UEFA Super Cup

Lore & Background

Chelsea's first taste of Super Cup glory arrived in August 1998, a period often overshadowed by the club's later Champions League successes but vital to their continental pedigree. Having won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Super Cup double that summer, the team defeated Spanish giants Real Madrid. This victory was a testament to the squad's depth under Gianluca Vialli, featuring legends like Dennis Wise and Gianfranco Zola, proving Chelsea could compete with Europe's aristocracy before the Premier League's financial explosion. The second chapter of this history unfolded in August 2021, marking a return to European glory after a decade-long drought. Following their dramatic Champions League victory over Manchester City, Chelsea faced Villarreal in Belgrade. The match was a grueling test of endurance, going to penalties where goalkeeper Édouard Mendy became the hero. This triumph was significant not just for the silverware itself, but as a validation of Thomas Tuchel's tactical revolution and the resilience of a squad that had overcome internal turmoil to conquer Europe once more.

In Their Own Story

The air in Belgrade was thick with tension, the floodlights cutting through the humid night. It wasn't the final whistle of a Champions League campaign, but the Super Cup—a battle for bragging rights between two European finalists. The score remained deadlocked after extra time, the weight of the penalty shootout pressing down on every player's chest. As the fourth spot was taken, the goalkeeper stepped up, his eyes locked on the ball, the roar of the traveling Blues fans echoing off the concrete stands. He took a breath, the memory of the 1998 victory in Madrid fading into the background as he prepared to etch a new chapter for the club.

Reader's Guide

Chelsea FC's first UEFA Super Cup triumph occurred on August 28, 1998, at the Råsunda Stadium in Stockholm. The match pitted Chelsea against Real Madrid, with the Blues securing a historic 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Gianfranco Zola. This win was particularly significant as it completed a continental double for the season, having already won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the domestic League Cup. It signaled Chelsea's arrival as a serious force in European football during the transition period between the club's traditional identity and its modern era. The second victory came on August 11, 2021, in Belgrade against Villarreal. After a goalless draw following extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shootout where Chelsea won 6-5. This achievement was monumental as it marked Thomas Tuchel's first trophy with the club and served as the first major European honor for manager and squad since the 2012 Champions League win. It validated the tactical adjustments made during an intense season and demonstrated the team's mental fortitude under pressure. These two victories stand as bookends of Chelsea's modern European success, bridging the gap between the Cup Winners' Cup era and the Champions League dominance of the 21st century. They represent moments where the club overcame elite opposition to claim a trophy that is often viewed as a precursor to greater things, yet remains a prestigious honor in its own right.

Did You Know?

• The 1998 victory was Chelsea's first ever UEFA Super Cup win and their only one from the Cup Winners' Cup era.
• In 2021, goalkeeper Édouard Mendy saved two penalties during the shootout to secure the trophy.
• Gianfranco Zola scored the winning goal in the 1998 final with a memorable chip over the Real Madrid goalkeeper.
• Chelsea is one of only a few clubs to have won the Super Cup as winners of both the Champions League and the Cup Winners' Cup.