From fearing for their very existence to conquering Europe and winning the Champions League all within two decades, the story of modern Chelsea FC is unlike any other.
The Blueprint tells the inside story of how the club has shaped modern football.
From the boardroom to the dressing room, the press room to terraces, key figures who played their part or watched history being made before their very eyes, open up and reveal all in this narrative podcast series.
Featuring Frank Lampard, Ken Bates, Jody Morris, The Harding Family, Petr Cech, Gary Cahill, Paul Clement, Scott Minto, Tore Andre Flo and many more.
The Blueprint is produced by Garry Hayes and Ceri Levy.
Our theme music “Blue Day ’23” is composed by Mike Connaris with bed arrangements by Jake Bradford-Sharp. It’s used under license from Mcasso Music.
The Blueprint Tapes... with Joe Cole (Part 2)
Apr 26, 2024
Show notes
In the final installment of our sit down with Joe Cole, the Chelsea legend goes deep on his relationship with Jose Mourinho and the mentality that helped deliver the Blues an unprecedented period of dominance in English football.
The Blueprint Tapes... with Joe Cole (Part 1)
Apr 26, 2024
Show notes
"He's here, here's there..." and now Joe Cole is the latest interview being released in full on The Blueprint Tapes. The Chelsea hero sat down with Garry Hayes and Ceri Levy to discuss his Blues career for The Blueprint, taking listeners behind the scenes to the defining moments for him and the club during a critical period in the club's history. In Part 1 of this interview, Joe opens up on how his move to Chelsea materialised, realising a boyhood dream to wear Chelsea blue at Stamford Bridge, plus so much more.
The Blueprint Tapes... with John Terry (Part 2)
Apr 19, 2024
Show notes
In the second part of this exclusive and candid chat, former Chelsea captain John Terry reveals how he was given the armband by Jose Mourinho and how the Blues went on to become one of Europe's most successful clubs.
The Blueprint Tapes... with John Terry (Part 1)
Apr 19, 2024
Show notes
Listen to John Terry speak about his Chelsea career like never before! The Blueprint is releasing the full interviews from our main narrative series, starting with Chelsea's captain, leader, legend who opens up on the struggles he faced at Stamford Bridge - almost being released as youngster - before going on to become the most decorated captian in the Blues' storied history. Chelsea's modern history isn't complete without John Terry's story and this interview puts into context everything he achieved with the club, going deep on his relationship with Jose Mourinho and outlining what it takes to remain at the very top of the game.
7: The Special Ones
Aug 02, 2023
Show notes
Following Roman Abramovich's Chelsea takeover in July 2003, Claudio Ranieri became a "dead man walking" with constant speculation surrounding his job at Stamford Bridge. And after a spectacular collapse against 10-man Monaco in the Champions League semi-final later that season, the Italian's fate was all but sealed. Step forward Jose Mourinho, a recently crowned Champions League winner who, after one incredible press conference, became English football's zeitgeist. The world would revolve around Mourinho in the Premier League and at Chelsea, with the media, fans and his players in awe of him. Just as Abramovich ushered in change in the boardroom, Mourinho would do the same from the dugout. And he was all Chelsea's, ready to sculpt the club's finest generation. This is the inside story of how Jose Mourinho inspired his Chelsea players to greatness. In this episode you will hear from: John Terry, Steve Clarke, Claudio Ranieri, Martin Tyler (Commentator), Gerry Cox (Journalist), Mike Ingham (Commentator), Simon Johnson (Journalist), Jason Cundy (Broadcaster), Neil Barnett (Journalist), Rick Glanvill (Chelsea FC's official historian) The Blueprint is written by Garry Hayes and narrated by Ceri Levy. *** Our theme music "Blue Day '23" is composed by Mike Connaris with bed arrangements by Jake Bradford-Sharp. It's used under license from Mcasso Music. Archive used in this episode is courtesy of Chelsea TV.
6: In One Summer (Birth of the Roman Empire)
Jul 26, 2023
Show notes
Where were you on 1 July 2003? As it turns out, a lot of those people connected with Chelsea can't quite remember, either! It's a day that has gone down in history – the day that modern Chelsea was truly created as Roman Abramovich took over the club from Ken Bates. What followed was unprecedented in football. Chelsea embarked on a record-breaking transfer spree that made headlines across Europe and shook the football world. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes to explain how it all happened. In one summer. In this episode you will hear from: John Terry, Ken Bates, Claudio Ranieri, Jesper Gronkjaer, Mark Killick, Neil Barnett (Spy), Matthew Garrahan (The Financial Times), David Smith (The Observer), Simon Johnson (The Athletic), Martin Tyler (commentator), Mike Ingham (commentator), Rick Glanvill (Chelsea FC historian), Andy Saunders, and David Chidgey (Chelsea Fancast). The Blueprint is written by Garry Hayes and narrated by Ceri Levy. *** Our theme music "Blue Day '23" is composed by Mike Connaris with bed arrangements by Jake Bradford-Sharp. It's used under license from Mcasso Music. Archive used in this episode is courtesy of Chelsea TV.
