Didier Yves Drogba Tébily ( french pronunciation : [ didje dʁɔɡba ] ; born 11 March 1978 ) is an Ivorian retire master football player who played as a hitter. [ 5 ] He is the all-time top scorekeeper and former captain of the Ivory Coast national team. He is effective known for his career at Chelsea, for whom he has scored more goals than any other alien player and is presently the golf club ‘s fourth highest goal scorer of all time. Drogba was named in the Chelsea team of the 2010–2020 ten by Chelsea ‘s fans. [ 6 ] He was named African Footballer of the Year twice, winning the award in 2006 and 2009. After playing in youth teams, Drogba made his professional debut aged 18 for Ligue 2 club Le Mans, and signed his foremost professional abridge aged 21. After finishing the 2002–03 season with 17 goals in 34 appearances for Ligue 1 side Guingamp, he moved to Olympique de Marseille, where he finished as the third highest scorer in the 2003–04 season with 19 goals and helped the club reach the 2004 UEFA Cup Final.
Reading: Didier Drogba
In July 2004, Drogba moved to Premier League club Chelsea for a club record £24 million tip, making him the most expensive Ivorian player in history. In his debut season he helped the club win their first league claim in 50 years, and a year late he won another Premier League title. His displays saw him named in the FIFA World XI for 2007. In March 2012, he became the first African actor to score 100 Premier League goals. [ 7 ] Just two months late, he scored in Chelsea ‘s 2012 FA Cup Final gain over Liverpool to become the foremost ( and as of 2017, the only ) actor to score in four freestanding FA Cup finals. [ 8 ] He besides played in the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final, in which he scored an 88th-minute counterweight and the winning penalty in the deciding shoot-out against Bayern Munich. [ 9 ] After spending 6 months with Shanghai Shenhua in China, and one and a one-half seasons with turkish club Galatasaray where he scored the winning goal in the final of the 2013 Turkish Super Cup, Drogba returned to Chelsea in July 2014. [ 10 ] [ 11 ] With a career record of scoring 10 goals in 10 finals winning 10 trophies at club level, Drogba has been referred to as the “ ultimate big game musician ”. [ 12 ] [ 13 ] He joined canadian clubhouse Montreal Impact in 2015 as a Designated Player and played 41 matches over two seasons, scoring 23 goals. Drogba became a player–owner for Phoenix Rising of the United Soccer League in 2017, and retired a year late at the age of 40. An Ivory Coast international between 2002 and 2014, Drogba captained the national team from 2006 until his retirement from the Ivory Coast team and is the state ‘s all-time exceed goalscorer with 65 goals from 105 appearances. [ 1 ] [ 14 ] He led the Ivory Coast to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, their inaugural appearance in the tournament, and besides scored their first goal. He former captained the Ivory Coast at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. [ 15 ] He was part of the Ivory Coast teams that reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2006 and 2012, but were beaten on penalties on both occasions. On 8 August 2014, he announced his retirement from international football. [ 16 ] In 2018, Drogba retired from professional football at the age of 40. [ 5 ] Active in social issues in Africa, Drogba played a vital function in the peace process in his home area. [ 17 ] In 2007 he was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme, and in December 2018 he became Vice President of the international constitution Peace and Sport. [ 18 ]
early life
Drogba is a member of the Bété people [ 19 ] He was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and at the senesce of five was sent to France by his parents to live with his uncle, Michel Goba, a professional football player. however, Drogba soon became homesick and returned to Abidjan after three years. [ 20 ] His mother nicknamed him “ Tito ”, after president Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, whom she admired greatly. [ 21 ] He played football every day in a car park in the city, but his return to the Ivory Coast was short-lived. Both of his parents lost their jobs and he again returned to live with his uncle. [ 20 ] In 1991, his parents besides travelled to France ; first to Vannes and then, in 1993, setting in Antony in the Paris suburb, at which point the 15-year-old Drogba returned to live with them and his siblings. [ 22 ] It was hera that he began playing team football more frequently, joining a local youth side. Drogba then joined the semi-professional club Levallois, gaining a repute as a fecund scorer in the young person team and impressing the coach with his professional position. His performances earned him a seat in the senior police squad but despite scoring in his debut, the 18-year-old Ivorian failed to make an impression on Jacques Loncar, the beginning team coach. [ 23 ]
Club career
Le Mans
When Drogba finished school he moved to the city Le Mans to study accountancy at university and changed clubs, becoming an apprentice at Ligue 2 baseball club Le Mans. however, his first two years there were marred by injuries and he was physically struggling to cope with the train and match agenda. [ 20 ] Former Le Mans coach Marc Westerloppe later remarked that “ it took Didier four years to be adequate to of training every day and act every week ”. Furthermore, Drogba had never attended a football academy and alone began daily football train as an adult. [ 24 ] By age 21, Drogba realised that he had to establish himself as a player soon or else he would have fiddling chance of becoming a professional football player. [ 25 ] He made his first gear team debut for Le Mans soon thereafter and signed his first professional contract in 1999. The lapp year, he and his malian wife Alla had their first child, Isaac. He grew into his fresh responsibilities, subsequently stating : “ Isaac ‘s parentage was a turn point in my life, it straightened me out ”. [ 20 ] His first season, in which he scored seven goals in thirty games, boded well for the future, but during the play along season he did not live up to expectations. Drogba lost his place to Daniel Cousin due to injury, then upon his return, he failed to score throughout the remainder of the season. however, he returned to form the following season, scoring five goals in 21 appearances. [ 26 ]
Guingamp
Halfway through the 2001–02 temper Ligue 1 club Guingamp consolidated months of interest with a transfer offer and Drogba left Le Mans for a fee of £80,000. [ 20 ] The second one-half of the 2001–02 season saw Drogba make 11 appearances and score three goals for Guingamp. While his contributions helped the club invalidate relegation, the coaching staff remained unconvinced of their raw young striker. [ 27 ] however, the future season he rewarded his coaches ‘ patience, scoring 17 goals in 34 appearances and helping Guingamp finish seventh, a criminal record league finish. [ 20 ] He credited his teammates for his impressive temper, highlighting the contributions of winger Florent Malouda, a long time acquaintance of Drogba, as a key divisor in his goalscoring prolificity that season. [ 25 ] His potent goal score criminal record attracted interest from larger clubs and at the end of the season, he moved to Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille for a fee of £3.3 million. [ 24 ]
