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Remembering when Chelsea secured their first Premier League title on this day

Frank Lampard
Chelsea's Frank Lampard (L) celebrates with team-mates after scoring. -Credit:PA Archive/PA Images


On this day in 2005, Chelsea clinched their first league title in 50 years with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

Frank Lampard was the hero of the day, netting twice in the second half as Chelsea were crowned English champions for the first time since 1955. This came after they had already won the Carling Cup earlier in the season their first piece of silverware under Jose Mourinho.

Despite Bolton missing chances through Stelios Giannakopoulos, Gary Speed and Kevin Davies, Chelsea managed to reach half-time goalless. However, Lampard put the visitors ahead on the hour mark when he powered home from inside the area. He then sealed the win by rounding Jussi Jaaskelainen to net 14 minutes from time.

Mourinho's remarkable first year in English football saw his side finish with 95 points, 12 clear of second-placed Arsenal, and concede just 15 goals, which remains a record for the division.

After witnessing Arsenal go unbeaten in the Premier League the season before, Chelsea nearly replicated the feat as they lost just one game during that campaign, a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in October.

Chelsea secured 11 victories by a 1-0 scoreline and goalkeeper Petr Cech kept an impressive 24 clean sheets, which is still the record for a Premier League season.

Chelsea securing their second consecutive Premier League title at the Boleyn Ground in 2006 proved to be a double-edged sword for the Blues as they would go on to lose the Champions League semi-final second-leg at Anfield to Liverpool despite a goalless first leg.

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After the goalless draw at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said: "This was the game we wanted to do it in and now we can really concentrate on going to Anfield with confidence before having the celebrations at home to Charlton next weekend."

"If going there as champions doesn't fill you with confidence, then nothing will. So we'll have to save our energy now, relax a bit and look forward to that".

However, the Blues would succumb to a controversial 1-0 defeat at Anfield in the return leg, with Luis Garcia's goal, which appeared to be cleared off the line by William Gallas, proving to be the difference.

Chelsea went on to retain their Premier League title the following season and were also crowned champions in 2010, 2015 and 2017, under Carlo Ancelotti, Mourinho and Antonio Conte respectively.