Cheeky chappy Dennis Wise was so closely associated with the club that he came to be known as 'Mr. Chelsea'. Another aggressive midfielder from Wimbledon, who in fact played in the same Chelsea side as Vinny Jones, Wise's career spanned 11 years and saw him become the club's most successful captain until John Terry. Standing only 5'6, Wise's ankle-biting style was so bellicose that it led to Sir Alex Ferguson, in one of those great Fergie quotes, describing him as someone who could start a fight in an empty room. In the 98/99 season, he missed no fewer than 15 games through suspension alone. While his role on the field was mostly based around breaking up attacks and running the game from deep, he offered a solid attacking contribution as well, scoring 12 and 13 goals in his first two seasons, while also scoring a legendary Champions League goal in the San Siro with ten minutes to go in 1999. Perhaps you've heard a song about it? Wise was never a subtle player, but did have decent technical ability and more than earnt his place in the team as the club rose in prominence during the Premier League years. He was voted Chelsea's Player Of The Year in 1998 and 2000, while captaining the club to FA Cup wins in 1997 and 2000, with a League Cup and Cup Winners Cup in 1998. He was eventually sold to Leicester by Claudio Ranieri, where he was sent home from a pre-season tour and later sacked for misconduct after breaking the nose and jaw of teammate Callum Davidson in a fight. Despite his lamentably violent temper, he remains one of Chelsea's defining figures.
28-year old English writer with a borderline obsessive passion for films, videogames, Chelsea FC, incomprehensible words and indefensible puns. Follow me on Twitter if you like infrequent outbursts of absolute drivel.
