Chelsea’s first season under Antonio Conte was a resounding success, with the Italian manager leading the Stamford Bridge club to the Premier League title in 2016/17
Chelsea players celebrate after winning the Premier League in 2017
Chelsea’s first season under Antonio Conte was a memorable one, with the Blues winning the Premier League title under the Italian during the 2016/17 season.
The title success can also provide some optimism given this season’s travails, with the previous campaign in 2015/16 resulting in a 10th place finish, with parallels to the current 11th place under interim boss Frank Lampard. There will be no European football at Stamford Bridge next season, which was a bonus for Conte’s league campaign during his title win.
Despite the advantage of being able to focus on league football, it was still a remarkable achievement for Conte, who had arrived from the Italian national team after an impressive Euro 2016. It was made even more impressive by virtue of a tactical shift which prompted a 13 match winning run.
At the time, English football rarely saw three man defences, with four at the back traditionally favoured in the Premier League. However, following successive defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal in September – with the latter being a 3-0 loss – Conte changed his system from a 4-1-4-1 to the 3-4-3 which he had employed at Juventus and with Italy.
This unleashed his attacking talent and provided a great platform for his team, with 6 matches without conceding a goal following the change. A 4-0 win against Manchester United in October signalled the champion quality of the Blues and they were top of the table by the end of November.
This is where they remained, with Tottenham under Mauricio Pochettino finishing seven points behind the Champions, who ended the campaign on 93 points. This was the highest total in 12 years, with Conte’s first season being a resounding success despite defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup final.
With six years having passed since the title win, just three players remain at the club and Mirror Football looks at how they have all fared since the title win.
Antonio Conte and his backroom team with the Premier League trophyThibault Courtois (35 apps) – Real Madrid
Having been first-choice goalkeeper between 2014 and 2018 for Chelsea, Courtois won two Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge, with the then 25-year-old also winning the Golden Glove for keeping 16 clean sheets throughout the season. He left the club to join Real Madrid in 2018, adding two Champions League titles to his trophy cabinet and becoming renowned as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Branislav Ivanovic (13 apps) – Retired
Ivanovic was a victim of Conte’s early tactical shift, with the Serbian defender having been exposed during the pivotal 3-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. He was not trusted to perform a wing-back role and was sent out on loan to Zenit St Petersburg in January 2017, calling time on his career after a brief loan spell with West Brom in 2021.
Victor Moses (33 apps) – Spartak Moscow
Victor Moses found a new role under Antonio Conte ( Image: (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images))
The beneficiary from Ivanovic being dropped, Moses enjoyed probably the best season of his career playing as a right-wing-back for Conte throughout most of the season. Such was the impact he made, the Nigerian was brought to Inter Milan by Conte in 2019/20 to perform the same role. Currently playing in Russia for Spartak Moscow.
Cesar Azpilicueta (35 apps) – Chelsea
Having arrived at Chelsea in 2012, he spent most of his time in the early years of his career playing as a right-back. However, he was the man who was pulled into a back three by Antonio Conte with great success. This was a role he has continued to play, winning the 2021 Champions League performing the same duty, lifting the trophy as club captain, a role he retains to this day.
Gary Cahill (36 apps) – Retired
Recently announcing the end of his career, Cahill will be remembered as a hugely important player for the Blues in one of the most successful periods in their history. He made the most appearances during the season, but his Chelsea career came to an end just two years later with moves to Crystal Palace and Bournemouth before bringing his playing days to a close in 2022.
John Terry (7 apps) – Retired
John Terry’s last act as a Chelsea player was to lift the Premier League title ( Image: (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images))
A club legend, Terry lifted the trophy at the end of the season, but was a backup option by this stage in his Chelsea career, by the end of the campaign he was 36 and called time on his Chelsea career. He joined Aston Villa as a player, before becoming a coach under Dean Smith, a role he has been brought in for once again under Smith at Leicester this season.
David Luiz (32 apps) – Flamengo
Luiz returned to Chelsea at the start of the season from PSG, with the Brazil international finding a perfect role in a back-three due to the extra freedom he could play with. Played a huge part in the title win, remaining at the club for the following two seasons before joining Arsenal in 2019 and returning to Brazil with Flamengo in 2021, winning the Copa Libertadores in 2022.