Marseille
After a switch of coaches, Drogba retained his placement in the team, scoring 19 goals and winning the National Union of Professional Footballers ( UNFP ) Player of the Year award. He besides scored five goals in that season ‘s UEFA Champions League and six in the UEFA Cup. At the end of the season, he was bought by Chelsea as the club ‘s then record sign for £24 million. [ 25 ] His shirt from his lone season at Marseille is besides framed in the basilica of Marseille, Notre-Dame de la Garde, which he presented to the church before the 2004 UEFA Cup Final. [ 28 ]
Chelsea
2004–06
Signing for Chelsea in July 2004 for £24 million, [ 29 ] Drogba scored in his one-third bet on for the cabaret with a header against Crystal Palace. [ 30 ] His season was interrupted when he pulled a stomach muscleman against Liverpool which kept him out of action for over two months. [ 31 ] Chelsea won the Premier League, merely their moment english top-flight backing and their inaugural in 50 years, [ 32 ] and the League Cup. Later, Drogba scored in excess time in a 3–2 concluding gain against Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium, equally well as reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League. Drogba scored a slightly disappointing 16 goals in a total of 40 games for Chelsea in his first base season : ten in the Premier League, five in the Champions League and one in the League Cup final. [ 33 ] Drogba started the 2005–06 temper by scoring two goals in a Community Shield win over Arsenal. His repute was marred amidst accusations of cheating during Chelsea ‘s 2–0 win over Manchester City. Replays showed that he had used his pass to control the ball before scoring the second of his two goals. [ 34 ] This occurred just a week after a similar incidental against Fulham where the finish was disallowed. [ 35 ] Chelsea went on to retain the league title with two games to play, becoming entirely the second club to win back-to-back english titles in the Premier League era. [ 36 ] Again Drogba finished with 16 goals for the season, 12 in the Premier League, two in the Community Shield, one in the Champions League and one in the FA Cup. [ 37 ]
2006–07
After the deviation of Damien Duff to Newcastle United, Drogba switched from the number 15 shirt he had worn for Chelsea since 2004 to the number 11 shirt vacated by Duff. [ 38 ] Drogba scored 33 goals in all competitions during the season ( more than his match in the previous two seasons combined ), including 20 in the Premier League to win the Golden Boot. [ 39 ] In doing so, he became the inaugural Chelsea player since Kerry Dixon in 1984–85 to reach 30 goals in a temper, scoring 20 in the Premier League, six in the Champions League, three in the FA Cup and four in the League Cup. Among the highlights were scoring game-winners from outside the penalty area against Liverpool, Everton ( from 35 yards out ) and Barcelona, a 93rd-minute equalizer against Barcelona at the Camp Nou and both Chelsea ‘s goals in their 2–1 League Cup final win over Arsenal. [ 39 ] [ 40 ] His goal against Liverpool saw him control the ball on his thorax with his back to goal, before hitting a 20 yard half-volley on the go. Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher who was close marking Drogba said, “ There ‘s not a lot you can do in sealed situations because they were that good. ” [ 39 ] He besides completed two hat-tricks ; one against Watford and the other against Levski Sofia in the Champions League, Chelsea ‘s beginning hat-trick in european contest since Gianluca Vialli in the Cup Winners ‘ Cup in 1997. [ 41 ] In his concluding competitive game that temper, he scored the winning goal against Manchester United in the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium. [ 42 ] This besides meant he became the only actor to score in both English domestic finals in the same season and win both. [ 17 ] In January 2007, Drogba was named the Ivorian Player of the year, ahead of Kader Keïta, Aruna Dindane, and Kolo Touré. In March, he was named African Footballer of the year for the first time, ahead of Samuel Eto’o and Chelsea teammate Michael Essien. [ 43 ] His performances during the season saw him named in the PFA Premier League Team of the year and runner-up to Cristiano Ronaldo in the PFA Player of the year awards. [ 44 ] Drogba faced problems off the pitch during the conclusion of the temper as his transfer from Marseille to Chelsea in July 2004 came under examination. The Stevens question in June 2007 expressed concerns because of the lack of co-operation from agents Pinhas Zahavi and Barry Silkman. [ 45 ]
2007–08
Drogba train with Chelsea in October 2007 The 2007–08 season began badly for Drogba as he expressed his doubts about the deviation of director José Mourinho. He was reportedly in tears when Mourinho told him he was leaving the clubhouse, and said “ Mourinho ‘s deviation destroys a certain familiarity we had at the club. Many of us used to play beginning and foremost for the coach. now we need to forget those feelings and find another source of motivation ”. [ 46 ] Following these claims, Drogba told France Football magazine “ I want to leave Chelsea. Something is broken with Chelsea, The wrong is big in the dress room ”. [ 47 ] Despite having signed a four-year shrink with the club in 2006, Drogba reportedly pointed out respective favor clubs in the consultation, identifying Barcelona, Real Madrid, A.C. Milan or Inter Milan as possible future destinations, [ 48 ] he later admitted he regretted this and was 100 % committed to Chelsea. [ 47 ] Drogba made it up to the fans by scoring in Chelsea ‘s 2–0 victory over Middlesbrough on 20 October 2007, against Schalke 04 in the Champions League four days late, and two goals against Manchester City. In December 2007, Drogba was voted one-fourth ( after Kaká, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo ) for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year. [ 49 ] [ 50 ] Drogba continued scoring goals but suffered an injury at the prepare ground and decided to have an operation on his knee. He was ineffective to play for four weeks and missed keystone games against Valencia, Arsenal and Liverpool. [ 51 ] Drogba returned from injury to play in an FA Cup third base beat match against Queens Park Rangers and wore the captain ‘s armband for the last 30 minutes he was on the peddle, but that was his last operation for Chelsea before external duty at the Africa Cup of Nations. [ 52 ] Upon his fall, Drogba scored a goal in the 2008 League Cup Final, making him the all-time conduct scorer in League Cup Finals with four goals, but could not help prevent Chelsea capitulation to a 2–1 kill at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur. [ 53 ] He scored both goals in a key 2–1 victory against Arsenal on 23 March 2008, bringing Chelsea equal on points with leaders Manchester United. [ 54 ] [ 55 ]
