli tonight spoke of his joy and amazement at having been appointed the new manager of Chelsea after the shock departure of Ruud Gullit. Gullit left Chelsea with immediate effect at lunchtime after storming out of a meeting with managing director Colin Hutchinson in which he was told that he would not be offered a new contract as his wage demands were too high and he was refusing to give up playing. Chelsea explained that they could not afford to be left in "limbo" until the end of the season, given their interest in signing new players such as Brian Laudrup from Rangers. Vialli told a packed press conference at Stamford Bridge: "I'm absolutely delighted. This is the most unbelievable and most important thing that has happened in the whole of my career. "I've been playing football for 17 years but this something totally different from the great feeling of scoring goals. "I still fee a little bit confused but I have to say I am very very happy and I hope I can be the right person for the right job." Hutchinson had been involved in negotiations with Gullit, whose contract was due to expire in June, since last October. Yet at a meeting last week, the Dutchman, who joined the club in 1996 following the departure of Glenn Hoddle to be England coach, insisted on signing only a two-year deal which enabled him to carry on playing. Hutchinson said: "We simply could not afford what he was asking. The gap was too wide to allow further meaningful negotiations." Vialli said he was confident that he had not simply been chosen because he was a "cheaper" manager than Gullit. And although he did not directly criticise his former boss, who never guaranteed him a first team place at the club, he spoke of his intent of improving the relationship between management and players at Chelsea. "I was one of the lads and I think that an open and honest rapport between management and players is the key to any successful team," he said. Yet Vialli, 33, the former Juventus and Italian striker, realises that he has been left a rich legacy at Chelsea, who are currently second in the Premiership, in the quarter finals of the Cup Winners' Cup and the semi finals of the Coca-Cola Cup. Vialli said: "On the one hand it is nice to be in this situation because at least we have got something to achieve but I also think everyone is going to compare what we do from now to the end of the season with what Ruud did up to now." Vialli added that it has always been his dream to manage a Premiership club but that he had to seek the advice of close friends, including respected Juventus boss Marcello Lippi before making his final decision last night. Chelsea insisted there had been no dispute with Gullit over his budget for new players, simply that his wage demands had been unacceptable. Hutchinson and chairman Ken Bates paid tribute to the work Gullit had done at the club with Bates saying: "He won us the FA Cup in his first season and has taken us onto an entirely new plane as far as football is concerned." Yet Bates clearly showed just how new Vialli is to the role by throwing a protective arm around him during the press conference and selecting difficult questions, especially about Gullit. When Vialli was asked what his new role would involve, it was Hutchinson who answered on his behalf saying that the new boss would be involved with all players at the club and encourage all their teams to play the same system. Vialli has been signed on by Chelsea as player manager until June 1999, at which point he will then continue for a further two years as boss with the emphasis on management, although he will still retain his registration as a player for use in "emergencies". He has also indicated that he will retain the services of assistant manager Gwyn Williams and coach Graham Rix as he prepares the first team squad for his match in charge - next Wednesday's Coca-Cola Cup semi-final second leg at home to Arsenal

Coventry - Chelsea 3-2 by Paul Mason We lose after outplaying Coventry I do not believe it! I swear I do not believe it! How the $&*# did we lose that game? Ruud's beautiful clock has never looked so beautiful as it did yesterday afternoon but a rather vital cog seemed to be missing. Rarely have I felt such an air of confidence amongst the support and seen the team match it on the pitch at the start of the new season. Be in no doubt, Chelsea have the ability going forward to win this league no problem. Unfortunately, you don't have to be Alan Hansen to know a little bit more is required. Some of the football played in the first-half was as good as any I have seen Chelsea play. It will be a while before I forget the move that saw the ball transfered rapidly from one penalty area to the other straight down the middle of the park via about ten one or two touch short passes. Sadly Zola's shot didn't do the move justice. Coventry were pinned back in their own half for long periods of the first-half and had to resort to long punts out to wings to mount any sort of attack. Just how long was it going to take us to score though. Petrescu seemed to be able to move in on goal unmolested at will but missed good chances with both his head and feet. Di Matteo appeared determined to enhance his burgeoning reputation as a long-range specialist with varying degrees of success and Beefy strode forward and shaved the outside of the post with an absolute rocket. Zola was buzzing and back-healing his way around the edge of the area and Hughes' battle with Williams was proving even more