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Soccer News of Thursday, 12 April 2007

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Essien is part of £14M jackpot

Michael Essien and his Chelsea teammates will split a staggering £14 million bonus jackpot should they complete the Grand Slam this season.

According to The Daily Mail, an incredible payment schedule has been agreed with Jose Mourinho's men if they add the Champions League, Premiership and FA Cup to their Carling Cup success.

In addition to their salaries, Chelsea's players will share £750,000 between them as reward for beating Valencia in the European Cup quarter-final on Tuesday evening - but there is a further £3m available if they go on to lift the trophy.

Didier Drogba, who has played some part in all of Chelsea's 32 Premiership matches this season and has competed in all three cup competitions, stands to make £737,000 in bonuses alone if they complete the Quadruple next month.

The incentive scheme devised by Chelsea is believed to be the biggest in football and the figures dwarf the £5.6m that will be paid to Manchester United's players if they complete the Treble.

Sir Alex Ferguson's players are contractually entitled to receive £350,000 each if they can repeat the club's astonishing triumph of 1999.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Co will earn £200,000 each for going all the way in Europe, £100,000 if they can snatch the Premiership title back from Chelsea and a further £50,000 if they can land Ferguson's sixth FA Cup.

Chelsea players have already pocketed £1m between them for winning the Carling Cup against Arsenal and they stand to make another £1.5m if they win the FA Cup Final, or £500,000 if they finish runners-up.