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Is the Number 9 Jersey Cursed At Chelsea?

Is the Number 9 Jersey Cursed At Chelsea?

Fernando Torres

We have recently heard that that our new striker, Radamel Falcao, has been handed the number nine jersey at the club - but is it cursed?

I'm not one for superstition, but going back through time and looking at all our previous nines, this could well be the case.

Players that have worn the jersey in the Premier League era have not gone on to achieve big things, and if you don't believe me, here are my examples.

1999 - 2000 – Chris Sutton

Joined Chelsea from title-winning side Blackburn Rovers for £10 million, but didn't really perform well and only managed 1 goal in 29 appearances

2000 - 2004 – Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

The Dutchman is a Chelsea legend and was the exception to the norm when it came to players that wore the number nine so far. Hasselbaink made 136 appearances and scored 70 goals.

2004 -2005 – Mateja Kezman

Kezman was another number nine that only lasted one season at the club, but was highly rated when coming in. He sadly couldn't make the cut and only managed 25 appearances and scored four goals.  

2008-2009 – Franco Di Santo

The youngster was given the number nine jersey at a very young age and it was a huge burden on his shoulders. He only managed eight appearances for the club and didn't even get off the mark for them.

2010- 2014 – Fernando Torres

After the season he had at Liverpool and his £50 million price tag, big things were expected from Torres, but he is arguably the worst buy in Chelsea's history. He played 172 games for Chelsea but only managed to score 45 goals in total.

Do you think Radamel Falcao will defy the odds and succeed as our number nine?

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