If someone would ask a Chelsea fan who is their longest serving player in the current team, not many will guess the right answer, which is Matej Delac. Delac joined Chelsea in 2010. The Croatian Goalkeeper was a hot prospect when he joined the West London outfit from Inter Zapresic. He became the youngest player ever to appear in the Croatian first division when he made his debut at 16 years. He impressed a lot of experts and was touted as someone with a big future.
He joined Chelsea in 2010 and was already the third choice goalkeeper for his national side. However, he faced a lot of work permit and documentation issues. He went on loan to 10 different clubs during his stay at Chelsea and also wasn’t able to get close to first-team football as Chelsea had a terrific goalkeeper in Petr Cech and later they acquired Thibaut Courtois.
According to reports, he is set to leave Chelsea at the end of this season and join Danish Superliga side AC Horsens. He never managed to make a single appearance for the Blues but he said he doesn’t hold any regrets.
He further added-‘’ Many people ask me to do I regret coming to Chelsea so young, and not joining some smaller club, but I feel no regret. Your career can always be better, but I am 25 and have been through so much, met many coaches, players, gained experience.”
He said ”The problem was not my quality, Chelsea believed in me, extended my contract several times, but the problem was always work permit. Chelsea had a plan for my career, but you can not plan some things. As I arrived, aged 18, it seemed like some movie, I can’t describe that feeling.I will remember the greatness of Chelsea FC, they raised me and taught me human and football manners.”
Delac is still relatively young and the fact that he is a goalkeeper, he can still have a decade-long career from here onwards. His move to Chelsea didn’t work out but it’s good to see the man isn’t salty with the club and is leaving them on a good note by seeing out his contract. Many of the players would have been frustrated and would have asked for transfer request but Delac chose to be a thorough professional. He impressed while playing for Mouscron on loan, a Belgian side and has been signed by Horsens who are sixth in Denmark’s top flight.
