Portuguese full-back Paulo Ferreira reveals he wishes to finish his career at Chelsea

Portugal right back Paulo Ferreira revealed he would like to end his career with English Premier League defending champions Chelsea. The 32-year-old no longer has a place in the starting XI having been replaced by the likes of Branislav Ivanovic and Jose
Bosingwa, but he insisted he wished to remain at Stamford Bridge.

After having won the Champions League with FC Porto in 2004, Ferreira followed Jose Mourinho to Chelsea. He arrived in London for a fee of €20 million. There he partnered fellow countryman and Porto teammate Ricardo Carvalho in defence to lead Chelsea to
the Premier League crown in his first season at the club.

The former Portugal international managed to maintain his spot in the first squad up until the 2006 season, when he was replaced by Khalid Boulahrouz, Geremi and Lassana Diarra. Even though the then manager Mourinho did not play Ferreira regularly, he chose
to play him in the FA Cup final against Manchester United.

During his time at Chelsea, which has been about seven years now, the 32-year-old full back has maintained a surprisingly consistent performance. It was because of this that he was given a long-term five year deal with the Blues in 2008, guaranteed to keep
him at the club until 2013.

Despite being linked with other sides, Ferreira preferred to stay with Chelsea even though he did not have first team football. Having been unlucky with injuries, the Portugal defender got his chance to return for the Blues when they were suffering from
a defence crisis in the 2009-2010 season.

The former Porto man has made 194 appearances for the Blues in his seven years with them and has scored two goals, both on important occasions. Even though he is not particularly a spectacular performer, he has proved to be consistent throughout his career.

Two time manager Jose Mourinho summed up Ferreira’s performance perfectly in a statement about the player. The Portugal manager said Ferreira was “a player who will never be man of the match but will always score 7/10 for his individual display.”

With the current squad it seems unlikely that Ferreira will be able to return to the first team, but the player seems more than happy to be a back-up as long as he stays at the club. He is close to his retirement and has made it clear he wants to end his
career with the Blues.

Ferreira insisted he planned on staying with Chelsea. He said while speaking to reporters, “I have been seven years here at Chelsea and it is the club where I have spent most time. My family are happy here, so let’s see if I can finish playing here as well.”

Ferreira revealed his plans for the future when he finally retired from football, he said, “I have in my mind to open an academy back home in my village, I want to be involved in helping kids play football and to teach them what I have learned.”

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti made it clear during the January transfer window that he wanted to bring in younger players at Chelsea but the Italian manager would be wise to stick with Ferreira. The Portuguese makes for a nice replacement for any injured
player, as he proved so effectively in the past.