List of Chelsea F.C. seasons

Last updated

The first Chelsea team in September 1905 Chelsea Team 1905.jpg
The first Chelsea team in September 1905

This is a list of all seasons played by Chelsea Football Club in English and European football, from their inaugural season in 1905–06 to their last completed season (2023–24). It details their record in every major competition entered, as well as the top goalscorers for each season. Top scorers in bold were also the top scorers in Chelsea's division that season.

Contents

The club have won every major domestic and international honour, and have never been outside the top two divisions in English football. In total, Chelsea have won six League Championships (the First Division and its successor, the Premier League), eight FA Cups, five League Cups, one FIFA Club World Cup, two UEFA Champions Leagues, two UEFA Europa Leagues, and two UEFA Cup Winners' Cups. The club have also won various minor honours, including four FA Community/Charity Shields, two Full Members' Cups, and two UEFA Super Cups.

As of the end of the 2023–24 season, Chelsea have spent 89 seasons in the top division.

Key

WinnersRunners-up Promoted ↑ Relegated ↓ Top scorer(s) in Chelsea's division

    Seasons

    Results of league and cup competitions by season
    SeasonLeague FA Cup League
    Cup
    Other competitionsTop goalscorer(s) [lower-alpha 1]
    DivisionPldWDLGFGAPtsPosCSUCLUELUECCWCUSCFWCFMPlayer(s)Goals
    1905–06 Div 23822979037533rd3Q Frank Pearson
    Jimmy Windridge
    18
    1906–07 Div 2 ↑3826578034572ndR1 George Hilsdon 27
    1907–08 Div 1381481653623613thR230
    1908–09 Div 1381491556613711thR227
    1909–10 Div 1 ↓381172047702919thR2 Jimmy Windridge 6
    1910–11 Div 23820997135493rdSF Bob Whittingham 34 [lower-alpha 2]
    1911–12 Div 2 ↑3824686434542ndR226
    1912–13 Div 1381162151732818thR212
    1913–14 Div 138167154655398thR1 Harold Halse 10
    1914–15 Div 1388131751652919th [lower-alpha 3] RU Bob Thomson 18
    Competitive football was suspended during World War I. Chelsea played in the unofficial Football Combination until 1919.
    1919–20 Div 142225155651493rdSF Jack Cock 24
    1920–21 Div 14213131648583818thR415
    1921–22 Div 1421712134043469thR113
    1922–23 Div 1429181545533619thR2 Harry Ford
    Buchanan Sharp
    10
    1923–24 Div 1 ↓429141931533221stR1 Andy Wilson 6
    1924–25 Div 2421615115137475thR1 William Whitton 16
    1925–26 Div 242191497649523rdR4 Bob Turnbull 30
    1926–27 Div 2422012106252524thR623
    1927–28 Div 242238117545543rdR3 James Thompson 25
    1928–29 Div 2421710156465449thR5 George Biswell
    Jimmy Thompson
    Andy Wilson
    9
    1929–30 Div 2 ↑42221197446552ndR3 George Mills 14
    1930–31 Div 14215101764674012thR6 Hughie Gallacher 14
    1931–32 Div 1421681869734012thSF30
    1932–33 Div 1421472163733518thR319
    1933–34 Div 1421482067693619thR516
    1934–35 Div 1421691773824112thR3 Dick Spence 19
    1935–36 Div 1421513146572438thR5 Joe Bambrick 19
    1936–37 Div 14214131552554113thR4 George Mills 23
    1937–38 Div 14214131565654110thR313
    1938–39 Div 1421292164803320thR6 Joe Payne 19
    Competitive football was suspended during World War II. Chelsea played in the unofficial Wartime Leagues until 1945.
    1945–46 The FA Cup was resumed in 1945–46 but the Football League did not resume for another season.R5
    1946–47 Div 1421671969843915thR4 Tommy Lawton 30
    1947–48 Div 1421491953713718thR4 Ken Armstrong 13
    1948–49 Div 14212141669683813thR5 Roy Bentley 22
    1949–50 Div 14212161458654013thSF22
    1950–51 Div 1421282253653220thR511
    1951–52 Div 1421482052723619thSF17
    1952–53 Div 14212111956663519thR517
    1953–54 Div 1421612147468448thR321
    1954–55 Div 1422012108157521stR521
    1955–56 Div 14214111764773916thR5 W N/A [lower-alpha 4] 16
    1956–57 Div 14213131673733913thR4 Johnny McNichol 11
    1957–58 Div 14215121583794211thR4 Jimmy Greaves 22
    1958–59 Div 1421842077984014thR4 QF 37 [lower-alpha 5]
