Although not particularly high up the list of Chelsea’s highest appearances, he made 180 solid appearances, scoring 11 goals from full back.
He signed for Chelsea from Aston Villa for £475,000 and immediately settled making his debut at home to Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day of the 1987/88 season before going on towin the player of the year award despite relegation. The following season he continued to thrive and helped take Chelsea back into the First Division.
Dorigo was refused permission to leave and remained unsettled until April when, with promotion assured, he finally agreed Chelsea were right for him.
Despite not being the biggest player at the time he was a strong-tackler, but it was his stylish runs forward that put him in line for an England call up. Unfortunately Pearce became the first choice left back with Dorigo a regular squad member before finally earning his first cap in December 1989.
He returned to Wembley later in the season for the Full Members Cup Final against Middlesbrough in which he became the hero with another trademark free-kick.
When the league form again began to dip in the early ’90s Chelsea could not satisfy Dorigo who swiftly moved to Leeds for a fee of £1.3m which would see the best Chelsea left back for 30 years depart.
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