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Claude Makelele4.  CLAUDE MAKELELE

Midfielder
Born: 18/2/73
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 10st 5lb
Previous Clubs : Real Madrid, Celta Vigo, Marseille, Nantes, Brest
Signing Date: September 2003 for £16,600,000
International Caps: France

Makelele joined Chelsea from Real Madrid for an undisclosed fee, around £16.6million, on transfer deadline day in September 2003.

It ended a battle to get the French international to Stamford Bridge after he had become disillusioned with life at the Bernabeau. Despite being one of their most important players, he earned just a fraction of the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo.

That led to Makelele refusing to train in order to win his desired transfer to Chelsea. But the Blues would not enter into talks while he held Real to ransom - and the deal looked dead.

But, right at the death, the deal went through with Makelele penning a four-year contract.

The Congo-born player moved to Epinay-sous-Sinart, France, with family in 1977. He began his career in France with Brest in 1990 before signing for Nantes in 1992.

Makelele enjoyed five successful seasons with Nantes - in which the club reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and won the French title.

He also earned his France debut in a 0-0 against Norway in July 1995.

In 1997, he moved to Marseille before Celta Vigo paid £1.7million for him in the summer of 1998. But Makelele missed out on the France squad for the 1998 World Cup.

Real Madrid then moved in for him two years later, sealing a £9million deal, and he enjoyed a glittering spell with the club.

Just like the Chelsea deal, the move had a hint of controversy. He pushed for a transfer, refusing to train until he was allowed to move to Valencia. Real joined the bidding and he moved to the Spanish capital instead, signing a six-year contract.

But he was again overlooked by France for a major tournament, left out of the Euro 2000 squad.

Makelele soon became a rock in the centre of the park for Real. Without him they were a different side as his presence gave balance to a side filled with attacking talent.

With Real, he twice won the Spanish title, as well as the Champions League and the European Super Cup, and also played in the 2002 World Cup for his country.