    1959–60 Div 1421491976913718thR430
    1960–61 Div 14215720981003712thR3R443 [lower-alpha 6]
    1961–62 Div 1 ↓429102363942822ndR3N/A [lower-alpha 7] Bobby Tambling 22
    1962–63 Div 2 ↑42244148142522ndR5N/A [lower-alpha 7] 37 [lower-alpha 8]
    1963–64 Div 1422010127256505thR4R219
    1964–65 Div 142248108954563rdSF W Barry Bridges 27
    1965–66 Div 142227136553515thSFN/A [lower-alpha 7] SF George Graham
    Bobby Tambling
    23
    1966–67 Div 1421514136762449th RU R3 Bobby Tambling 28
    1967–68 Div 1421812126268486thR6R2 Peter Osgood 17
    1968–69 Div 1422010127353505thR6R3 R2 Bobby Tambling 19
    1969–70 Div 142211387050553rd W R4 Peter Osgood 31
    1970–71 Div 142181595242516thR4R4 RU W Keith Weller 14
    1971–72 Div 1421812125849487thR5 RU R2 Peter Osgood 31
    1972–73 Div 14213141549514012thR6SF17
    1973–74 Div 14212131756603717thR3R2 Tommy Baldwin 9
    1974–75 Div 1 ↓429151842723321stR4R3 Ian Hutchinson 9
    1975–76 Div 24212161453544011thR5R2 Ray Wilkins 12
    1976–77 Div 2 ↑42211387353552ndR3R4 Steve Finnieston 26
    1977–78 Div 14211141746693616thR5R2 Tommy Langley 13
    1978–79 Div 1 ↓425102744922022ndR3R216
    1979–80 Div 242237126652534thR3R2 Mike Fillery
    Clive Walker
    13
    1980–81 Div 24214121646414012thR3R2 Colin Lee 16
    1981–82 Div 24215121560605712thR6R3 Clive Walker 17
    1982–83 Div 24211141751614718thR4R3 Mike Fillery 12
    1983–84 Div 2 ↑42251349040881stR3R3 Kerry Dixon 34 [lower-alpha 9]
    1984–85 Div 1421812126348666thR4SF36 [lower-alpha 10]
    1985–86 Div 1422011115756716thR4R5 W 23
    1986–87 Div 14213131653645214thR4R3 QF 12
    1987–88 Div 1 ↓409151650684218th [lower-alpha 11] R4R2 R3 Gordon Durie 20
    1988–89 Div 2 ↑46291259650991stR3R2 R3 Kerry Dixon 28
    1989–90 Div 1381612105850605thR4R2 W 25
    1990–91 Div 13813101558694911thR3SF R3 Kerry Dixon
    Gordon Durie
    15
    1991–92 Div 14213141550605314thR6R2 SF Dennis Wise 14
    1992–93 Prem4214141451545611thR3R5 Mick Harford 11
    1993–94 Prem4213121749535114th RU R3 Gavin Peacock
    Mark Stein
    14
    1994–95 Prem4213151450555411thR4R3 SF Paul Furlong
    John Spencer
    13
    1995–96 Prem3812141246445011thSFR2 John Spencer 14
    1996–97 Prem381611115855596th W R3 Mark Hughes 14
    1997–98 Prem38203157143634thR3 W RU W Gianluca Vialli 19
    1998–99 Prem38201535730753rdR6R5 SF W Gianfranco Zola 15
    1999–2000 Prem38181195334655th W R3 QF Tore André Flo 19
    2000–01 Prem381710116845616thR5R3 W R1 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 26 [lower-alpha 12]
    2001–02 Prem38171386638646th RU SF R2 29
    2002–03 Prem38191096838674thR6R5 R1 Gianfranco Zola 16
    2003–04 Prem3824776730792ndR5R5 SF Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 17
    2004–05 Prem3829817215951stR5 W SF Frank Lampard 19
    2005–06 Prem3829457222911stSFR3 W R16 20
    2006–07 Prem38241136424832nd W W RU SF Didier Drogba 33 [lower-alpha 13]
    2007–08 Prem38251036526852ndR6 RU RU RU Frank Lampard 20
    2008–09 Prem3825856824833rd W R4 SF Nicolas Anelka 25 [lower-alpha 14]
    2009–10 Prem38275610332861st W R5 W R16 Didier Drogba 37 [lower-alpha 15]
    2010–11 Prem3821896933712ndR4R3 RU QF Nicolas Anelka 16
    2011–12 Prem381810106546646th W R5 W Frank Lampard 16
    2012–13 Prem3822977539753rdSFSF RU GS W RU RU Fernando Torres 22
    2013–14 Prem3825767127823rdR5R5 SF RU Eden Hazard 17
    2014–15 Prem3826937332871stR4 W R16 Diego Costa 21
    2015–16 Prem3812141259535010thR6R4 RU R16 16
    2016–17 Prem3830358533931st RU R422
    2017–18 Prem38217106238705th W SF RU R16 Eden Hazard 17
    2018–19 Prem3821986339723rdR5 RU RU W 21
    2019–20 Prem38206126954664th RU R4 R16 RU Tammy Abraham 18
    2020–21 Prem38191095836674th RU R4 W Tammy Abraham
    Timo Werner
    12
    2021–22 Prem38211167633743rd RU RU QF W W Romelu Lukaku 15
    2022–23 Prem3811111638474412thR3R3 QF Kai Havertz
    Raheem Sterling
    9
    2023–24 Prem38189117763636thSF RU Cole Palmer 25