titanic than usual. Pleasingly the ref. gave Hughes some early protection with first a lecture and then a booking for the Coventry player. Wise was also booked for a typically brainless lunge after losing the ball. Hughes and Leboeuf were to follow later. While on disciplinary matters, how Huckerby's deliberate stamp on a prostrate Le Saux's back was missed by both the ref. and the bloke with the flag was one of the qusetions of the day. I think the stud marks left behind and Leboeuf's protracted tale-telling must have convinced them of some error on their part With the big guns having failed to make the break through, Chelsea opted for the element of surprise by handing responsibility to Private Sinclair who unleashed his famous left-foot screamer inside the near-post. Good to see Frank has taken the football authorities decree on goal celebrations to heart. You're supposed to tone them down, not take them down Frank. The saddest thing about Coventry's equaliser seconds later was the complete lack of surprise amongst the Chelsea fans. Blame on this occasion must surely be apportioned to more than one party. The marking on Dublin was hardly limpet-like but the throw did seem to fall rather close to goalkeeper's territory. After this goal Coventry bucked their ideas up and loosened Chelsea's vice-like grip on the game. This shift continued in the second-half but we were still clearly on top. A few good chances were missed and a few free-kicks wasted (mostly won by Hughes) before Flo was blooded. All that was need was a couple of minutes of sustained pressure before the cross came in and the ball was despatched inside the far post. What followed is too depressing to warrant much comment. Attempts to kill the game were rather spoilt by some sloppy passing but this was not enough to prevent some of the more naive members of the Chelsea support from launching into some songs of triumph. However, when McAllister shaped up to take a corner in front of us the sense of anxiety was almost tangible. Now I do not know who was supposed to be marking who, I wasn't at the team meetings! All I do know is that certain parts of our team did not seem to know what was expected of them or were expecting others to react differently. I refuse to believe that De Goey has not got the ability needed. You don't last that long at a club like Feyernoord or play that many times for The Netherlands otherwise. However, would it be too harsh to suggest he is put in the reserves for a while to enable him to find out exactly how our defence behaves and what is required of him? This season we cannot afford to have people learning by their mistakes in the first-team. I am sure this what the Liverpool of old would have done. As far as the air-power at the back is concerned, no amount of coaching can help the current incumbents overcome last season's deficiencies. Lambourde is obviously an unknown quantity but I still suspect we will be sadly vulnerable until Duberry is re-installed there, even if this means reverting to a back three/five to accommodate him. The way the winner was conceded is going to raise those old questions about Leboeuf's ability to play anywhere except sweeper. He had been as immaculate as ever up to that point. Was it purely lack of concentration that made him misjudge that header? Sinclair had it covered until the unintentional back-flick played him out of the game. I was upset enough when we were pegged back to 2-2 but to lose the game...as I said earlier, unbelievable. And disturbingly similar to the latter part of last season. Other individual performances not yet commented on: Le Saux - I thought he was superb, particularly in the first twenty minutes when they just couldn't cope with him. Any suspicions of lost pace were soon dispelled when he steamed past a full-back on the outside. It was the variety of his play that most impressed me. Sometimes he would beat his man, other times he would swing in excellent early crosses and Mark Hughes is going to have a field season with first-time early passes like he received on Saturday. Defensively Le Saux was so quick to close people down although he wasn't really tested in the tackle. He received a standing ovation when he ran out in front of us at the beginning of the second-half and was my man of the match. He seemed as flabbergasted as anyone by the defeat. Petrescu - Playing in midfield he caused them a lot of problems. If only he had a cooler head in front of goal. Sinclair. The classic Frank match. Howlers and surprisingly impressive skill in equal proportion. Clarke. I thought he had a good game. He really seems to have learnt a bit about reading the game and intercepting the ball from Leboeuf. Quite dominant in the air as well. Poyet. Competent rather than spectacular. Nearly headed a couple in. Di Matteo. Performance can be described in one word - Sloppy. I think people who never see him away from the Bridge would be surprised how dodgy he can look at times. Was replaced by Morris. Wise. Some excellent passing, some a bit suspect, particularly in the second-half. Zola. Mixed some superb little touches with some strangely wayward passing. His free-kicks were not up to standard but he placed a couple of corners right on to Poyet's forehead. Flo. One fine headed goal, one sitter blasted over from little more than a yard out. That's about it really. Barnsley v. Chelsea 0-6 A new record away win for Chelsea in the top division By Malcolm Salomon We were too good for them I took the