To mark our former number nine joining Roberto Di Matteo’s squad earlier this week, we have picked out nine of his best Chelsea goals – and believe us when we say it was not easy assembling such a shortlist!

Hasselbaink bagged 87 goals in 177 Chelsea appearances in all, a striker as comfortable gobbling up chances in the box as he was blasting them in from range.

Here are nine Hasselbaink goals we believe stand out above the rest, whether for their technical quality or significance, in date order…

13 August 2000 – vs Manchester United (Wembley)

It took JFH just 22 minutes to open his Chelsea account following his club-record acquisition from Atletico Madrid, bludgeoning his way through on goal before forcing the ball past Fabian Barthez. It set us on the path to winning the Charity Shield at Wembley – sadly the only trophy Hasselbaink would get his hands on during his time at the Bridge.

23 September 2000 – vs Manchester United (a)

Rarely has a football been hit sweeter! Tore Andre Flo kept a deep cross in play and the ball landed to Jimmy Floyd on the edge of the box. Chesting it down with his first touch, he displayed exemplary technique to blast the spinning ball into the top corner with his second, kickstarting Claudio Ranieri’s reign as manager in style at the beginning of a thrilling 3-3 draw at Old Trafford.

9 January 2002 – vs Tottenham (h)

Hasselbaink simply loved a goal against Tottenham, and the first to feature on our list is his howitzer of a free-kick against them in the first leg of our League Cup semi-final in 2002. Kasey Keller in the Spurs goal barely moved before Hasselbaink’s 30-yard rocket was past him, the Dutchman’s second goal in a hard-fought 2-1 home win.

13 March 2002 – vs Tottenham (h) – first goal

The second leg did not go to plan, with Chelsea well beaten at White Hart Lane and Hasselbaink mistakenly sent off. So revenge was the order of the day when we met Spurs twice in four days a few weeks later. A 4-0 FA Cup success was the perfect start, and we matched that scoreline at the Bridge courtesy of Hasselbaink’s hat-trick. His first was a whipped strike from distance on the run, bending away from the keeper and nestling in the bottom corner.

13 March 2002 – vs Tottenham (h) – third goal

After Hasselbaink had added his second courtesy of a well-placed header, he completed a perfect hat-trick in style. He bustled his way past two Tottenham defenders to the apex of the 18-yard box before curling a left-footed beauty into the far corner. Three on the night, and three of a remarkable 12 he would score against Tottenham in just 11 appearances.

21 April 2003 – vs Everton (h)

It’s unlikely you’ve seen many goals like this, and how it underlined Hasselbaink’s ability to improvise! Gianfranco Zola’s cross was behind the striker and at an awkward height, but he somehow contorted his body to steer a looping header over Richard Wright and into the Everton net via the inside of the post. An unusual if spectacular goal!

17 August 2003 – vs Liverpool (a)

With fresh ownership and Chelsea being linked with several high-profile strikers, many thought Hasselbaink’s time at the club was up. On the opening day of the season, he proved why those people were mistaken, driving home a late winner at Anfield after muscling his way into the box.

27 March 2004 – Wolves (h) – first goal

Hasselbaink’s third and final hat-trick in blue arrived in rapid time on his 32nd birthday. Jimmy Floyd came off the bench with Ranieri’s men 2-1 down at home to bottom-placed Wolves, but he inspired a comeback with three goals in just 12 minutes. The pick of the bunch was the first, a shot from 20 yards out that seemed to gain power as it fizzed into the top left-hand corner.

3 April 2004 – Tottenham (a)

How fitting that the last of Jimmy’s 87 Chelsea goals was a winner against Tottenham! He was in the right place at the right time to convert Damien Duff’s low cross at the Lane, securing a 1-0 win that extended our long unbeaten league record against Spurs and ensured he bowed out in style.

Tickets for the Chelsea Legends match at Anfield on Saturday 22 March are on sale now and can be purchased online only. Tickets are priced at £29 for adults and £19 for seniors and young adults, while junior tickets for under-16s are available for just £9.

• Don't miss the chance to bid on an exclusive experience as your child could walk out alongside the Chelsea Legends' captain and the rest of the players just before kick-off as our mascot. Bidding is open until 28 February!