    Notes

    1. Competitive matches only. Includes all goals scored in the Premier League, Football League, FA Cup, League Cup, Full Members' Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup/Europa League, UEFA Conference League, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and Charity/Community Shield.
    2. 31 goals in the Second Division.
    3. Chelsea ended the 1914–15 season in a relegation position, but when the league was expanded after the First World War the club was invited to rejoin the First Division.
    4. As English champions, Chelsea qualified for the inaugural European Champions' Cup, but withdrew under pressure from the Football League, whose chairman Alan Hardaker felt priority should be given to domestic competitions.
    5. 33 goals in the First Division.
    6. 41 goals in the First Division.
    7. 1 2 3 In the early years of the League Cup, some clubs opted not to participate. Chelsea withdrew from the competition in 1961–62, 1962–63 and 1965–66.
    8. 35 goals in the Second Division.
    9. 28 goals in the Second Division.
    10. 24 goals in the First Division; joint top scorer alongside Gary Lineker (Leicester City).
    11. Chelsea were relegated after losing a two-legged play-off against Middlesbrough.
    12. 23 goals in the Premier League.
    13. 20 goals in the Premier League.
    14. 19 goals in the Premier League.
    15. 29 goals in the Premier League.

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">FA Community Shield</span> English football super cup game

    The Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested at Wembley Stadium between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup, then the league runners-up provide the opposition. The fixture is recognised as a competitive super cup by The Football Association and UEFA.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Football in England</span>

    Football is the most popular sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game. With over 40,000 association football clubs, England has more clubs involved in the code than any other country. England hosts the world's first club, Sheffield F.C.; the world's oldest professional association football club, Notts County; the oldest national governing body, the Football Association; the joint-oldest national team; the oldest national knockout competition, the FA Cup; and the oldest national league, the English Football League. It also has 31% of the population interested in Football. Today England's top domestic league, the Premier League, is one of the most popular and richest sports leagues in the world, with five of the ten richest football clubs in the world as of 2022.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordi Cruyff</span> Dutch footballer and manager (born 1974)

    Johan Jordi Cruijff is a Dutch-Spanish professional football manager and former player and sporting director of professional football at FC Barcelona.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang</span> Gabon international footballer (born 1989)

    Pierre-Emerick Emiliano François Aubameyang is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah and captains the Gabon national team.

    The 1989–90 season was the 91st completed season of The Football League.

    References