Wayne Bridge Bio

The England international has remained an important squad player throughout his time at Chelsea. The latest new broom at Chelsea of Phil Scolari looked like it may well sweep him to another club before Bridge signed a three-year contract extension to keep him at Chelsea until 2012.

Despite competition for places at Chelsea, Bridge remains one of the best left-backs in the Premier League.

A good passer and possessing attacking style by virtue of being a former winger, he progressed through hometown club Southampton's ranks to become a key part of their squad.

By the middle of the 2001/02 season, Bridge had become an accomplished Premiership defender - and in February 2002 earned his first England call from Sven Goran Eriksson.

After World Cup 2002, speculation that Bridge would join a bigger club was growing.

A big money move to Chelsea in July 2003 gave Bridge the platform to challenge Ashley Cole for an England place, though time would make theirs a battle fought on more than one front..

Bridge had played 173 games for the Saints, scoring twice.

Bridge's Chelsea career had looked to be at an end in January 2006 when he joined Premiership rivals Fulham on loan for the remainder of the season.

Fulham eventually won the race for his signature after Tottenham Hotspur lost interest.

The departure of the disappointing Asier Del Horno in the summer of 2006 appeared to hand Bridge a lifeline - but just before the transfer deadline Ashley Cole made the switch from Arsenal.

But Cole's injury ills over the course of 2006/07 meant Bridge was once more an important player for the Blues, remaining so throughout Avram Grant's tenure at the Bridge.