As John Terry reeled off a lengthy list of names of people he wanted to thank during his farewell speech, one key name was conspicuous by its absence.

In the heat of the moment, while struggling to fight back tears, Terry can be forgiven for any oversight during his final moments on the Stamford Bridge pitch as a player.

Head coach Antonio Conte, owner Roman Abramovich, even departing assistant manager Steve Holland, were lauded by Terry, microphone in hand, while he took centre stage one last time.

But up in the stands sat Claudio Ranieri, who gave him a chance to break through at Chelsea 17 years ago and was the first coach to name him team captain, too.

Ranieri’s contribution to Chelsea has been easily forgotten over the past decade. Indeed, he is most famous for taking Leicester to the Premier League title 12 months ago.

As the Italian watched his old club get their hands on the trophy that he enjoyed holding this time last year, however, Ranieri must have still felt a great sense of satisfaction — even if Terry had failed to mention him.

Simon Johnson picks his greatest 10 Chelsea players 10 show all Simon Johnson picks his greatest 10 Chelsea players 1/10 10. Roy Bentley Games 367



Goals 150



For the best part of a century, Bentley was the first and only Chelsea captain to be part of a championship-winning side. The forward scored 21 goals in the successful 1954-55 campaign but it was not a one-off, hitting double figures in eight successive seasons for Chelsea. 2/10 9. Bobby Tambling Games 370



Goals 202



Tambling had the notso- easy task of replacing Jimmy Greaves as Chelsea’s main striker in the 1960s but did so with aplomb. His goal tally of 164 (he scored 202 overall) league goals for Chelsea has still to be beaten, despite the millions spent by the club on centreforwards over the years. 3/10 8. Ron Harris Games 795



Goals 14



He was not the most technically gifted player to wear the royal blue but it’s very unlikely his club-record of 795 appearances will ever be beaten. ‘Chopper’ was very popular from 1961-80, particularly for a tackling style that had opposing players quaking in their boots. 4/10 7. Jimmy Greaves Games 169



Goals 132



Just imagine how much Greaves would cost in the transfer market today. After progressing from the junior ranks, he found the net 132 times in just 169 games. To the dismay of Greaves and Chelsea fans, he was sold in 1961 at the age of 21 to AC Milan for £80,000, signing off with four goals against Nottingham Forest. 5/10 6. Peter Cech Games 492



Clean sheets 227



A key member of the trusted old guard who played a major role in Chelsea’s emergence as a major force during the first decade of the Roman Abramovich era. Of course there were many great saves during Cech’s 11-year spell in goal, but the keeper was also a very intelligent and influential voice in the dressing room. 6/10 5. Peter Osgood Games 380



Goals 150



Even after suffering a broken leg early in his career, ‘the King of Stamford Bridge’ remained a silky forward who defenders struggled to contain. A graduate from the youth ranks, Osgood is the last player to score in every round of the FA Cup, helping Chelsea beat Leeds in the 1970 final. 7/10 4. Gianfranco Zola Games 312



Goals 80



Probably the most skilful player to ever wear a Chelsea shirt. Zola was such a delight to watch, fans of rival clubs also admired him. The Italian striker was named the FWA Player of the Year in 1997 and after Zola announced that he was leaving Stamford Bridge in 2003 to return home, the press gave him a standing ovation. 8/10 3. Didier Drogba Games 381



Goals 164



The man for the big occasion. Drogba’s record of nine goals in eight cup finals — he was on the losing side just once when he scored — is simply remarkable. Scored the crucial equaliser and penalty to win the Champions League final in 2012, the greatest night in Chelsea’s history. 9/10 2. John Terry Games 717



Goals 67



One of the best defenders England, let alone Chelsea, has ever produced. Terry has been an inspirational captain on and off the pitch. There have been too many controversies to make him No1, but of all the legends to leave the club recently, he will be hardest to replace. PA 10/10 1. Frank Lampard Games 648



