A nine-year love affair between Chelsea fans and their stalwart of a defender, Branislav Ivanovic, has come to an end, as the Serbia international is headed back to Russia completing a move to Zenit St. Petersburg. The much-loved player has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal to play with Zenit and will likely continue to captain and play for his national team.
The right-back has been a mainstay of the Blues’ successes over the best part of a decade, helping them to the historic Champions League win in 2012, amongst other trophies.
The 32-year-old, who made the move to the Premier League from Lokomotiv Moscow in January 2008, heads back to Russia with, alongside the Champions League, two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and a League Cup in his collection.
Having made over 370 appearances for the west Londoners, under ten different managers, including one-off appearances under caretaker managers Steve Holland and Ray Wilkins, Ivanovic leaves Stamford Bridge a legend amongst fans.
Whilst they will be sad to see their defensive bastion leave the club, many will admit it was the right time to cut and run.
The right-back was once one of the first names on the Chelsea teamsheet, however, with age and the arrival of Antonio Conte, he has fallen down the pecking order at the Bridge.
Conte’s switch to a 3-4-3 system has been a remarkable success this season, taking the Blues to the top of the Premier League, with plenty of breathing space, after last season’s almighty cock-up.
However, whilst no one will, or can for that matter, question the former Italy manager’s change in tact, there have been casualties.
The decision to utilise the likes of Victor Moses and, more recently, Pedro as right-wingbacks all but ousted Ivanovic’s role in the squad, with Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz and Gary Cahill occupying the central roles in Conte’s backline.
Blues fans will feel that they have lost a real icon in Ivanovic, however, it is far better from their perspective to see him leave before he fell too hard. It was most fitting that he rolled back the years against Brentford in the FA Cup last weekend when he came on as a substitute and scored a sweet goal on the counter attack plus he won the penalty that brought Chelsea their 4th goal in the 4-0 defeat of their London neighbours.
Another season or so sitting on the sidelines west London would not have befitted the Serb’s stature within the club, as one of the faces of their most successful period in the club’s history.
Therefore, whilst it may be a peculiar sight for the Stamford Bridge faithful to see their icon holding aloft another shirt after the January window, it is a far more encouraging sight than watching his career burn out as he sat and watched the rest of the squad go and pick up silverware.