David Luiz Profile

David Luiz

23 Defender

2016/17 Premier League
GP 18
G 0
A 0

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Position
Defender

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Age
29

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Born
April 22, 1987

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Birthplace
Diadema, Brazil

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Height
1.88 m

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Weight
84 kg

Biography

Attracting the interest of most of Europe's elite, defender David Luiz's star rose quickly after only a few seasons at Portuguese club Benfica. Beginning his career in his native Brazil with Vitoria, he made his debut as a teenage left-back and caught the attention of the national team set-up as he represented Brazil at the 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada. Moving to Benfica in 2007, he missed almost all of his first season through injury but, once recovered, was converted into a centre-back. In that position, he impressed so much he was named Portugal's Player of the Year in 2010. Starting all but one game in Benfica's title-winning season, he also caught the eye of new Brazil coach Mano Menezes and made his senior debut against the United States a month after the World Cup. Having been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea for several months, Luiz eventually sealed a GBP;21.3 million move to Stamford Bridge in the final hours of the 2011 January transfer window. He made an instant impression in London with his all-action displays, but questions were soon raised about his reliability as a defender. However, he went some way towards proving the doubters wrong during the second half of the 2011-12 campaign with some impressive performances, particularly in the Champions League final. Strengths: Versatile and powerful, his speed, aerial ability and technical skills stand out. Weaknesses: He can be caught out positionally and his ability to remain focused remains a serious concern. Career high: Defying his critics with a strong performance in the Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich. Career low: He was ridiculed during the early part of the 2011-12 season, with Gary Neville memorably suggesting the Brazilian looked as though he was "being controlled by a ten-year-old in the crowd on a PlayStation". Style: Quick and technically superb, Luiz is one of the most exciting and unpredictable centre-backs in the game. Quotes: "I'm a central defender, and that's the position I feel most comfortable in, but I'd play in goal or up front if I had to. I can only be grateful for having the privilege to do a job I love." David Luiz, December 2010. Trivia: He scored an impressive seven goals in 47 games as a teenager for his first club Vitoria.

Pedro Rodriguez Profile

Forward
2016/17 Premier League
GP 19
G 5
A 5

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Position
Forward

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Age
29

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Born
July 28, 1987

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Birthplace
Santa Cruz, Spain

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Height
1.7 m

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Weight
63 kg

Biography

Pedro was part of the Barcelona youth team setup for two years before he started to show his class as Pep Guardiola's men made history by sealing a six-trophy haul in 2009. Often used as a super-sub in his first senior season, he picked up more medals in a few months than most players will collect in an entire career and made his mark on one of the most talented squads in football history, cementing his place in the side. Pedro had not won a cap for Spain before he was included in their 23-man squad for South Africa 2010, but performed so well that he started the final - a 1-0 triumph. Strengths: Fast and agile, he can beat a man and also has good vision and passing skills. Weaknesses: Lack physical presence and can be knocked off the ball easily. A lack of height also limits his aerial prowess. Career high: Winning the 2010 World Cup with Spain only just beats his impact in Barcelona's six-trophy haul of 2008-09. Career low: Playing just seven minutes in his first two seasons at Barcelona. Style: Technical, tricky, a composed wideman. Quotes: "We all knew that he was a quality player and that he was good enough for the team, but he's offering more than we ever imagined." Pep Guardiola, April 2010. Trivia: He is the only player to score in six different club competitions in one season - his three domestic tournaments, the UEFA Champions League, Super Cup and the Club World Cup.

