They may be two of the biggest names in world football, but this week Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack can expect to perform the ritual facing every Chelsea new signing – to sing a song in front of the rest of the squad and the management.
England midfielder Joe Cole revealed that no matter how big the reputation, no new arrival escapes the traditional induction ceremony. It can be anything from a nursery rhyme to a national anthem in a foreign language, but Cole believes it helps to make players feel welcome and strengthens team bonding.
Cole said: "Every new signing has to sing a song. When I joined the club I had to sing in front of players like Marcel Desailly, Juan Veron and Hernan Crespo. It's horrible, so nerve-racking. I was more worried about the singing than making my debut. I picked a simple song – 'Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner' – and I got a few of the lads like JT (John Terry), Lamps and Scotty Parker to join in.
"When the lads have had enough they throw bread rolls at you and stuff like that. That's the tradition here, it's been going on for years. It shows that no matter how much the club changes some things stay the same. And it is far more scary that actually making your debut for the club.
"One of the team masseurs here, Billy McCullough, acts as a compare and does a bit of stand–up comedy before introducing the player who is down to sing. Usually, everyone is terrible but Damien Duff has got a good singing voice. He belted out a Frank Sinatra when he joined and it was really good."
Cole added: "All the foreign lads join in too. They often do something they have learned at school. One of the French boys, I think it was Claude Makelele who sang 'Frere Jacques'. Jose Mourinho loves it and encourages it, but he hasn't done it himself. It's part of the tradition that the manager is the only one who doesn't have to do it. It's great for team bonding. I know every club says it, but we do really have a great team spirit here."
The Chelsea squad is currently out in California as part of their pre-season training programme, but Cole admitted he opted out of showing off his biceps when the players visited the famous 'Muscle Beach' in Los Angeles, a place where the body builders lap up the sunshine while working out.
"I was going to pay by ten dollars and go there myself but they didn't have any dumb-bells small enough. There were some big guys down there – I also went down to the basketball courts to watch the hustlers play. I'd seen Venice Beach in films so I wanted to go there because it's so interesting.
"It's great for people-watching. I watched one guy make a sculpture out of sand. I know the Chelsea thing is growing each year in America but at the moment you can walk down the street and very few people will recognise you."
As for the high-profile arrivals of Shevchenko and Ballack, Cole is convinced they will have a positive effect on the rest of the squad as the club aim to make it three Premiership titles on the bounce.
"The new arrivals are among the best in the world, and you want to make sure you are as good as them. I have always watched and learned from other players. The moment you put the blinkers on you stop improving. I'm now considered an important member of the Chelsea team but I try to prove myself every day in training.
"I've never seen anything like the competition at Chelsea and the training is so sharp. If you don't have a very good training session then it's trouble. If I don't do well I have the hump all day because it's an opportunity to stake a place."
