Today at the King Power Stadium the Blues once again take on a side managed by our former Academy coach Brendan Rodgers.
With Chelsea and Leicester in close competition in the Premier League this season, we recap here our shared past with Rodgers and when we have crossed swords in more recent times…
Brendan the Blue
Rodgers was appointed Chelsea youth team coach in September 2004 having previously been working as the Academy manager at Reading where he had spent nine years as a player and coach.
He played for Northern Ireland and had to retire early through injury. He was recommended for the Chelsea job by Steve Clarke on his promotion from youth coach to the first-team set-up. The two had studied together for their coaching qualifications.
Rodgers moved up to take over as manager of the Chelsea reserve team in 2006. Among the players he coached at youth and reserve level who went on to have significant professional careers are Ryan Bertrand, Jack Cork, Sam Hutchinson, Michael Mancienne, Scott Sinclair, Liam Bridcutt and Ben Sahar.
Valentine’s Day reunion
Following four years at Chelsea, Rodgers left in November 2008 to become first team manager at Championship-side Watford at the age of 35. There he linked up with Frank Lampard’s father, Frank Snr, who worked with him as a consultant.
On Valentine’s Day in February that same season he managed against Chelsea for the first time in an FA Cup game at Vicarage Road. The Blues were between managers – with Luiz Felipe Scolari sacked and Guus Hiddink appointed but yet to take over properly, so Ray Wilkins was in charge on the touchline. We went behind in the second half but won 3-1 thanks to a Nicolas Anelka hat-trick.
Premier League clashes
Having left Watford to return to his former club Reading and then on to Swansea, the biggest defeat Rodgers has suffered against Chelsea came on his first return to Stamford Bridge.
The Swans lost 4-1 in September 2011 with Fernando Torres, Ramires twice and Didier Drogba scoring the Chelsea goals. The victory was despite a first-half red card for Torres shortly after he had scored.