In the latest in our on-going series we`ve selected a Spaniard who only stayed at Stamford Bridge for just the one season, Quique de Lucas.
When de Lucas joined Chelsea it was in an era before the club was owned by Roman Abramovich and cash was scarce.
The Euro Bond used to build the West Stand needed spaying and de Lucas was the only new player to arrive in the close season.
The Spaniard arrived on a free-transfer from Paris Saint Germain, where he had been on loan. Previously he`d played for Espanyol.
De Lucas made his debut for Chelsea in a 3-2 home win against Charlton Athletic and also made the starting eleven for the following fixture against Manchester United.
But de Lucas had trouble holding down a regular first-team place and, more often than not, was on the substitutes bench.
It was from the bench that de Lucas made over a third of the total of 33 appearances he made for Chelsea in his sole season with Chelsea, the 2002 / 2003 season.
During those 33 games de Lucas was to score just the 1 goal for Chelsea, it came in the UEFA Cup against Viking FK with Chelsea winning the home leg but losing the tie 5-4 on aggregate.
The Spaniard left Stamford Bridge in strange circumstances. It appeared that before joining Chelsea the player had signed a pre-contract agreement with the Spanish side Alaves. Chelsea declared his contract invalid and de Lucas returned to Spanish football.
Some twelve years later de Lucas returned to English football to play for the non-league side Biggleswade Town, based in Bedfordshire.
His Chelsea career wasn`t one that many will recall with fondness in the years to come, perhaps the biggest compliment that can be paid is that my other half thought he was a good looking handsome chap!
Mini Fact-File – Quique de Lucas
Full Name – Enrique ‘Quique` de Lucas Martinez
Date of Birth – 17 August 1978
Place of Birth – L’Hospitalet, Spain
Height – Five feet ten inches
Position – Attacking Midfielder
Youth Career – Ferrán Martorell, Barcelona, Espanyol
Playing Career Clubs – Espanyol B, Espanyol, PSG (loan), Chelsea, Alaves, Murcia, Cartagena, Celta, Hercules, Biggleswade United.
International Honours – Spain U16, U21
If there is anybody of Spanish origin who you would like to see featured in our new series simply send an e-mail to JUVENILED40@HOTMAIL.COM and we`ll do the rest.
Spanish Armada (1) – Asier del Horno
Spanish Armada (2) – Fernando Torres
Spanish Armada (3) – Juan Mata
Spanish Armada (4) – Rafael Benitez
Spanish Armada (5) – Albert Ferrer
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