train up, however it would appear most Chesea fans came by car or in the official coaches there werent too many at the station. On arrival to the ground, two sides had new stands, whereas the away fans we had to put up with sitting uncovered amidst the intermittent rain and drizzle. The other old stand reminding me of the Leyton Orient's main stand, it appeared to be of the same 'Victorian' design. The game was a bit patchy in the begining with Barnsley had a gift chance, with a one on one with the keeper, but the striker hit it straight at De Goey. Lack of ideas or confidence which was a foretaste of Barnsley's performance throughout the game. I can recall the Chelsea fans were a bit slow to get going. I dont know if it was anything to do with the uncovered seating or what. There were a group of five blokes who took upon themselves to be the unofficial choir masters, urging on the others to no avail. They ended up with 'five men singing, there's only five men singing,' and 'are you barnsley in disguise?'. Well that was before the goals started flooding in. However the first goal from where we were sitting it was not clear if it went in. Only when the ref pointed to the cirlce and we saw the players celebrating did we realise a goal was scored. There was a slight delayed reaction. As the goals went in the famous CFC went into full swing. Notables that day were (all to the tune of the Barnsley 'anthem'- 'It's like Watching Brazil'): 'It's like Watching Chelsea'; 'It's like taking the p**s'; 'It's like playing Totnum'; 'its like playing Manu'. To rub it all in as the game did turn out to be an exhibition between men against boys the chant of 'We are premier league' was belted out. Now much was said about the good humoured banter of the Barnlsey fans. When they were 5-0 nil down they were singing: 'we're going to win 6-5!' As well as the confessional: 'We're so sh** it's unbeleivable!' which was warmly applauded by the chelsea fans. However, that banter was only going on with the home fans in the ONRA stand opposite end to the Chelsea supporters. The fans adjacent to us in the old stand were not as good humoured. As the goals went in a few were waving their fists and pointing outside, apparently gesturing 'we'll get you outside!'. Now I assumed that anyone making threatening gestures or chants would be evicted from the ground. Listees will recall this is what happened during the Charity Shield. The officers of the local constabulary walked in and did have a few words with those rabble rousers. That was all. They were not removed from the ground. When the game was over I had to hastily make my way to the station to get the 6.04 which was the last connecting train to London. Well I got there okay walking through a crowd of Bansley fans who were far from good humoured. Being the only Chelsea fan with the distinctive haircut, t-shirt and jeans I stood out like a sore thumb. However, all I had to put up with was the barging and and justling as they as I walked briskly to the station. Upon reaching the station, the 6.04 was thankfully held back for 20 minutes to allow for fans to arrrive. However, a number of Chelsea fans arrived late one was limping slightly. They went onto explain that their delay was caused by them being ambushed by Barnsley fans on their way to the station. And it was by the same fans making the threatening gestures during the game. So the point I wanted to put across, one should not be fooled by the so called good humour by Barnsley fans. Some of them probably want to prove themselves against the so called big clubs since it is their first ever season in the top flight. With only space for 2000 away fans at the ground they know they will easlily outnumber them. Any other non Chelseal fans on this list especially London fans, be on your guard when going up there. Returning to the game. With Vialli back on form albeit against a weaker side on the day, perhaps the reverse of last season may occur with him keeping Hughes out of the side. Well it looks promising so far. If West Ham apparently struggling to beat them as they did go a goal behind, and Palace losing to them, perhaps the manner of victory does say a lot to our potential. I am not counting chickens yet but we are the top scorers so far. Wimbledon v. Chelsea 0-2 by James Grenier We stroll through Wimbledon Two surprises in the starting line-up last night, first that Hughes wasn't playing because pre-match pub speculation had him and Flo starting, second that Duberry was because we all presumed he was at least one trot out in the Reserves away from returning. We looked pretty slick, good midfield passing which fell away a bit in the second half (although invariably the ball would come straight back after a Wobmle hoof), some unbelievable skills from Frankie Sinclair (who needs Zola?) and all our possession turned into two great goals. A fine team performance, the main frustrations being the bookings (DiMatteo, Wise, LeSaux and Petrescu), Clarke's poor distribution when not under pressure and the midfield passes that started going astray in the second half. Wimbledon had barely three chances all night which Ekoku and Holdsworth (you only score with a slapper) obligingly fluffed just as Flo and Dan missed good chances in the first half. As good a performance as against Coventry. Eh? Didn't we lose to Coventry? Well, yes we did and the difference last night was down to one man - Duberry. He was every cliche under the Sun in defence, solid as a rock, composed as a cucumber, winning every header, beating Wombles for pace while barely exerting himself, and this transmitted itself to De Goey and the rest of the defence. So, second away win on the trot, 10 goals in 3 games, 6th place in the table with a game in hand on most but more importantly Duberry is not just back, he's back to his best, man of the match by a long way. Chelsea v. Southampton 4-2 by Beaks (Peter Hanrott) Southampton are no match for us these days Its back at last and the waiting is over (for three weeks at least). Back to a much improved Stamford Bridge that is starting to take shape and on completion will certainly rival any Stadium in Europe. Ticketing problems meant that I sat up in the Gods with 75 empty seats around me, you really forget just how high that stand is till your looking down from the top of the East Stand. The match itself was a classic exhibition of everything we all know and love about our club; brilliant in attack, maddening in defense. Thankfully though, Saturdays opposition was way to poor to make us pay for our defensive frailties. The match kicked off predictably with Chelsea throwing everything at Southampton and predictably we took an early lead. From where we were sitting, it didn't seem like the ball was going in and there was the characteuristic "Long Second" whilst we waited for the ball to drop in from Danny Boy's precision lob. After that we looked so in control the prospects of Soton getting back into the match seem remoter than a Mongolian Sheep Station. But that was before "Big Ed" tried to launch a killer pass from inside his own 6 yard box. We can only speculate what was going through our giant 'keepers mind as he dawdled on the ball but my guess is he was thinking "God, this game is going to be a little dull unless I liven things up a bit". Next thing you know we're 1-1 and Soton have everything to play for. However, no sooner had the Saints finished congratulating themselves on their good fortune when they were hit with 3 goals in quick succession which effectively killed the game off as a contest and signaled the end of the interest for alot of our players. From the now traditional Wise/Zola short corner routine, Gus Poyet directed a header goal wards which was cleared off the line only for Beefy to head in the rebound from 1 yard out. A couple of minutes later after the Saints once again needlessly conceded possession, Le Saux delivered a cross that anyone would have scored from and when you saw who was going to be on the end of it we were already celebrating, even before the ball had crossed the line. Hughes 3-1. At this point Southampton were running round like headless Chickens and the score could have been anything. No surprise when Zola skipped passed 3 players and slipped the ball to Wise (though it turned out that it was a Soton tackle that slipped the ball the result would have been the same anyway) who passed the ball into an empty net. 4-1. Southampton looked no better in the opening period of the second half, and a double substitution was made that seemed to generate some life in a very poor side. The ball was hoofed Wimbledon style again and again over the top of defense and, IMO, our two best defenders, Doobs and Beefy, seemed to have trouble coping; despite numerous perfectly timed challenges from Beefy, we all sensed- Gullit included- that a second Saints goal was coming and it duly arrived courtesy of Kenny Monkou. He seemed to brush off Doobs challenged to score a fortuitous goal off a rebound. However we still looked in control, with great chances missed by Hughes (why didn't he take it on?) and Gus Poyet hitting the post. Then came a couple of incidents that I really couldn't understand. Soton, once again conceded possession and as we all looked as play continued down the field, an off the ball skirmish started which led to Sinclair being sent off. The TV pictures show us that Williams is either a total wimp or was play acting. Then came the incident which should have seen someone sent off. Doobs broke from defense and beat 3 players before charging towards the box. Clean through, a Southampton defender had no option but to haul him down. Red card surely ref? not a bit of it. I think he got yellow but it was a scandalous decision. All in all it was an enjoyable match though we can't really make any meaningful judgments until October after we have played teams of a better standard than this rabble. It says alot about Southampton that Benali was one of their outstanding players. Benali is the worst player in the premiership and any side in which he looks good is doomed! mark my words. Scores; De Goey; 6 not much to do. really only two saves to make and failed with one of them. Looked good under crosses. Doobs; 7 probably needs a few matches Beefy; 7 Looked great going forward (As did Doobs) Sinclair; 7 Right back is definitely his position. unlucky with the sending off IMO Le Saux. 8 Looked very good and crossed well, though all that dead ball practice he does seemed to count for nothing. Petrescu 8.5 Great goal, look a real threat all afternoon and some of his passing was excellent. Poyet.8 Excellent game, going to be a great player for us. Wise; 9 Playing the best football of his life at the moment. Hughes 7.5 despite his goal had a quite game Zola; 7.5 couple of nice tricks but a quite game overall. Didn't see much of the ball. Vialli and Clarke 6.5 No time to make real impression. Overall 8. Brilliant in patches, poor in patches, a patchy performance.