Kurt Zouma (8 apps) – West Ham
Still a young player at this stage, played a series of games towards the end of the season, with just two starts to his name. Was sent out on loan to Stoke City the following season before a further spell at Everton. Ended his Chelsea career with 151 appearances in all competitions, joining West Ham permanently in 2021.
Marcos Alonso (30 apps) – Barcelona
Joining in the summer of 2016 from Fiorentina, originally was unsuited to playing in the back four, but was one of the key attacking forces in the team following a shift to wing-back. The Spaniard became a reliable source of goals during his Chelsea career, ending in 2022 as he joined Spanish giants Barcelona.
Nathaniel Chalobah (9 apps) – West Brom
A hugely promising player throughout his career coming through the youth ranks at Chelsea, the midfielder had his only season in the Chelsea first team this campaign. His bit-part was the last role he played for the club, with mixed fortunes transfers to Watford and Fulham to follow. Now playing for West Brom in the Championship.
N’Golo Kante (33 apps) – Chelsea
N’Golo Kante won PFA Player of the Year in 2016/17 ( Image: (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images))
This was his first season at Stamford Bridge, fresh off the back of a title win with Leicester City, the Frenchman won the PFA Player of the Year for his role in this title win. He won the World Cup in 2018, before lifting the Champions League in 2021 with a man of the match performance. Still at Chelsea, but has struggled with injuries this season.
Nemanja Matic (35 apps) – Roma
Brought back to Chelsea in 2014 by Jose Mourinho, Matic won two league titles in his three years at Stamford Bridge. His role on the left-hand side of a double pivot with Kante provided a solid foundation in 2016/17’s win. It was the last act of his Blues career as he joined Mourinho’s Man United in 2017, he left England last summer to join up with the Portuguese manager once again at Roma.
Cesc Fabregas (27 apps) – Como
Another player who won two Premier League titles at Chelsea, the playmaker played less of a role than his fellow midfielders due to the defensive requirements of Conte’s 3-4-3 system. However, the Spaniard still managed to impress in a rotation role and was key in a number of big wins. Spent four years at Monaco between 2018 & 2022 before joining Serie B side Como.
Oscar (9 apps) – Shanghai Port
A very talented player between 2012 and 2017 at Stamford Bridge, his move to China in January 2017 was the first big name transfer to the Chinese Super League. It was a move which ended his Brazil career and the now 31-year-old has remained in China for the past six years.Pedro (33 apps) – Lazio
One of the most decorated players of the 21st century, the former Barcelona man was a reliable right-winger during the 2016/17 season. He scored nine goals and the five years he spent at Stamford Bridge was a successful spell before a move to Roma in 2020, before leaving to join rivals Lazio in a season later.
Willian (32 apps) – Fulham
Sharing time on the right-wing with Pedro, Willian had one of the best seasons of his Chelsea career, winning the last title of his seven years at the club. Scored eight goals during the season, leaving in 2020 to join Arsenal before moving back to Brazil. Returned to the Premier League in 2022/23 with Fulham, impressing under Marco Silva.
Eden Hazard (34 apps) – Real Madrid
Eden Hazard was at his brilliant best in 2016/17 ( Image: (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images))
Having had the worst season of his career the year before, Hazard returned to his best in 2016/17 with a stunning campaign which yielded 16 goals. Was arguably the Blues’ best player alongside Kante, with two more years at the club to follow before joining Real Madrid in 2019. Has not hit the same heights since, with fitness issues for the Belgian since leaving despite a bulging trophy cabinet.
Diego Costa – (34 apps) – Wolves
The top scorer in two title wins at Stamford Bridge, Costa was at his best throughout the 2016/17 season, scoring 20 goals throughout the season. However, the Spaniard fell out with Conte the following season, leaving the club to return to Atletico Madrid. After a spell back in Brazil he is back in the Premier League with Wolves this season.
Michy Batshuayi (20 apps) – Fenerbache
Michy Batshuayi scored the title winning goal ( Image: (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images))
Arriving in the summer of 2016, Batshuayi played a considerable role from the bench throughout the season. The Belgian scored the goal which clinched the title, with an 82nd minute winner against West Brom, but that was the highlight of his Blues career. He spent time with Crystal Palace before becoming an established goal scorer in the Turkish Super Lig with Besiktas and now Fenerbache.
Soucre: mirror.co.uk