Goals 211



Talk about value for money. Chelsea signed Lampard from West Ham in 2001 for £11m and he left 13 years later as their all-time leading scorer with 211 goals. Those statistics, plus 11 major trophies, are impressive enough. But his professionalism has set the standard for everyone at the club to aspire to. 1/10 10. Roy Bentley Games 367



Goals 150



For the best part of a century, Bentley was the first and only Chelsea captain to be part of a championship-winning side. The forward scored 21 goals in the successful 1954-55 campaign but it was not a one-off, hitting double figures in eight successive seasons for Chelsea. 2/10 9. Bobby Tambling Games 370



Goals 202



Tambling had the notso- easy task of replacing Jimmy Greaves as Chelsea’s main striker in the 1960s but did so with aplomb. His goal tally of 164 (he scored 202 overall) league goals for Chelsea has still to be beaten, despite the millions spent by the club on centreforwards over the years. 3/10 8. Ron Harris Games 795



Goals 14



He was not the most technically gifted player to wear the royal blue but it’s very unlikely his club-record of 795 appearances will ever be beaten. ‘Chopper’ was very popular from 1961-80, particularly for a tackling style that had opposing players quaking in their boots. 4/10 7. Jimmy Greaves Games 169



Goals 132



Just imagine how much Greaves would cost in the transfer market today. After progressing from the junior ranks, he found the net 132 times in just 169 games. To the dismay of Greaves and Chelsea fans, he was sold in 1961 at the age of 21 to AC Milan for £80,000, signing off with four goals against Nottingham Forest. 5/10 6. Peter Cech Games 492



Clean sheets 227



A key member of the trusted old guard who played a major role in Chelsea’s emergence as a major force during the first decade of the Roman Abramovich era. Of course there were many great saves during Cech’s 11-year spell in goal, but the keeper was also a very intelligent and influential voice in the dressing room. 6/10 5. Peter Osgood Games 380



Goals 150



Even after suffering a broken leg early in his career, ‘the King of Stamford Bridge’ remained a silky forward who defenders struggled to contain. A graduate from the youth ranks, Osgood is the last player to score in every round of the FA Cup, helping Chelsea beat Leeds in the 1970 final. 7/10 4. Gianfranco Zola Games 312



Goals 80



Probably the most skilful player to ever wear a Chelsea shirt. Zola was such a delight to watch, fans of rival clubs also admired him. The Italian striker was named the FWA Player of the Year in 1997 and after Zola announced that he was leaving Stamford Bridge in 2003 to return home, the press gave him a standing ovation. 8/10 3. Didier Drogba Games 381



Goals 164



The man for the big occasion. Drogba’s record of nine goals in eight cup finals — he was on the losing side just once when he scored — is simply remarkable. Scored the crucial equaliser and penalty to win the Champions League final in 2012, the greatest night in Chelsea’s history. 9/10 2. John Terry Games 717



Goals 67



One of the best defenders England, let alone Chelsea, has ever produced. Terry has been an inspirational captain on and off the pitch. There have been too many controversies to make him No1, but of all the legends to leave the club recently, he will be hardest to replace. PA 10/10 1. Frank Lampard Games 648



Goals 211



Talk about value for money. Chelsea signed Lampard from West Ham in 2001 for £11m and he left 13 years later as their all-time leading scorer with 211 goals. Those statistics, plus 11 major trophies, are impressive enough. But his professionalism has set the standard for everyone at the club to aspire to.

One of the first things the Italian did after being put in charge of Chelsea in September 2000 was to watch a reserve game between the Blues and Coventry City. It was one of the wisest moves he ever made. For in the line-up at the back that night was Terry, who had been tipped to do great things but had made just eight starts for the club in the previous two years.