Gary Cahill Profile

21 Defender
2016/17 Premier League
GP 22
G 3
A 0

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Position
Defender

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Age
31

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Born
December 19, 1985

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Birthplace
Sheffield

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Height
1.91 m

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Weight
86 kg

Biography

Having spent the first half of the 2011-12 season battling relegation with Bolton Wanderers, Gary Cahill ended the campaign as a Champions League winner. Cahill had joined Chelsea in January in a GBP;7 million deal, and initially struggled to break into the side under Andre Villas-Boas. However, by the end of the campaign he had shown he could perform in Europe's premier competition, and he excelled alongside David Luiz as Chelsea held off Bayern Munich to become continental champions. Cahill began his career with Aston Villa and had his first taste of the professional game in November 2004 when joining Championship side Burnley on loan for the remainder of the season. He was named Burnley's Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year, and was subsequently handed a Villa squad number for 2005-06. He began to make his mark at Villa Park but fell out of favour under Martin O'Neill and was heavily linked with cross-city rivals Birmingham before plumping for a GBP;5 million move to Bolton in January 2008, becoming a vital player for the Trotters and cementing his place in the England squad. With his contract running down in 2012, Cahill headed for Chelsea, where he would help the club to glory after a difficult start. However, he suffered disappointment soon afterwards as a broken jaw ruled him out of Euro 2012. Strengths: Committed and strong, Cahill is a no-nonsense defender who is good in the tackle and an aerial threat. Weaknesses: Consistency has been a problem for the defender and his positioning has been exposed occasionally. Career high: Helping Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2012. Career low: Failure to break through into the Villa first XI under Martin O'Neill left him in search of a move. Style: Whole-hearted, powerful, a leader on the pitch. Quotes: "Gary Cahill, I believe, can play for anybody. He has those qualities." Bolton boss Owen Coyle, December 2011. Trivia: Cahill suffered a blood clot in his left arm after a training injury which forced him to pull out of the home game against Fulham on February 6, 2010, and kept him sidelined for months afterwards.

John Terry profile

Defender
2016/17 Premier League
GP 5
G 0
A 0

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Position
Defender

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Age
36

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Born
December 7, 1980

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Birthplace
Barking, England

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Height
1.87 m

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Weight
90.2 kg

BIOGRAPHY

The defensive inspiration for Chelsea and England, John Terry has shown remarkable resilience despite the off-field dramas that have threatened to derail his career. One of the few to have graduated from the Chelsea Academy to the first team, Terry went on loan to Nottingham Forest in 2000 before establishing himself alongside Marcel Desailly in the Blues' defence. In 2004, he was named the Chelsea captain and led the side to back-to-back Premier League titles under Jose Mourinho, as well as FA Cup success. First called up to the England squad in 2003, he cemented his place in the first-team at Euro 2004 and rose to captain his country under Steve McClaren after the 2006 World Cup. Making his name as a commanding centre-back, Terry's influence continued to rise, but he missed the crucial penalty in the 2008 Champions League final against Manchester United, allowing Chelsea's Premier League rivals to take home the trophy. He has twice been stripped of the England captaincy. In February 2010, he lost the armband after a series of tabloid stories about an alleged affair between Terry and the former partner of England, and one-time Chelsea, team-mate Wayne Bridge. It led to Fabio Capello removing the armband, but Terry ended the season on a high as Chelsea claimed the Double. He again came in for criticism for off-field matters during England's woeful World Cup campaign in 2010 when he was accused of undermining Capello during a press conference, and in 2012 he lost the captaincy for a second time when he was accused of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand. He was later cleared in court but found guilty by the FA and was handed a four-match ban and fined GBP;220,000. Terry realised his dream of lifting the Champions League trophy with Chelsea in May 2012, but he had sat out the match through suspension after a moment of madness against Barcelona in the previous round. Strengths: A commanding, no-nonsense style of player who does not get bullied. Excellent in the air, in a positional sense, and willing to throw himself in front of anything to stop a shot, he is a first-rate defender. Weaknesses: Has been caught out in the past by strikers with pace and could use a burst of acceleration. Career high: Winning back-to-back Premier League titles with Chelsea in 2005 and 2006, he was then announced as England captain in August 2006. Career low: Missing a penalty in the 2008 Champions League final shootout defeat to Manchester United. Style: Uncompromising, tough, passionate, a natural leader. Quotes: "We all know what a good centre-half he is. We all know what a warrior he is and we all know he is capable of taking other players with him" England boss Roy Hodgson, June 2012 Trivia: Terry still has his shirt from the losing 2008 Champions League final, which he kept in a separate cabinet in his trophy room as a constant reminder of his desire to win the competition.

Eden Hazard Chelsea Fc player

#26 Midfielder
2016/17 Premier League
GP 21
G 9
A 3

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Position
Midfielder

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Age
26

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Born
January 7, 1991

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Birthplace
La Louviere, Belgium

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Height
1.72 m

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Weight
74 kg

Eden Hazard's rise over the past couple of years has been meteoric, with the Belgian starlet undergoing a remarkable transformation from precocious Lille youngster to Ligue 1 sensation to one of the most sought after players in Europe. The fleet-footed attacker has drawn comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but perhaps the greatest compliment has been the willingness of the Belgian press to proclaim that Hazard has what it takes to fill the enormous boots left by national icon Enzo Schifo. Born into a footballing family, Hazard's youth career took in Belgian sides Royal Stade Brainois and Tubize before he settled at Lille as a 14-year-old in 2005. Two years later and the teenage prodigy had made his debut in the French top flight, going on to make a handful of substitute appearances in the 2007-08 season. The following campaign was a real breakthrough year, though, as he went from impact sub to first-team talisman in the space of a few months, with his sparkling performances earning him an international debut for Belgium and the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award. The plaudits continued to roll in and Hazard was tied down to a new four-year contract with Lille in an attempt to stave off interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs. With five league goals and eight assists, Hazard became his side's creator-in-chief and his influential displays saw his reputation continue to grow around the continent. Hazard's start to the 2010-11 campaign was troubled as he was publicly criticised by Belgium national team coach Georges Leekens, who accused him of being lazy in training, and he was also dropped by Lille coach Rudi Garcia. He didn't start a league game for Lille until November but ultimately re-established himself as an integral member of the first-team. After years of speculation, and competition from clubs including Manchester United and Manchester City, Chelsea sealed his signature for an estimated 32 million pounds in the summer of 2012. The Belgian winger adapted quickly to English football and made an immediate impact with his dribbling skills and pace down the left wing. He managed 13 goals in his maiden season at Stamford Bridge and was part of Rafa Benitez's Europa League-winning side. However, he made the headlines for all the wrong reasons in Chelsea's League Cup clash with Swansea after he was sent off for kicking a ball boy. But it was during his second season in West London and under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho that Hazard would really flourish. His crisp strike in Chelsea's UEFA Super Cup final defeat to Bayern Munich in August 2013 set the tone for his season as he went on to score 17 goals in all competitions. Mourinho labelled him the best young footballer in the world and it was a sentiment echoed by his Premier League peers as he was named the PFA Young Player of the Season, finishing second to Luis Suarez for the senior award. Question marks do linger over Hazard's future however, with the Belgian confessing that he could move to Paris Saint-Germain at some point in his career. Belgium have been touted by many pundits as the dark horses for the 2014 World Cup and it is Hazard who is undoubtedly the brightest jewel in the Red Devils' crown. Belgium have not reached the quarterfinals of a major tournament since 1986 but Hazard possesses both the attributes and the desire to lead this golden generation to glory. Strengths: A defender's nightmare, Hazard can dribble at pace and, like Lionel Messi, he is 5ft 7in and has a low centre of gravity that helps him breeze past opposition players. He has an eye for the spectacular and has scored some memorable solo efforts. Weaknesses: Hazard's work-rate and attitude has been questioned by his club and national team bosses. He was heavily criticised by Jose Mourinho after his negative comments about Chelsea's tactics following their Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid in April 2014. Career high: Becoming the first non-French player to win the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year Award in 2008-09, before achieving something that the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry never managed by winning it again in 2009-10. Career low: Suffering penalty heartache at the hands of Spain in the 2007 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship. Hazard's Belgium were hosting the tournament but went crashing out in the semi-finals after losing a shootout to a Bojan Krkic-inspired Spain side. Style: A fearless, explosive attacking midfielder who can change the game with a turn of pace or a dribble. Quotes: "Eden is technically gifted and very fast. I would take him to Real Madrid with my eyes closed. He can become a great footballer, he is a star of the future." France legend Zinedine Zidane gives Hazard a ringing endorsement. Trivia: Hazard comes from a football family. His parents, Thierry and Carine, were footballers in Belgium, and his younger brother Thorgan