5: Champions League or Bust
Jul 19, 2023
Show notes
As Chelsea started to establish themselves at the top end of English football with a flurry of major honours in the late 1990s, change was awaiting them on the horizon. The Blues had not long fielded the Premier League's first starting XI that featured overseas players only. It was symbolic of English football's transition to becoming more cosmopolitan, but the appointment of Claudio Ranieri in September 2000 saw the Italian take things back to their roots... he wanted to build his Chelsea team around a spine of homegrown talent. Step forward from the Chelsea youth ranks John Terry, a player whose career was at a crossroads. Within one match, Ranieri identified the talent that would lead Chelsea all the way to becoming European champions. And alongside him, another youngster from across London, Frank Lampard. Chelsea's journey on the road to Munich 2012 was just starting. This episode takes you behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge to understand how Ranieri and Colin Hutchinson lay the foundations for Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho to build a dynasty. It's a story played out before the threat of financial ruin and one game that changed it all against Liverpool in May 2003. In this episode you will hear from: John Terry, Ken Bates, Claudio Ranieri, Colin Hutchinson, Ruud Gullit, Glenn Hoddle, Frank Leboeuf, David Lee, Tore Andre Flo, Jody Morris, Jesper Gronkjaer, Neil Barnett (Spy), Rick Glanvill (Chelsea FC historian) and Alex Leith (Ranieri's translator). The Blueprint is written by Garry Hayes and narrated by Ceri Levy. *** Our theme music "Blue Day '23" is composed by Mike Connaris with bed arrangements by Jake Bradford-Sharp. It's used under license from Mcasso Music. Archive used in this episode is courtesy of Chelsea TV.
4: And Now the Wait is Over
Jun 23, 2023
Show notes
Glenn Hoddle spent three years rebuilding Chelsea into a club that had genuine ambition and a legitimate hope of winning silverware. He signed Ruud Gullit in 1995 to completely transform the look and appeal of the Chelsea squad. But just as he was getting ready to take the next step with the Blues, England came calling. And Hoddle couldn't deny the call of his country, so would leave Chelsea. It was the summer of Euro '96 and Chelsea found themselves at those fabled crossroads once more. Where was the club headed - with George Graham as manager? Or with another exciting young talent in the dugout in the form of Ruud Gullit? Whatever decision Chelsea would make, the club's journey would fork in dramatically different directions. Fortunately, they chose right and major silverware was waiting just around the corner after a 26-year wait. Although it would all play out to the backdrop of tragedy. In this episode you will hear from: Roberto Di Matteo, Eddie Newton, Ruud Gullit, Jesper Gronkjaer, Colin Hutchinson, Ken Bates, Glenn Hoddle, Steve Clarke, David Lee, Scott Minto, David Cooper (Matthew Harding's lawyer), Mike Ingham (commentator), Martin Tyler (commentator), Mark Killick (Matthew Harding's best friend), Tim Rolls (author and Chelsea fan), Joel Harding, Luke Harding and former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair. The Blueprint is written by Garry Hayes and narrated by Ceri Levy. *** Our theme music "Blue Day '23" is composed by Mike Connaris with bed arrangements by Jake Bradford-Sharp. It's used under license from Mcasso Music. Archive used in this episode is courtesy of Chelsea TV.
3: Ruud Awakening
Jun 07, 2023
Show notes
In just two years, Glenn Hoddle had taken Chelsea from the doldrums of the Premier League to a European semi-final. It was April 1995, and Real Zaragoza stood between the Blues and a match-up with London rivals Arsenal in the Cup Winners' Cup final. Chelsea would lose that tie 4-3 on aggregate, but, importantly, that European campaign ignited something in the Chelsea manager and managing director, Colin Hutchinson. They had seen the future and what was possible with a club like Chelsea. And that future was now: the Bosman Ruling was coming and it opened the transfer market for the Blues to become the first English club to really exploit it. Enter Ruud Gullit, the Ballon d'Or winner and Dutch legend who would be the first in a long line of Bosman signings that would help send Chelsea to the top of the Premier League. This is the story of how Gullit helped awaken a sleeping giant of English football. In this episode you will hear from: Ken Bates, Colin Hutchinson, Glenn Hoddle, Ruud Gullit, Martin Tyler (commentator), Clive Batty (Journalist), Rick Glanvill (Chelsea historian), Andy Saunders (The Chels), Tim Rolls (Chelsea fan and author) and Neil Barnett, AKA "Spy". The Blueprint is written by Garry Hayes and narrated by Ceri Levy. *** Our theme music "Blue Day '23" is composed by Mike Connaris with bed arrangements by Jake Bradford-Sharp. It's used under license from Mcasso Music. Archive used in this episode is courtesy of Chelsea TV.
2: The Hand of Hod
May 31, 2023
Show notes
When Glenn Hoddle arrived at Chelsea in 1993, he thought he was becoming the manager of a Premier League club. He soon found out the Blues were in name only. Hoddle had stepped into a club that was years behind its rivals and needed to dramatically improve standards. From player recruitment to the playing style and basics such as nutrition and how the team trained. It was a new dawn at Chelsea and Hoddle had it all to do. This is the story of how Hoddle did it. In this episode you will hear from: Glenn Hoddle, Ken Bates, Steve Clarke, David Lee, Eddie Newton, Michael Duberry, Colin Hutchinson, Luke Harding, Joel Harding, Clive Batty (Journalist), Rick Glanvill (Chelsea historian) The Blueprint is written by Garry Hayes and narrated by Ceri Levy. *** Our theme music "Blue Day '23" is composed by Mike Connaris with bed arrangements by Jake Bradford-Sharp. It's used under license from Mcasso Music.
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