On 26 April 2008, Drogba faced controversy after a brush with Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidić. The serbian centre-back had to have stitches under his lip after losing a tooth in the clash. There was discussion whether Drogba had the intention or not to injure his rival. The debate besides called into question an earlier incident on 26 November 2006 where Drogba elbowed Vidić. Manchester United director Sir Alex Ferguson expressed concerns over elbowing in the Premier League. [ 56 ] Despite media speculation, Drogba ‘s chicken batting order for the clash was deemed adequate punishment by the Football Association. [ 57 ] Controversy still dogged the musician as before the UEFA Champions League semi-final second stage clash with Liverpool, Drogba was accused of diving by Liverpool director Rafael Benítez. Benítez claimed to have compiled a four-year dossier of Drogba ‘s “ diving ” antics but Drogba hit back at Benítez in an interview. [ 58 ] On 30 April 2008, Drogba scored two goals in the second peg of the semi-final against Liverpool, which Chelsea won 3–2 at Stamford Bridge. [ 59 ] This was the first meter Chelsea had beaten Liverpool in the semi-finals of the Champions League, having lost their previous two meetings to Liverpool. This besides led to Chelsea reaching their first Champions League Final. Drogba became Chelsea ‘s top scorekeeper in european competition, the two goals he scored put his total at 17, surpassing Peter Osgood ‘s record of 16. [ 29 ] Drogba was sent off in the 117th minute of the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final against Manchester United for slapping defender Vidić, [ 60 ] becoming alone the second player to be sent off in a european Cup final – after Jens Lehmann in 2006 – and the foremost for violent behave. [ 61 ] Chelsea went on to lose 6–5 on penalties after a 1–1 string in extra time. Chelsea adjunct foreman Henk ten Cate revealed Drogba was due to take the decisive fifth spot-kick in the gunfight. team captain John Terry took his place but missed after slipping whilst taking the penalty. [ 62 ]
2008–09
Drogba suffered a string of injuries early on in the 2008–09 season and struggled to regain seaworthiness, missing games from August to November due to knee problems. [ 63 ] [ 64 ] He scored his first base finish of the season in mid-november but there was fiddling reason to celebrate : he incurred disciplinary carry through and a three-match prohibition for throwing a coin rear into the stands and Chelsea suffered a League Cup frustration against Burnley. [ 65 ] [ 66 ] Drogba scored his second goal of the season in a 2–1 victory against CFR Cluj in the UEFA Champions League, [ 67 ] while his first Premier League goal of the season came in a 2–0 gain against West Bromwich Albion in late December 2008. [ 68 ] Having missed many games through injury and suspension, Drogba had lost his first team place and coach Scolari favoured playing Nicolas Anelka as a lone hitter rather than pairing the two. however, he resolved to regain his military position in the team. [ 69 ] Upon the impermanent appointment of Guus Hiddink in early February following the sack of Scolari, Drogba enjoyed a rejuvenation of sorts, returning to his goal-scoring kind with four goals in five games after the raw director took over. [ 70 ] [ 71 ] His revival in form saw him net income doubly against Bolton Wanderers, and four times in four Champions League matches, one in each leg of the last sixteen and quarter-final of the rival against Juventus and Liverpool respectively, with these goals ensuring Chelsea ‘s passage into the semi-finals. merely four days after his Champions League games, Drogba scored a deep goal in the FA Cup semi-final equal against Arsenal after Frank Lampard ‘s travel by found Drogba and he carefully rounded Arsenal goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański before passing the testis into Arsenal ‘s vacate net. [ 72 ] Drogba besides caused controversy after Chelsea ‘s Champions League semi-final defeat at the hands of Barcelona. Feeling that many decisions had gone against Chelsea, substituted Drogba confronted referee Tom Henning Øvrebø after the final whistle. He received a yellow card in the serve and was recorded shouting “ It ‘s a bally take down ” [ 73 ] into a live television receiver camera. [ 74 ] On 17 June 2009, UEFA subsequently handed him a six-game european banish with the final two games suspended. The ban then was reduced by one couple after an appeal by Chelsea. [ 75 ] In the 2009 FA Cup Final, Drogba scored Chelsea ‘s first and equalising goal as they went on to win 2–1. [ 76 ] This was his sixth goal in a major cup final in England. Although Drogba had previously expressed his desire to switch clubs, he decided to remain with the Blues under new coach Carlo Ancelotti and signed a new contract. [ 77 ]
2009–10
Known for his powerful and accurate strikes, Drogba in carry through against Fulham in the Premier League, December 2009 Drogba began the 2009–10 season in fine form for Chelsea, netting a penalty during a shoot-out win in the Community Shield over Manchester United, before scoring twice in a 2–1 victory over Hull City. Drogba earned himself an assist when he was fouled in the penalty box to give Chelsea a penalty, which Frank Lampard converted, in a 3–1 victory over Sunderland. In Chelsea ‘s third game of the season against West-London rivals Fulham, Drogba scored his third goal of the season. Drogba scored his fourth goal of the season, against Stoke City ; Chelsea ended winning the game 2–1 with a former hit from Malouda. [ 78 ] He added a fifth at home against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on 20 September. [ 79 ] He scored his hundredth goal for Chelsea in a 3–1 kill against Wigan Athletic. Drogba was again important in the 2–0 succeed over claim rivals Liverpool on 4 October. He assisted both goals, setting up Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda. [ 80 ] He then scored a glancing header against Blackburn on 24 October 2009, bringing his count to eight goals in eleven appearances, scoring his third goal in arsenic many games. Drogba continued his fine imprint scoring a header against Bolton Wanderers in a 4–0 acquire in the League Cup, Drogba went on to score a finish in the lapp week with another 4–0 succeed against Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League. After missing the first three Champions League matches for Chelsea with a banish for being cheating, [ 81 ] Drogba started the fourthly game against spanish side Atlético Madrid. He scored two goals in the last ten-spot minutes and the peer ended 2–2. [ 82 ] On 29 November, Drogba scored a goal against London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, the second of which a release kick from outside the box. [ 83 ] It brought his match for the season to 14 goals in 16 games. On 12 December, Drogba continued his performance with two goals in 3–3 disembowel against Everton. [ 84 ] Between 3 and 30 January Drogba was on Africa Cup of Nations duty and came back on 2 February against Hull City where he scored a 40th-minute counterweight to tie the game 1–1. [ 85 ] On 24 March, Drogba scored his thirtieth goal of the season in an away game against Portsmouth .
