Old Firm Derby
The Blues of West London
Chelsea Football Club is a professional association football club based in Fulham, West London, England. They compete in the Premier League, the top tier of English football, and are one of the most successful clubs in English football history.
- Clubs Involved
- Celtic FC and Rangers FC
- Location
- Glasgow, Scotland
- League Context
- Scottish Premiership (formerly Scottish Premier League)
- Primary Divide
- Historically religious and cultural (Roman Catholic vs. Protestant)
- Global Status
- One of the most watched domestic derbies worldwide
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The club was founded in 1905 and named after the neighbouring area Chelsea. They play their home games at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea won their first major domestic trophy, the First Division championship, in 1955. They won their first Premier League title in the 2004–05 season. Chelsea won their first European trophy in 1971, lifting the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, which they won again in 1998. They went on to win their first UEFA Champions League title in 2012 and repeated the feat in 2021. Chelsea have won the UEFA Europa League twice, in 2013 and 2019. After winning the UEFA Conference League in 2025, Chelsea became the first club to win all four main UEFA competitions. They also won the FIFA Club World Cup in 2021 and 2025.
In Their Own Story
The club's competitive peak occurred in the 1970s under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, who took over in 1967. After signing key players like Alan Hinton, Roy McFarland, John O'Hare, and Dave Mackay, they won promotion to the First Division in 1969. Despite a European ban in 1971 due to financial irregularities, they won their first League Championship in 1972. Although they lost the title the following season, they reached the European Cup semi-finals, falling to Juventus. Clough's outspoken nature led to his departure with Taylor in October 1973. Remarkably, successor Dave Mackay, a former player under Clough, led Derby to another title in 1974–75 before relegation in 1980.
Reader's Guide
Chelsea share rivalries with fellow London teams Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, and also with Leeds United. The club's home matches are played at Stamford Bridge in Fulham, West London.
Did You Know?
- Chelsea were founded on 10 March 1905 at The Rising Sun pub (now The Butcher's Hook) on Fulham Road.
- Chelsea won their first European trophy, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, in 1971.
- Chelsea became the first club to win all four main UEFA competitions after winning the UEFA Conference League in 2025.
- Chelsea are the reigning FIFA Club World Cup champions as of the source article.
More in Great Rivalries & Derbies
Related in Chelsea FC
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Elsewhere in the Chelsea FC universe
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