In Pictures | Chelsea vs Sunderland | 21/05/2017 35 show all In Pictures | Chelsea vs Sunderland | 21/05/2017 1/35 REUTERS 2/35 REUTERS 3/35 REUTERS 4/35 REUTERS 5/35 AP 6/35 AP 7/35 PA 8/35 REUTERS 9/35 REUTERS 10/35 REUTERS 11/35 REUTERS 12/35 REUTERS 13/35 AP 14/35 PA 15/35 AP 16/35 REUTERS 17/35 REUTERS 18/35 REUTERS 19/35 AP 20/35 AP 21/35 PA 22/35 REUTERS 23/35 AP 24/35 REUTERS 25/35 REUTERS 26/35 PA 27/35 Getty Images 28/35 REUTERS 29/35 REUTERS 30/35 REUTERS 31/35 PA 32/35 REUTERS 33/35 REUTERS 34/35 Getty Images 35/35 PA 1/35 REUTERS 2/35 REUTERS 3/35 REUTERS 4/35 REUTERS 5/35 AP 6/35 AP 7/35 PA 8/35 REUTERS 9/35 REUTERS 10/35 REUTERS 11/35 REUTERS 12/35 REUTERS 13/35 AP 14/35 PA 15/35 AP 16/35 REUTERS 17/35 REUTERS 18/35 REUTERS 19/35 AP 20/35 AP 21/35 PA 22/35 REUTERS 23/35 AP 24/35 REUTERS 25/35 REUTERS 26/35 PA 27/35 Getty Images 28/35 REUTERS 29/35 REUTERS 30/35 REUTERS 31/35 PA 32/35 REUTERS 33/35 REUTERS 34/35 Getty Images 35/35 PA

Earlier that summer, Chelsea had agreed to sell the centre-half to Huddersfield Town for £750,000 only for the player to reject the move. How might the club’s history have been changed if Terry’s decision had been different?

I was at Stamford Bridge to see Terry in action for the reserves that evening, too, and it was clear that he was the star player on the pitch.

Not only was he an imposing leader at the back, he could pass the ball comfortably with both feet. Ranieri was suitably impressed. Within a few months, Terry was a regular in the first XI ahead of World Cup-winner Frank Leboeuf. By December 2001, he was wearing the armband whenever Marcel Desailly was absent.

It is hard to imagine any of the club’s current Academy graduates being given similar chances today but Terry benefited from being in the right place at the right time, when Chelsea were members of the top six but not remotely considered part of the elite.

Yet Terry was also in a different league to any youth player who has come through the ranks over the last 20 years, in ability and mentality.

Chelsea have won 15 major trophies during Terry’s time at the Bridge and he has been the driving force behind all of them, even this term when his role has been vastly reduced.

The 36-year-old’s departure will leave a gaping hole in the dressing room and training ground. How does a club known for its wealth find someone as influential to replace him?

Terry’s influence is why the club went out of their way to make yesterday as much about the player’s legacy as lifting the League trophy for a fifth time in 13 years.

Many football fans will have cringed at what took place in west London yesterday: from Terry filming a farewell message en route to the stadium, to his contrived substitution after the clock had ticked to minute 26, the number he has worn so proudly throughout his Chelsea career.

A grandiose farewell speech came shortly after the trophy ceremony and before Conte addressed the crowd.

To those who see only the negatives as far as Terry is concerned, it provided more ammunition that he likes to make everything all about him. The Chelsea supporters did not mind, nor did his team-mates as they walked out for kick-off wearing training tops saying ‘thank you JT’.

This Saturday, Terry will once again be relegated to a bit-part role when Chelsea take on Arsenal in the FA Cup Final, so this was the best opportunity for any kind of tribute.

As his potential successor as permanent Chelsea captain Gary Cahill said: “It was fantastic, the perfect finish for John. To lead the team out one more time, to have his kids as mascots.

“Everything was right about the day. We wanted to celebrate the title win, the record of winning 30 Premier League games and to celebrate John.”

Surely few can argue against that.