Drogba ( front, second from left ) on a street parade with Chelsea after winning the league and cup double, May 2010 On 9 May, Drogba helped Chelsea to win the Premier League by scoring a hat-trick in an 8–0 gain over Wigan Athletic. In doing so, he not entirely collected his third gear League achiever ‘s decoration but besides won the Golden Boot for the season, his second base clock time doing indeed, by topping the chart with 29 league goals, beating Wayne Rooney to the title who remained on 26 goals. Both players had the lapp act of goals ( 26 ) before the start of their respective matches. however, during the game, Drogba appeared to be clearly angry with teammate and even punishment taker Frank Lampard, after Lampard refused to let Drogba take a penalty which would lead Chelsea to go 2–0 improving and give him a luck of winning the fortunate boot. Lampard scored the penalty, but Drogba did not celebrate with his teammates. late on in the game though Ashley Cole was tripped in the corner when Chelsea were already 5–0 up, and this time Lampard allowed Drogba to take the penalty, which he scored to go two goals clean of Rooney. [ 86 ] The follow week, Drogba scored the alone goal of the 2010 FA Cup Final against Portsmouth from a free-kick, keeping up his record of having scored in all six english cup finals ( FA Cup and League Cup ) in which he has played. [ 87 ]
2010–11
Drogba came on as a substitute for Anelka against Manchester United in the Community Shield, but could not help prevent Chelsea from succumbing to a 3–1 personnel casualty. [ 88 ] however, he started the Premier League season in fine phase, continuing from where he left off on the final day of the previous crusade as he scored a hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion in a 6–0 victory. [ 89 ] In Chelsea ‘s next game against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium, Drogba made three assists in another 6–0 win. [ 90 ] Drogba played the following game at home against Stoke City where he lasted the unharmed 90 minutes and scored his fourthly Premier League goal of the temper when he kicked home a penalty after Nicolas Anelka was brought down by Thomas Sørensen inside the box. [ 91 ] On 7 November 2010, Drogba missed the first one-half of Chelsea ‘s 2–0 frustration by Liverpool at Anfield. [ 92 ] It was belated revealed that he had been suffering from malaria for at least a month. He had first base complained of feeling ailing before the October 2010 external violate but the illness was only diagnosed on 8 November 2010. Having diagnosed the trouble, Chelsea insisted that he would make a wide convalescence within days. [ 93 ]
2011–12
While playing against Norwich City on 27 August 2011, Drogba suffered a concussion in a collision with Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy. [ 94 ] After missing two games, Drogba made his fall to the Chelsea team on 24 September against Swansea City. Drogba went on scoring his first goal of the season in a 4–1 acquire. [ 95 ] [ 96 ] On 29 November, Drogba rejected a raw deal with Chelsea and was set to sign for the highest bidder. [ 97 ] On 31 December 2011, Drogba scored his hundred-and-fiftieth goal for Chelsea against Aston Villa, putting him level with Peter Osgood and Roy Bentley in terms of the club ‘s clear scorers of all time. even though, Chelsea was leading with the punishment scored by Drobga, the plot ended in a 3–1 loss for Chelsea. [ 98 ] Drogba scored his 99th Premier League goal for Chelsea on 25 February 2012, in a 3–0 acquire over Bolton Wanderers. [ 99 ] Drogba scored his hundredth Premier League goal for Chelsea on 10 March 2012, in a 1–0 acquire over Stoke City. He is the inaugural African actor to reach that landmark. [ 100 ]
In the trim room before a large game, it was a different Didier, he was like an animal. His preparation, the saturation in his eyes, and then he constantly produced .
