The Blues defender is near the end of his nine-year stay at Stamford Bridge which has seen him play a crucial role in the club's most successful years.
Branislav Ivanovic is in Russia, on the verge of leaving Chelsea with an incredible legacy; and it is right that he should be regarded among the all-time greats at Stamford Bridge after almost a decade of success.
Without the 32-year-old, the Blues may not have become the first London club to win the Champions League and English football's history could look a lot different. His finest hour was arguably his late winner versus Napoli in 2012, which swung the dramatic European tie in Chelsea's favour ahead of the final against Bayern Munich.
Ivanovic has produced goals and assists in big moments against Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool which has helped his side to win titles, but he often has been a quiet match winner, producing blocks and tackles as part of one of the Premier League's greatest-ever defences.
The curtain is coming down on a great era at Chelsea as Antonio Conte continues to offload and sideline the old guard, with Ivanovic joining John Obi Mikel and Oscar on the exit list. Meanwhile, John Terry's role has been greatly reduced as his Italian boss promotes the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Nathaniel Chalobah and Nathan Ake from the academy.
Ivanovic isn't one for sentiment, but he must leave the club with a heavy heart having scored and assisted in a mere 26-minute final appearance for the club at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup against Brentford.
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