Even if you are not a fan of football, you are most likely familiar with the name Drogba. It’as a household name that even non-footballer lovers can relate with and even put a face to. After twenty years of a most successful career, the Côte d’Ivoire and Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba has announced his retirement from football.
— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) November 21, 2018
“1989 when it all started. When I think of the last 20 years of my professional career, looking at this picture can’t make me more proud of what I’ve achieved as a player but most importantly how this journey has shaped me as a man.
If anyone tells you your dreams are too big, just say thank you and work harder to turn them into a reality. #alwaysbelieve.
I wanna thank all the players, managers, teams and fans that I have met and made this journey one of a kind!!! Also a huuuuge thank you and love to my family, my Personal Team for supporting me all my career during all the ups and downs no matter what.
Looking forward to the next chapter and hoping God will Bless me as much as he did for my football career,” said Drogba in a tweet.
The 40-year-old renowned footballer scored 164 goals in 381 appearances for Chelsea, winning four Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the 2012 Champions League, while he is also Ivory Coast’s all-time record goalscorer with 65. He also won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2006-07 and 2009-10.
In 2015, he joined Major League Soccer side Montreal Impact and then became player-owner of Phoenix Rising. He scored 65 times in 105 caps for the Ivory Coast, playing in three World Cups and being named African Footballer of the Year twice..
Drogba played club football in six different countries in total, with the majority of his success coming in France and England.
He won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2006-07 and 2009-10, netting 104 times in the English top flight in total, and also scored a dramatic late equaliser when Chelsea beat Bayern Munich on penalties in the Champions League final six years ago.
In addition to his accomplishments with Chelsea, Drogba also enjoyed an excellent international career with his native Ivory Coast that saw him finish his career as the African nation’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 65 markers in 105 caps.
Drogba also contributed to bring peace in his home country in 2005 when helped Cote d’Ivoire secure World Cup qualification. The footballer sent an impassioned message for peace to his civil war-torn nation and within a week there was a ceasefire.
“Before being a footballer, I’m a human being, I’m a man. I have a life to lead, I want to live in a peaceful country. My country was at war and tensions were there. I care for my country and I did what I had to do for my country. The country is divided and the only thing that unites us is football,” he said.
Drogba’s last game was Phoenix’s 1-0 loss to Louisville City in the USL Cup final on November 8.
What do you predict is the ‘next chapter’ of Didier Drogba’s life?