—Teammate Frank Lampard on Drogba ( who scored nine goals in nine finals for Chelsea ) extradite in adult games. [ 17 ]
Drogba scored his seventh finish at Wembley Stadium against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on 15 April, blasting the ball past former teammate Carlo Cudicini as Chelsea became 5–1 winners and secured a rate in the FA Cup Final against Liverpool. [ 101 ] Three days late, he scored a critical goal as Chelsea beat Barcelona 1–0 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Semi-final clash. [ 102 ] Drogba became the beginning player to score in four different FA Cup Finals, as he netted the winner in Chelsea ‘s 2–1 victory over Liverpool on 5 May. [ 103 ] Drogba besides holds the phonograph record for most goals scored at the raw Wembley stadium with eight. [ 104 ] In the Champions League final on 19 May 2012, Drogba scored the counterweight from Juan Mata ‘s corner in the 88th moment, taking Chelsea into extra time and then penalties. He besides scored the winning penalty in the 4–3 penalty gunfight that led Chelsea to the victory over Bayern Munich. [ 105 ] Sir Alex Ferguson remarked : “ deoxyadenosine monophosphate army for the liberation of rwanda as I was concerned, he [ Drogba ] won the Champions League for Chelsea. ” [ 106 ] Drogba ‘s head feat marked his one-ninth goal in nine cup final appearances for Chelsea, Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola spoke after the match about Drogba ‘s ability in large games : “ In all their very important matches he has put a stomp on it. ” [ 107 ] In November 2012, Drogba was named Chelsea ‘s greatest ever player in a poll of 20,000 fans conducted by Chelsea FC Magazine. [ 108 ]
Shanghai Shenhua
Drogba ( left ) playing for Shanghai Shenhua in 2012 On 22 May 2012, Chelsea released a note on their official web site announcing that Drogba would leave the clubhouse when his contract expired at the end of June 2012. [ 109 ] [ 110 ] On 19 June 2012, Drogba declared he would be joining chinese Super League slope Shanghai Shenhua, linking up with his early Chelsea teammate Nicolas Anelka. It was reported that he signed a two-and-a-half-year batch where he would earn £200,000 a week. [ 111 ] [ 112 ] On 22 July, Drogba made his debut for Shanghai Shenhua in a 1–1 away withdraw against Guangzhou R & F, coming on as a substitute for brazilian defender Moisés in the second half. He assisted Cao Yunding ‘s counterweight in the 67th minute. On 4 August, he scored his first two goals in a 5–1 win against Hangzhou Greentown. [ 113 ] He scored two more goals on 25 August, both set up by Anelka, as Shenhua drew 3–3 with Shandong Luneng. [ 114 ] [ 115 ]
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Galatasaray
On 28 January 2013, Drogba agreed to a one-and-a-half-year bargain with Süper Lig team Galatasaray. [ 116 ] [ 117 ] He would earn a sign-on fee of €4 million plus basic engage of €4 million per season, €2 million for the remaining 2012–13 Süper Lig and €15,000 per match. [ 118 ] however, on 30 January 2013, Shenhua released a press free that Drogba would unilaterally breach his abridge if he were to join Galatasaray. [ 119 ]
Drogba play in the UEFA Champions League death 16 for Galatasaray in March 2014 Drogba argued that he had not been paid his wages by the club and asked FIFA, the sport ‘s governing body, to invalidate his contract. In February 2013, FIFA granted a irregular license for him to play for Galatasaray pending the consequence of the contract dispute. [ 120 ] [ 121 ] [ 122 ] On 15 February, Drogba scored his introduction finish for Galatasaray barely five minutes after coming off the bench against Akhisar Belediyespor in a match that ended 2–1. [ 123 ] On 9 April, Drogba scored his first goal for Galatasaray in the Champions League quarter-final crippled, against Real Madrid. On 20 April, Drogba scored twice in a couple against Elazigspor that ended 3–1. [ 124 ] He won his first title with Galatasaray on 5 May, with a 4–2 succeed over Sivasspor. [ 125 ] In Galatasary ‘s bowler hat match against Istanbul rivals Fenerbahçe on 12 May, Drogba and his Ivorian teammate Emmanuel Eboue were subjects of racist chants from opposing fans in the team ‘s 2–1 passing, but no ticket or bans were handed down to the supporters or the club. [ 126 ] On 11 August, he scored the lone finish in the 2013 Turkish Super Cup against the same opponents, [ 127 ] and he scored two second-half goals in a 2–1 aside win against boyfriend city rivals Beşiktaş on 22 September, although the match was abandoned due to vandalism from fans of the opponents. [ 128 ]
return to Chelsea
Drogba ( army for the liberation of rwanda correct ) playing for Chelsea on his fall On 25 July 2014, Chelsea announced on their official web site that Drogba completed his revert to the golf club on a free remove, and signed a annual shrink. [ 10 ] Speaking on his travel back to the club, Drogba said :
It was an easy decision. I could n’t turn down the opportunity to work with José Mourinho again. Everyone knows the limited kinship I have with this club and it has constantly felt like home to me .
Mourinho besides commented on the transfer, saying : “ He ‘s coming because he ‘s one of the best strikers in Europe. I know his personality very well and I know if he comes back he ‘s not protected by history or what he ‘s done for this club previously. He is coming with the brain to make more history. ” [ 11 ] On 28 July 2014, Chelsea announced that Drogba would wear the number 15 shirt which he wore when he first gear signed for the club in 2004. [ 129 ] Mohamed Salah, who wore the number during the 2013–14 temper, took over the act 17 shirt vacated by Eden Hazard. [ 130 ] On 15 August, however, it was announced that Drogba had been given back the issue 11 shirt he previously wore at the club, with its previous resident academy award fill over the phone number 8 jersey vacated by Frank Lampard. [ 131 ]
Drogba and John Terry holding the Premier League trophy, May 2015 Drogba made his Premier League reelect for Chelsea in a 3–1 succeed aside to Burnley, replacing winger Eden Hazard in the 84th minute at Turf Moor on 18 August 2014. [ 132 ] On 17 September he made the first base startle of his second go, in a 1–1 home draw against Schalke 04 in Chelsea ‘s first plot of the Champions League group degree. [ 133 ] He scored his first finish in his second spell at Stamford Bridge on 21 October, converting a penalty kick in a 6–0 win over Maribor in the Champions League. [ 134 ] Five days late, with Chelsea ‘s attack limited by injuries to Diego Costa and Loïc Rémy, Drogba started against Manchester United at Old Trafford, making his 350th appearance for the club. early in the second-half, he headed in the foremost Premier League goal of his second spell although Robin van Persie equalised in total time. [ 135 ] He scored his fiftieth goal in european football against Schalke 04. [ 136 ] On 24 May 2015, Drogba announced that Chelsea ‘s final game of the season against Sunderland would be his last as a Chelsea player. [ 137 ] He started the game as captain and was substituted with injury after half an hour, being carried off by his teammates in an eventual 3–1 win. [ 138 ] Drogba ‘s concluding total of 104 goals was the most by an African in Premier League history until it was surpassed by Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah in 2021. [ 139 ]
