Mateja Kezman kick-started Chelsea’s gold rush in the Roman Abramovich era with League Cup winner against Liverpool but blamed Jose Mourinho for exit and ‘smashed up’ dressing room

Just seven days before Chelsea legend Didier Drogba signed for the club, another centre-forward walked through the doors at Stamford Bridge.

Unlike the Ivorian, Mateja Kezman’s name is barely whispered in the stands in west London these days, although the prospect of a Carabao Cup final against Liverpool – live on talkSPORT this Sunday – will spark some memories.

AFP

AFP

The Serbian is one of the forgotten strikers of Blues history, but he was the man who kick-started their stunning success in the Roman Abramovich era.

Scorer of the winning goal in the 2005 League Cup final as they beat Liverpool 3-2, Kezman got the gold, well, silver, rush started.

Since that day in Cardiff, another 20 trophies have followed, including two Champions League wins and five Premier League title triumphs.

But Kezman wasn’t able to capitalise in quite the same way the Blues did.

He joined the west Londoners from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2004 with a glowing reputation.

Aged 25, he had just notched 129 goals in 176 appearances during a four-year spell with PSV – winning multiple honours and golden boots.

He joined alongside the likes of Paulo Ferreira, Petr Cech, Arjen Robben, Ricardo Carvalho and Tiago in a stellar summer transfer window under Jose Mourinho.

Indeed, the Portuguese was delighted to land the under-the-radar talent too.

“I like Kezman because he is not yet a top world star,” said Mourinho. “But he is already scoring more goals than many accepted world stars. He will work for the team.”

The Serbian, though, had a turbulent time at the Blues, including some wild moments, one of which involved wrecking a dressing room.

Former Chelsea full-back Glen Johnson told talkSPORT.com via Betting Expert: “I don’t remember what game it was but I remember what the dressing room was like! 

“He smashed a few lockers up, put a few holes in the seats!

“It happens all the time, players aren’t happy about coming off and he hadn’t been playing much at the time and he was given an opportunity but he was frustrated with himself as he’d missed a few chances.”

As he failed to replicate his prolific goalscoring form at Stamford Bridge, despite winning the Premier League and League Cup after just 12 months in west London, it’s no wonder he was frustrated.

Kezman would end his Chelsea career with seven goals in 41 appearances in all competitions.

Speaking to the Evening Chronicle after his transfer to Atletico Madrid in 2005, he likened his plight to that of Diego Forlan at Manchester United.

Getty

“I owe the [Chelsea] supporters because they didn’t see maybe 20 per cent of me,” he said.

“I lost my confidence after six games. I had a good pre-season but then didn’t get the chance to play. I didn’t show anything of what I can do.

“The best example is Diego Forlan at Manchester United who didn’t get the chance to show what he can do, and went to Spain and scored 25 goals and I think I can do the same.”

Kezman also held former Blues boss Mourinho accountable for his minimal impact and, wishing for a return at some point, added: “I am very happy and proud of my time in Chelsea in one year, but now it is behind me.

“I am very sad because of all the supporters in Chelsea, but it was a year with a lot of stress. For one year they were all behind me, giving me support in the stadium and on the street as well.

AFP

“I owe them more goals – one day it might happen, I might be back to Chelsea, you never know. But for now I want to play and Mourinho was not going to give me a chance.”

But even in Spain his career continued to stall and his time with LaLiga side Atletico Madrid was also short-lived, some of that down to injuries, as he hit 10 goals.

Kezman later represented Fenerbahce between 2006 and 2008 where he guided the club to the Turkish league title and Super Cup – scoring the winner against Besiktas, which did boost his morale.

Getty

He then embarked a move to Paris Saint-Germain and helped the French side to win the Coupe de France in 2009/10 campaign, long before their new-found riches.

And before he finally hung up his football boots, Kezman also had stints in Russia, China and Belarus.

While those who joined with him at Chelsea had trophy-laden careers and later become club legends, Kezman’s role in their first trophy under Abramovich’s ownership should never been forgotten.

You can listen to live talkSPORT commentary of Chelsea vs Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, February 27 at 4:30pm.