2006 Chelsea Away – Andriy Shevchenko #7 XL

🏟️ 2006–07 Chelsea Season Overview

The 2006–07 season marked Chelsea’s defense of their Premier League title under José Mourinho, following back-to-back league wins in 2004–05 and 2005–06.

• They finished 2nd in the Premier League, just behind Manchester United.

• They won both domestic cups: the FA Cup (1–0 vs. Manchester United, Drogba scoring the winner) and the League Cup (2–1 vs. Arsenal).

• In the Champions League, Chelsea reached the semifinals, narrowly losing to Liverpool on penalties.

This season represented a shift, as Mourinho tried to balance aging stars with big-money signings.

⭐ Shevchenko’s Impact (2006–07)

Chelsea signed Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan in the summer of 2006 for a then-British record £30 million. The transfer was one of the most high-profile moves of the decade.

• Expectations were sky-high after his Ballon d’Or-winning career at Milan.

• Unfortunately, Shevchenko struggled to adapt to English football’s physicality and Mourinho’s system.

• He scored 9 goals in all competitions, a far cry from his prolific Milan years.

• Still, his presence added European pedigree to the squad, and he scored crucial goals in the FA Cup and Champions League.

• Despite being seen as a “flop” by many, Shevchenko’s arrival marked the era of Chelsea spending big to attract global superstars.

📋 2006–07 Chelsea Squad

• Goalkeepers: Petr Čech, Carlo Cudicini, Hilário

• Defenders: John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Ashley Cole, Wayne Bridge, Khalid Boulahrouz, Geremi

• Midfielders: Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Claude Makélélé, Michael Ballack, Arjen Robben, Joe Cole, Shaun Wright-Phillips

• Forwards: Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchenko, Salomon Kalou

👕 Jersey Significance

The 2006 Chelsea Away Jersey, produced by adidas, featured a black base with electric yellow trim. It was a striking contrast to their traditional blue, symbolizing the club’s confidence and global ambitions.

With Shevchenko’s #7, this kit is a time capsule of one of football’s biggest transfers—an ambitious move that didn’t fully pan out on the pitch, but cemented Chelsea’s reputation as a global powerhouse willing to sign world-class talent.