Montreal Impact
On 27 July 2015, Drogba signed a Designated Player shrink with Major League Soccer side Montreal Impact, believed to be 18 months in distance. [ 140 ] [ 141 ] On 23 August, he made his debut in a 0–1 home personnel casualty against the Philadelphia Union, coming on as a alternate for Dilly Duka in the second gear half. On 5 September, Drogba scored a hat-trick on his first MLS beginning, the first player to do therefore in the league ‘s history. additionally, it was considered a “ perfect hat-trick ”, with one goal scored with either foot and one with the head. [ 142 ] He was September ‘s MLS Player of the Month after scoring 7 goals in his first 5 games in the league. [ 143 ]
On 25 October, he scored both of the Impact ‘s goals from back heels as the team came from behind to defeat Toronto FC 2–1 at home plate in the Canadian Classique ; the win gave Montreal the home advantage for their knock-out repair against Toronto in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. Drogba finished the 2015 MLS regular season with 11 goals in 11 games. [ 144 ] On 29 October, Drogba scored Montreal ‘s third goal in a 3–0 home win over Toronto in the knock-out orotund of the Playoffs, to advance to the easterly Conference Semi-finals for the first clock in the baseball club ‘s history ; [ 145 ] they were eliminated by Columbus Crew SC. [ 146 ] He was named one of the three finalists for the 2015 MLS Newcomer of the Year Award. [ 147 ] During the MLS offseason, recently appointed Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink revealed sake in bringing on Drogba in a short-run coaching capacity after Drogba made a visit to Stamford Bridge to watch a Chelsea equal with Hiddink and owner Roman Abramovich. [ 148 ] Montreal then reiterated their intent for Drogba to finish his contract with the club, [ 149 ] but were left changeable until Drogba publicly confirmed his purpose to play with Montreal for the 2016 MLS season on 3 March 2016. [ 150 ] [ 151 ] After beginning his preseason train in Qatar away from the club, Drogba joined the Impact for the second gear half of their preseason training in St. Petersburg, Florida. [ 152 ] On 3 March, club technical director Adam Braz announced that Drogba would not play matches on artificial turf to begin the season due to possible implications on his knee. [ 151 ] In July 2016, Drogba was included in the roll for the 2016 MLS All-Star Game, [ 153 ] seduce in a 2–1 kill to Arsenal on 28 July. [ 154 ] On 14 October, following his exception from the starting batting order of a match against Toronto FC by coach Mauro Biello, Drogba refused to play for the team that night, removing his name from the team. [ 155 ] With both his fitness, due to a lingering back injury, and his function in the team in question, Drogba did not travel with the team to, although he was in attendance at, their first base postseason match at D.C. United, a 4–2 victory on 27 October. [ 156 ] [ 157 ] Drogba did not experience the like level of success in his second base even temper compared to the first, but distillery scored 10 goals while appearing in only 22 games, as Montreal reached the Conference Final of the 2016 Playoffs .
Phoenix Rising
On 12 April 2017, after about four months as a absolve agent and declining a move to Corinthians, [ 158 ] Drogba signed for USL slope Phoenix Rising FC. He besides became a minority owner of the club, making him the very first player-owner in football history. [ 159 ] [ 160 ] He made his debut for the club on 10 June 2017, and scored a goal and an serve, leading the team to a 2–1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2. [ 161 ] In July 2017 Drogba attracted attention after scoring an impressive last-minute free kick in a game against Orange County to tie the game. [ 162 ] On 7 August, he scored with a knock-down 40-yard free kick against LA Galaxy substitute english which was followed by his classic knee-slide goal celebration in front man of the bench. [ 163 ] In November 2018, at the age of 40, Drogba scored against Orange County as Phoenix won the USL Western Conference. [ 164 ] On 8 November, Phoenix lost the USL Championship game 1–0 at Louisville City FC. Drogba retired later that month at the age of 40, [ 165 ] but remained with his concluding club to work on their command to join MLS. [ 5 ]
International career
Drogba was named captain of the Ivory Coast in 2006 As the amulet of the team Drogba contributed to the Ivory Coast qualify for its first always FIFA World Cup, held in Germany in 2006. [ 166 ] Following the victory over Sudan that clinched World Cup reservation he besides played a pivotal function in helping to end the Ivorian civil war by making an ardent lecture to the television camera which resulted in a end burn. [ 17 ] In February 2006, Drogba captained the Ivory Coast to their second Africa Cup of Nations final, scoring the entirely goal in their semi-final match with Nigeria and putting aside the deciding spot-kick in their record-tying 12–11 penalty gunfight quarter-final succeed over Cameroon. however, they lost in the concluding to Egypt 4–2 on penalty kicks after a 0–0 tie, with Drogba ‘s nip being stopped by egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary. [ 167 ] At the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the Ivory Coast were drawn in a “ group of death “ with Serbia and Montenegro, the Netherlands and Argentina. [ 168 ] On 10 June 2006, Drogba scored the beginning World Cup goal of his career and of his country ‘s history in the opening plot against Argentina, but his team lost 2–1. [ 169 ] The Ivory Coast were eliminated from the World Cup after their adjacent game, a 1–2 kill to the Netherlands, but came from 0–2 down to win against Serbia and Montenegro 3–2 in their final group game, with Drogba watching from the sidelines following suspension after picking up a yellow card in the previous two games. [ 170 ] In the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, the Ivory Coast were drawn in a group with Nigeria, Mali and underdog Benin. Drogba scored two goals in the group stage, opening the score in the 4–1 win over Benin, [ 171 ] ampere well as in the 3–0 win over Mali. [ 172 ] In the quarter-finals, Drogba was on the score sheet once again in the 5–0 win over Guinea with the last four goals coming in the final twenty minutes. [ 173 ] The semi-final was a replay of the 2006 concluding against Egypt, but it was to be the end of the road for Drogba and the Ivory Coast, losing 4–1 to the eventual champions. [ 174 ] On 9 February, Drogba lost 4–2 to hosts Ghana and frankincense ended their run in the playoffs. [ 175 ] Drogba scored six goals in five reservation games to help the Ivory Coast qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations Drogba scored one goal in the 3–1 victory against Ghana in the group stage. The Ivory Coast reached the quarter-finals but lost 2–3 to Algeria. [ 176 ] [ 177 ] In March 2010, he was named as the 2009 African Footballer of the class, his irregular time winning the award in his career. [ 178 ] On 4 June 2010, Drogba was injured in a friendly match with Japan. He received the injury in a high challenge from defender Túlio Tanaka. He fractured the ulna in his right branch and had an mathematical process the future day in the hope of making the finals. [ 179 ] On 15 June 2010, Drogba was cleared by FIFA to play in the Ivory Coast ‘s inaugural group game against Portugal wearing a protective cast on his break arm. [ 180 ] The equal ended in a scoreless guide at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium with Drogba coming on in the sixty-fifth minute. [ 181 ] On 20 June 2010, Drogba became the first base actor from an african state to score against Brazil in a World Cup match, scoring with a header in the 78th minute as the Ivory Coast were defeated 1–3. [ 182 ] [ 183 ] On 25 June 2010, the Ivory Coast went out of the competition despite winning 3–0 against North Korea in their concluding match. [ 184 ] In the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, the Ivory Coast were drawn in a group with Sudan, Angola and Burkina Faso. Drogba scored the first finish for his team in the tournament against Sudan and his entirely finish in the group stage. In the quarter-finals, Drogba scored doubly in the 3–0 gain over equatorial Guinea but he missed a penalty kick where he could have scored hat-trick in the match and tournament. He did not score in the semi-final in which the Ivory Coast beat Mali 1–0. In the concluding against Zambia, Drogba missed a punishment kick in the last 15 minutes of the game, which ended with their passing for the irregular time by penalty gunfight. [ 185 ] In June 2014, Drogba was named in the Ivory Coast ‘s police squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. [ 186 ] He won his hundredth international capital in a pre-tournament friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina, scoring a penalty kick in his side ‘s 2–1 loss on 2 June. [ 187 ] In the Ivory Coast ‘s afford pit, he appeared as a second-half substitute with the team trailing 1–0 to Japan. Within five minutes of Drogba ‘s arrival, Les Éléphants scored twice to win the equal 2–1. [ 188 ] On 8 August 2014, Drogba announced his retirement from international football with a record of 65 goals in 105 appearances. [ 1 ] [ 16 ]
style of play
Given his relatively late discovery into professional football, Drogba has frequently been described as a late blunder, having signed his first professional condense with Le Mans at the age of 21. [ 189 ] He was noted for his forcible persuasiveness, speed, ability in the air, knock-down and accurate strikes, and ball retention. [ 190 ] [ 191 ] initially a right-back in his youth, due to his ability to hold-up the ball with his binding to goal, he frequently played as a centre-forward throughout his master career, and has been described as “ the definition of ‘ target man ‘ ” by Martin Li of Bleacher Report. [ 192 ] [ 193 ] [ 194 ] Richard Beech of the Daily Mirror says that his “ herculean and intrusive approach made him the lone hitter José Mourinho grew to admire, and made it about impossible for opposing teams to isolate him and freeze him out of the game. ” [ 195 ] Carl Anka of the BBC writes, “ Drogba ‘s robust play stylus was indeed effective that he spearheaded the apparent motion of the Premier League from the 4–4–2 earned run average to a fourth dimension where the 4–3–2–1 constitution was king. ” [ 17 ]
Drogba in 2011 with Chelsea. He wore the count 11 jersey for most of his cabaret and external career. Drogba is renowned for performing in big games, with a goalscoring record at club degree of 10 goals in 10 finals winning 10 trophies. [ 12 ] [ 13 ] Carl Anka writes, “ local derbies, top four six-pointers, championship challenges or cup finals — if the game was large, Drogba got bigger ”. [ 17 ] Drogba was besides adequate to of providing assists to his teammates. Between the 2009–10 and 2011–12 seasons, he managed 24 assists in the Premier League, with an modal pass success rate of 61.4 percentage, owing to his vision and creativity on the ball. [ 196 ] He provided 71 assists to teammates over the course of his stallion career at Chelsea until May 2012, showing that he is besides a team actor. [ 197 ]
Drogba was besides known for his dislodge kick ability where he would strike the ball with ability and pace. Dr. Ken Bray of the University of Bath has described him as a specialist specially from central positions, and says that he “ very just passes the ball very hard ”. He adds, “ He hits it [ the ball ] identical straight and appears to hit the ball with a identical knock-down side-foot action, about like the proficiency used in a side-foot authorize. Drogba ‘s style is about beating the goalkeeper with speed and depth. ” [ 199 ] Bleacher Report states he adopted the “ knuckle ball “ technique developed by Juninho Pernambucano where the ball has about no spin motion during flight. [ 200 ] Drogba ‘s hallmark goal celebration saw him slide on his knees accompanied with an arm pump and a salute to fans – his celebration appears in EA Sports ‘ FIFA video game. [ 163 ] [ 201 ] One of the greatest african players ever, Drogba is normally ranked among the three greatest african strikers, aboard George Weah and Samuel Eto’o. [ 191 ] [ 198 ] Drogba ‘s diverse and robust play style has seen him frequently cited as the toughest striker numerous defenders have had to face, these include Gerard Piqué, [ 202 ] Carles Puyol, [ 203 ] Chris Smalling, [ 204 ] Nemanja Vidić, [ 205 ] and Laurent Koscielny. [ 206 ]
personal life
Drogba signing a football at a iron conference in Moscow, July 2018 Drogba is married to Lalla Diakité, a malian charwoman whom he met in Paris, and the match have three children together. His eldest son, Isaac, was born in France in 1999, grew up in England and has played in the Chelsea academy arrangement. [ 20 ] He signed for french club Guingamp in February 2018. [ 207 ] Drogba has two younger brothers who are besides footballers : Joël and Freddy Drogba. Freddy, born in 1992, joined french Ligue 1 side Dijon FCO, and played for the youth team. [ 208 ] [ 209 ] [ 210 ] [ 211 ] He is a dear Roman Catholic. [ 212 ] [ 213 ] His uncle, Michel Goba, is besides a professional football player and Ivorian international, and his cousin Kévin Goba ( Michel ‘s son ) is a master football player who played in the lower leagues of France. [ 214 ]
Some players win trophies. Others inspire people. It is not hyperbole to say Didier Drogba did both and helped to end a civil war .
