{"product_id":"2008-09-chelsea-third-shirt-s-m-adidas-drogba","title":"2008\/09 Chelsea Third Shirt (S\/M) adidas — Drogba","description":"\u003cp\u003eAuthenticity checked ✓\u003cbr\u003eCondition: 8\/10\u003cbr\u003eSeason: 2008-09\u003cbr\u003e3rd Shirt\u003cbr\u003ePlayer: 11 Drogba\u003cbr\u003eSize: Sm\/M\u003cbr\u003eMeasurements 70x50cm\u003cbr\u003eManufacturer: Adidas\u003cbr\u003eProduct code: 656118\u003cbr\u003eItem number LS576\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNote:\u003c\/strong\u003e These jerseys are authentic. Due to their age, some jerseys may show minor imperfections such as light staining, faded sponsor logos, or loose threads.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition details:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very Good. Sponsor Logo peeling. Couple of small snags.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHistory\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e2008\/09 season was a fascinating transitional year for Chelsea\u003c\/strong\u003e. They began with Brazilian World Cup-winning manager \u003cstrong\u003eLuiz Felipe Scolari\u003c\/strong\u003e, replaced him midway through the season with \u003cstrong\u003eGuus Hiddink\u003c\/strong\u003e, and finished the campaign by winning the \u003cstrong\u003eFA Cup\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt was also the final full season at Stamford Bridge for some important members of the Mourinho-era generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChelsea ended Liverpool's extraordinary unbeaten home league run at Anfield, with \u003cstrong\u003eJosé Bosingwa\u003c\/strong\u003e and the defence playing a major role in the victory.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHowever, Chelsea's form subsequently declined and Scolari was dismissed in February 2009.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eGuus Hiddink takes over\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eChelsea appointed \u003cstrong\u003eGuus Hiddink\u003c\/strong\u003e as interim manager in February.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe difference was immediate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHiddink restored confidence and brought greater tactical flexibility to the side. Chelsea became extremely difficult to beat again.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnder Hiddink, Chelsea reached:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eFA Cup final\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch4\u003ePremier League 3rd\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch4\u003eChampions League semi-final\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis spell ultimately lasted only until the end of the season because he was also managing the Russian national team.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eKey Players\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch4\u003eFrank Lampard\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch4\u003eThe midfield superstar\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eLampard was arguably Chelsea's most important player.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe scored \u003cstrong\u003e20 Premier League goals\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003e22 in all competitions\u003c\/strong\u003e, an extraordinary return for a midfielder.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis late runs into the box, shooting and set-piece ability made him one of the most dangerous midfielders in Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd he scored the winning goal in the \u003cstrong\u003eFA Cup final\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 2008\/09 season was another outstanding chapter in Lampard's Chelsea career.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDidier Drogba\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch4\u003eChelsea's elite striker\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eDrogba remained one of the most physically dominant forwards in world football.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis combination of strength, pace and finishing made him perfect for Chelsea's big-game football.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe scored the equaliser against Everton in the FA Cup final and was also hugely important in the Champions League run.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eJohn Terry\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch4\u003eCaptain \u0026amp; defensive leader\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eTerry was the heart of Chelsea's defence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis partnership with \u003cstrong\u003eRicardo Carvalho\u003c\/strong\u003e remained one of the strongest centre-back combinations in Europe, although injuries increasingly affected Carvalho.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTerry's leadership was particularly important during Hiddink's revival.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003ePetr Čech\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch4\u003eWorld-class goalkeeper\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eČech was still one of Europe's elite goalkeepers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis performances behind Terry and the Chelsea defence were crucial to their defensive record.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChelsea conceded only \u003cstrong\u003e32 Premier League goals\u003c\/strong\u003e, the second-best defensive record in the league behind Manchester United.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eMichael Essien\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003ch4\u003eThe engine\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eEssien was one of the most complete midfielders in Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe could defend, tackle, carry the ball and score spectacular goals.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnfortunately, a serious knee injury suffered in September 2008 kept him out for a large portion of the season.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe returned towards the end of the campaign and immediately reminded everyone of his importance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis goal against \u003cstrong\u003eBarcelona in the Champions League semi-final second leg\u003c\/strong\u003e — the spectacular left-foot volley — became one of the defining images of Chelsea's season.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eDeco\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eChelsea signed \u003cstrong\u003eDeco from Barcelona\u003c\/strong\u003e in the summer of 2008.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe provided technical quality and creativity in midfield, although injuries and inconsistent form prevented him from reaching the level Chelsea had hoped for.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eNicolas Anelka\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnelka had an excellent Premier League season.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe won the \u003cstrong\u003e2008\/09 Premier League Golden Boot with 19 goals\u003c\/strong\u003e, becoming Chelsea's leading league scorer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis movement and ability to play across the front line gave Chelsea another important attacking option.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eRicardo Carvalho\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen fit, Carvalho was an outstanding centre-back.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis intelligence, anticipation and ability to defend in space made him a perfect partner for Terry.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInjuries, however, limited his availability during the season.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eJosé Bosingwa\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eBosingwa was one of Chelsea's most important new arrivals.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSigned from Porto in 2008, he became the first-choice right-back and had an excellent debut season.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis pace and attacking ability gave Chelsea much more width.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eAlex\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe powerful Brazilian centre-back provided excellent depth behind Terry and Carvalho.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis long-range shooting was also a useful weapon, particularly from free kicks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom a collecting perspective, it is strongly associated with \u003cstrong\u003eLampard, Drogba, Terry, Čech and Essien\u003c\/strong\u003e, arguably the core of Chelsea's most successful pre-2010 generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003e2008\/09 Chelsea shirt\u003c\/strong\u003e therefore represents a particularly interesting moment: the \u003cstrong\u003elast season before Carlo Ancelotti's arrival and the extraordinary 2009\/10 Double-winning campaign\u003c\/strong\u003e, while still featuring virtually all of the key players who would form the backbone of that later success.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe official shirt\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the 2008\/09 adidas Third Shirt.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cfigure class=\"mv-official-shirt\" style=\"margin:16px 0 0;max-width:300px;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1075\/0767\/9562\/files\/mv-off-ls576.jpg\" alt=\"Official 2008\/09 adidas Third shirt\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;max-width:300px;height:auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/figure\u003e","brand":"adidas","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":63491292627274,"sku":"LS576","price":179.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1075\/0767\/9562\/files\/nb-ls576-1-front.jpg?v=1789074890","url":"https:\/\/matchdayvault.net\/products\/2008-09-chelsea-third-shirt-s-m-adidas-drogba","provider":"Matchday Vault","version":"1.0","type":"link"}