Didier Drogba
Birth Name: Didier Yves Drogba Tébily
Date of Birth: 11 March 1978 (age 31)
Place of Birth: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Present Club: Chelsea
National Team: Côte d’Ivoire
Playing Position: Striker
Early Life
Didier Drogba was born on 11th March 1978 in Abdijan, Cote d’Ivoire. At the age of five he moved to France to live with his uncle Michael Goba, who was a specialist football player at that time. Living there made him extremely passionate about football and when he returned to Cote d’Ivoire in 1986, he began playing in parking lots of Abdijan.
However, his return home was short-lived as his parents lost his jobs forcing him to return to live with his uncle. There, he joined a local youth side and played football more than ever before.
Young Involvement In Football
His sensational performances for the youth side earned him a place in a French club Levallois at the age of 18. He was forced to leave Levallois in his first season as he had to study accountancy at college.
At the age of 21, Drogba made his debut for a French Ligue 2 side Le Mans as a centre-forward player. A couple of marvellous seasons there gained him a position in French Ligue 1 club Guingamp, where he gave scintillating performances helping his side avoid relegation in his very first season.
The following season Guingamp finished seventh in Ligue 1, a feat they had never achieved in the past. The next season, he was signed by a larger and more competitive French football club Marseille, for £3.3 million.
He played for Marseille in just one season but impressed significantly and became a fan-favourite by scoring 32 crucial goals including 6 in the UEFA Cup and 5 in the Champions League.
Signing In To Chelsea
Didier Drogba signed up for Chelsea in July 2004 for £24 million (a record at that time), where in his first season he scored 16 goals in 40 games allowing Chelsea to triumph in the League Cup and the Premier League for the first time since 1955.
In the next season Drogba scored 16 goals yet again which led Chelsea to win back-to-back Premier League titles. In the 2006-07 season, Drogba scored 33 goals including 20 in the Premier League allowing him to win the golden boot and a winning goal in the FA Cup Final against Manchester United.
In the 2007-08 season, Drogba was grieved at the departure of coach Jose Maurinho and so the season began horribly for him. He expressed his view to leave Chelsea, however soon he regretted this and his full commitment to the side was seen when he scored in games against Middlesbrough and Manchester City in the Premier League and Schalke 04 in the Champions League.
Drogba also scored in the League Cup Final that year which took his tally to 4 goals in League Cup Finals, making him the only footballer in history to do so. The same year Drogba became the most prolific goal scorer in European competition.
Recent Club Performance
In the 2008-09 season, Drogba missed the first three months of action due to injury. He featured in just one game upon returning before he was suspended for three games and did not play till February.
He came back with a bang and scored in most of the games he played in the remainder of the season which included goals in the UEFA Champions League pre quarter-final (both legs) and quarter final (both legs) and the FA Cup semi final and final which allowed Chelsea to lift the prestigious FA Cup trophy yet again.
Drogba’s Performance In The International Football
Drogba has also been an integral part of the Cote d’Ivoire national football team and has performed exceedingly well. He is currently the highest goal scorer in Cote d’Ivoire football history.
His stunning performances and prolific goal scoring in the African World Cup qualifiers lend a hand in Cote d’Ivoire’s qualification of the Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup. He has also led his side to the African Cup of Nations semi-final and final and was the leading goal scorer at the event in 2008.
Drogba’s awe-inspiring performances have led him to winning many honours in his illustrious career. Among the honours are the Onze d’Or in 2004, French Ligue 1 player of the year 2004, Ivorian footballer of the year in 2006 and 2007, African footballer of the year 2006/07 and was also part of the UEFA Team of the Year 2007, PFA Team of the Year 2007 and FIFPro World XI 2007.
Apart from being a tremendous player, Drogba has also been involved in a few controversies in his career. Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez accused Drogba of diving in 2008 after the Champions League semi-final against them.
On 26th April 2008, Drogba clashed with Vidic breaking his tooth in the process, and then in the Champions League final the same year, he slapped Vidic in the face which resulted in him being sent off just three minutes before the conclusion of extra time.
On 17th June 2009 Drogba was banned for 6 games (later cut down to 5) for using abusive language with referee Tom Henning after the final whistle. However, controversies follow good sportsman and rather than being critical about them we should admire him for the proficient and skilful player that he is and his generous attitude off the field.
For his generosity, he was appointed Goodwill Ambassador by the UNDP in January 2007. Drogba is a truly a master of the game and a model centre-forward of the modern era.