—Carl Anka for the BBC, Didier Drogba was the ‘clutch’ centre-forward who united a nation. [ 17 ]
Drogba is credited with playing a critical function in bringing peace to his country. [ 215 ] After the Ivory Coast qualified for the 2006 World Cup by defeating Sudan on 8 October 2005, Drogba made a desperate plea to the combatants, asking them to lay down their arms, a plea which was answered with a cease ardor after five years of civil war. [ 17 ] Carl Anka writes, “ torn by religious and political tensions, Drogba seized a centripetal here and now for his country and invite television receiver cameras into the Elephants changing room where he made a speech to the television camera. The man spoke and a nation listened — the elections went off without bloodbath. ” [ 17 ] Drogba late helped move an african Cup of Nations modifier to the insurgent stronghold of Bouake ; a move that helped confirm the peace process. [ 216 ] On 24 January 2007, Drogba was appointed by the United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP ) as a Goodwill Ambassador. The UNDP were impressed with his former charity work and believed that his high-profile would help raise awareness on african issues. [ 217 ] In September 2011, Drogba joined the Truth, Reconciliation and Dialogue Commission as a congressman to help return peace to his home nation. [ 218 ] His involvement in the peace process led to Time magazine naming Drogba one of the earth ‘s 100 most influential people for 2010. [ 219 ]
Drogba ‘s jacob’s ladder bring continued when, in late 2009, he announced he would be donating the £3 million bless on fee for his second of Pepsi for the construction of a hospital in his hometown of Abidjan. [ 220 ] This work was done through Drogba ‘s recently created “ Didier Drogba Foundation ” and Chelsea announced they excessively would donate the fee for the cover toward the Foundation ‘s project. Drogba decided on building the hospital after a recent trip to the Ivorian capital ‘s early hospitals, saying “ I decided the Foundation ‘s first project should be to build and fund a hospital giving people basic healthcare and a chance just to stay active. ” [ 220 ] The like year, Drogba teamed up with sportswear company Nike ( whom he is sponsored by ) and U2 frontman Bono on the evening of World AIDS Day to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. [ 221 ] Drogba said, “ It ‘s a big honor and pleasure for me to be linked with Bono and try to help him save some lives. AIDS and HIV is something that in truth destroyed Africa, and people do n’t very realise how easy it is to save lives — only two pills a day, which is 40 cents. ” [ 221 ] In November 2014, Drogba appeared in FIFA ‘s “ 11 against Ebola “ campaign with a excerpt of top football players from around the world, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Gareth Bale and Xavi. [ 222 ] Under the motto “ together, we can beat Ebola ”, FIFA ‘s campaign was done in conjunction with the Confederation of African Football and health experts, with the players holding up football team messages to raise awareness of the disease and ways to combat it. [ 222 ] On 22 February 2018, Drogba, erstwhile AC Milan striker and current Liberia President George Weah, and teenage french omen Kylian Mbappé had a merging with French President Emmanuel Macron and FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the Élysée Palace in Paris that focused on a sports development project in Africa. [ 223 ] [ 224 ]
Drogba ( left ) interviewed during the Peace and Sport international forum in 2017. He was appointed Vice President of the organization the follow class. As a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, Drogba has taken partially in the annual Match Against Poverty alongside Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane. He has appeared in the 2012 and 2015 games. [ 225 ] Levallois Sporting Club, the amateur club where Drogba began his career, used their percentage of his transfer fees including £600,000 out of the £24 million paid when he joined Chelsea – first to ensure the club ‘s survival, and then to improve their stadium to incorporate modern sports facilities for the benefit of the local community. They renamed the fresh stadium Stade Didier Drogba after him. [ 226 ] In 2018, Drogba was appointed Vice President of Peace and Sport, an autonomous organization based in Monaco and under the patronize of Prince Albert II of Monaco that works in areas across the earth where communities have become estranged from one another. [ 227 ] In June 2021, he received an honorary degree from RUSTA, due to his contributions to the growth of the crippled of football and restoration of stability in his family nation. [ 228 ]
career statistics
cabaret
International
National Team
Year
Friendlies
International
Competition
Total
App
Goals
App
Goals
App
Goals
Ivory Coast
2002
0
0
1
0
1
0
2003
4
1
3
3
7
4
2004
3
3
4
3
7
6
2005
3
1
5
6
8
7
2006
7
4
8
4
15
8
2007
6
3
2
1
8
4
2008
2
1
6
3
8
4
2009
1
1
5
6
6
7
2010
5
2
6
2
11
4
2011
2
1
3
4
5
5
2012
4
2
10
7
14
9
2013
2
1
7
3
9
4
2014
3
3
3
0
6
3
Total
42
23
63
42
105
65
Honours
golf club
Drogba streamer made by Chelsea ‘s fans Chelsea
Galatasaray
Phoenix Rising
individual
Records
Chelsea
- Most goals scored by a non-English player: 164 goals.[284]
- Most goals scored in Cup Finals: 9 goals.[285]
- Most goals scored in European club competitions: 36 goals.[286][287]
- Most Premier League hat-tricks: 3 hat-tricks (shared-record).[288]
- Most Premier League goals in a season: 29 goals in 2009–10.
- Most Premier League Golden Boot wins: 2 (2006–07 and 2009–10).
- Most Premier League away goals scored in a season: 15 in 2009-10.[289]
- Most goals in all competitions in a season by a foreign player: 37 goals in 2009-10.[290]
- First player to score a Champions League hat-trick.[291]
- Oldest Premier League goal scorer: 37 years and 49 days.[292]
other
See besides
References
Read more: France national football team