The Chelsea Greats and the Fan Chants That Cemented Their Cult Status

All football clubs have their own legends, and they're mostly remembered through the medium of verse. Yes, we're talking about grown men in their thousands singing passionately on stadium terraces to pay homage to their heroes.

Where Chelsea are concerned, there have been many greats who have graced the hallowed turf of Stamford Bridge, with their cult status determined as much by the songs chanted in their honour as it was about their abilities as footballers.

The songs are a connection between player and fan, a way of extending the relationship much further than the cheers of a matchday. When players leave, the songs represent an essence of all they achieved and ensures their legacy lives on. It allows the names from the past to be live strong in folklore.

So who stands out for Chelsea? Bleacher Report takes a closer look.

Peter Osgood: "Born is the King of Stamford Bridge"

Lending the melody from the traditional Christmas carol "The First Noel," this song in tone alone symbolises all that Peter Osgood was and is to Chelsea supporters. It's no coincidence they have adopted a song with religious undertones to pay homage to their hero.

Ossie is one of Chelsea's finest players—indeed, the only player to have a statue outside Stamford Bridge—and was the club's foremost talent during the 1960s and 1970s. The Kings of the King's Road generation was defined by Osgood, with his ability as a player endearing him to fans.

Osgood scored majestic goals, radiating class as he weaved his way through defences. He dazzled off the pitch, too, with his rockstar looks earning him plenty of attention, notably from film star Raquel Welch.

For Chelsea fans, Osgood was a different breed; his star shone bright as the player they took to their hearts, and he defined a generation.

"

The Shed looked up and saw a great star,

Scoring goals past Pat Jennings from near and afar,

And Chelsea won, as we all knew they would,

And the star of that great team was Peter Osgood.

Osgood, Osgood,

Osgood, Osgood,

Born is the King of Stamford Bridge

Osgood, Osgood,

Osgood, Osgood,

Born is the King of Stamford Bridge

"

Frank Lampard: "Super Frank"/"Oh Frankie Lampard"

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

It says plenty about a player when he has two songs dedicated to his honour. As we know, Frank Lampard was no ordinary player for Chelsea; he was probably their greatest ever.

Lampard tops the Chelsea scoring charts with 211 goals to his name, so it's no surprise that he is dubbed "Super Frank" in west London.

After joining the club from West Ham United in 2001, it wasn't long before the "Super Frank Lampard" song hit the terraces, and in more recent times, a new tune has been sung about his goalscoring exploits.

To the tune of Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba" hit, Chelsea fans remember how Lampard scored his 200th Chelsea goal against the Hammers.

For reasons of decency, we can only list the more simple lyrics to the "Super Frank" song here:

"

Super, Super Frank,

Super, Super Frank,

Super, Super Frank,

Super Frankie Lampard

"

So far as lyrics go, it looks simple enough on paper; being the song chanted with gusto by around 40,000 fans is another matter altogether.

Dennis Wise: "Oh Dennis Wise"

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

You know things are going well at Stamford Bridge when this song is rolled out. It means Chelsea supporters are revelling in some form of success, and when that happens, memories of Dennis Wise and his exploits come to the fore.

It's strange, as you would expect success in the current era to always be focused on the players of the here and now, but it's a bit different at Chelsea.

Such was Dennis Wise's impression at Chelsea, fans understand the club are where they are now because of him as much as other factors. Wise captained Chelsea throughout the 1990s and helped elevate them back to a level they hadn't tasted since the 1970s.

Wise was the first Chelsea captain to lift a major trophy at Wembley Stadium, coming in the form of the FA Cup in 1997. He would lift the same trophy in 2000, also winning the League Cup and Cup Winners' Cup in 1998.

Warning: Video contains NSFW language

Wise was a hero and is remembered as much for those trophies as he is a goal against AC Milan in the San Siro in 1999.

"

Oh Dennis Wise,

Scored a f--king great goal,

In the San Siro,

With 10 minutes to go...

"

Ashley Cole: "The European Cup"

When a club signs a player from a rival, it doesn't take much for the man in question to be endeared by his new fans. When a club signs a player who is arguably the best in the world in his position, it makes it even more sweeter.

Ashley Cole's legend at Chelsea was built on much more than tribal rivalries, though. He joined Chelsea from Arsenal in 2006 and made the Blues one of Europe's strongest teams during his eight years in west London.

He won everything with the club, including the one trophy that continues to elude Arsenal—the Champions League.

It's where his song comes from, and while Cole is now in MLS playing for LA Galaxy, Chelsea fans take great delight in singing it to remind Gooners of the perceived wisdom in Cole swapping north London for west.

"

Ashley Cole's won the European Cup, the European Cup, the European Cup,

Ashley Cole's won the European Cup, the European Cup, the European Cup...

"

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes