RICARDO CARVALHO
62RICARDO CARVALHO
An important part of Chelsea's rock-solid defence in his first two Chelsea seasons when back-to-back championships were won, Ricardo has taken his personal performances onto a new level the last two campaigns and was voted Players' Player of the Year for the 2007/08 season.
Rising to the challenge of a holding together a rearguard during John Terry's unfortunate two year run of injuries, he has consistently been outstanding in defence while also making vital contributions on striding further up the pitch.
However last year was an unusual one for Ricardo, his first without a trophy for five years. Four seasons of title wins at Porto and Chelsea had been followed by the 2007 Carling Cup success although a knee injury in the final month of that season ruled him out of Wembley FA Cup glory.
Ricardo was originally part of a big Portuguese influx at Chelsea that came with José Mourinho's arrival for the 2004/05 season.
A central defender was needed to takeover from the departing Marcel Desailly and the new Chelsea manager went for what he trusted.
Ricardo had played a key part in Porto's remarkable two years packed with domestic and European honours. Desailly's place was taken by another proven winner.
The new man's reputation as a central defender dominant with both feet and head was enhanced at Euro 2004 when he was selected for Uefa's All-Star Squad of the Tournament.
His anticipation and interception skills have long been admired and Ricardo's playing days began at Leca before joining Porto as a teenager although after one appearance, he was sent away to Vitória Setubal and then Alverca on loan.
However when the long-established Jorge Costa left Porto on loan to Charlton, Ricardo's door to trophy success and international recognition had opened.
He played every minute of Porto's Champions League-winning campaign and took Fernando Couto's place in Portugal's Euro 2004 team after an opening game defeat by Greece. The host nation made the Final.
A remarkable 2004 was capped by the winning of Uefa's European Football Award for Best Defender.
The manner in which he adapted to the demands of the Premier League and became an important part of Chelsea's rock-solid rearguard following a £19.85 million move confirmed his status.
A broken toe brought a two-month interruption during the winter of the 2004/05 season but Ricardo returned for the Carling Cup Final win and the triumphant championship-winning climax.
The 2005/06 season began with the player speaking to the media when he failed to make the early team selections.
Mourinho reacted publicly and strongly. Lessons were learnt and Ricardo continued on as a regular choice in Chelsea's frequently impenetrable defence.
He capped another memorable campaign with a break from the back and emphatic finish in the championship-sealing victory over Man United.
One of the many Chelsea World Cup 2006 participants, Ricardo was the innocent party against England in a Wayne Rooney sending-off incident but conceded the penalty that saw Portugal eliminated by France in the semi-final.
Following the departure of William Gallas that summer, Chelsea's fortunes relied even more on Ricardo maintaining good form in the heart of the defence, and that was before lengthy injuries to John Terry and Petr Cech.
