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Even a glory hunter would know his name. If you don’t, be patient with me as I take u through his career at Chelsea.Didier Drogba (DD11, King Didier) was signed by Chelsea for 24 million GBP at the end of 2003/04 season, thereby making his debut for Chelsea in the 2004/05 season.
Goals
2004/05 season:Drogba scored his first goal 4 Chelsea against Crystal Palace on Away match. I remember vividly his young face coupled with the Chelsea black away jersey. The 24 Million GBP rated striker however, did not live up to the expectations in this very season. Consequently, he was regarded as a wasteful signing. He made 41 appearances, scoring only 16 goals. Nonetheless, his arrival helped Chelsea in winning the English premiership, and FA cup.
2005/06 season:Just like his first season, he made 41 appearances with 16 goals. It was this underperformance that led Chelsea owner Roman Abrahamovic into the thought of bringing Andrei Shevchenko.
2006/07 season:The arrival of Shevchenko seemed to wake the Ivorian striker from his slumber. He made 60 appearances, scoring 33 goals (with two hat trick’s in the premiership and in the Champions League). This improvement brought Chelsea the English FA, and Carling Cups. Drogba was adjudged by many fans of his to be the best player of the season. He added a golden bolt to his accolade.
2007/08 season:Drogba seemed to have gone asleep again, making 42 appearances with 15 goals. One of his worst seasons I suppose. It was in this season that he was sent off when he slapped Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic in the champion’s league final at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
2008/09:Just like the immediate past season, Drogba had gone asleep having shielded Shevchenko out of the ring. This season unarguably wasn’t a good one. He made 42 appearances, scoring just 14 goals. This however helped Chelsea in winning the English FA Cup.
2009/10:History repeated itself again, and the best of Drogba seems to come when faced with a fierce rival. As it was in the days of Shevchenko’s arrival, so it was with the thought of Fernando elnino Torres’ arrival. The elephant sprang up again to redeem his starting 11 position. This season in terms of goals is invariably his best season in Chelsea. He made 44 appearances, scoring 37 goals. Thus, Chelsea added another Premiership, and FA trophy to their shelf.
2010/11 season:In this season, The Ivorian elephant showed signs of aging. He suffered malaria at the beginning of the season which affected his performance. With 46 appearances, he scored just 13 goals. Chelsea finished 2nd in the table, and that cost Carlo Anceloti his Chelsea job as a manager. Also a bad season.
2011/12 season:If there is any season that Chelsea players, fans, auxiliary staff, Abrahamovic, etc would never forget, the 2011/12 season should be such. Drogba though made 35 appearances with 13 goals, but he scored vital goals that landed Chelsea the English FA cup and UEFA Champion’s League trophy for the first time. The seemingly Chelsea’s worst season in recent times produced the UCL trophy, thereby making Chelsea the first London club to capture such a privileged trophy. No wonder the streets of London were painted blue except for the embittered neighbours- Tottenham FC and Arsenal FC.
Best Moment:His best moment was when he scored the last penalty kick against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Worst Moment:His worst moment apparently was in the 2004/05 season when he was unjustifiably sent off in UEFA Champion’s League Round of 16 against FC Barcelona by the referee Andres Frisk. Frisk’s action led to his immediate retirement after receiving 204 death threats from all over the world. Andres Frisk was asked to retire or be assassinated. What a great love for the Ivorian elephant!
Best Season:His best goal scoring season was 2009/10 season in which he scored 37 goals in 44 appearances. On the club’s achievement, winning the UEFA champion’s League in 2011/12 is undoubtedly the best.
Worst Season:2010/11 season under Carlo Ancelotti‘s second season in Chelsea is without doubt his worst season in Chelsea. He made 46 appearances with just 13 goals. He had malaria at the start of the season which affected his form for the remaining part of the season.
His Worst Victims:Arsenal FC remains his worst victim while he was in Chelsea for 8 seasons. Drogba never failed to score against Arsenal FC throughout his stay at Chelsea. Liverpool, FC Barcelona, and FC Bayern Munich will definitely not deny that they are in the list of his worst victims.
Moments of Pessimism:The legendary Chelsea striker had this to say: “I remembered when I was not feeling fine during the reign of the Special One (now THE ONLY ONE)-Jose Mourinho, goals were not forthcoming and I opted to be substituted. But he refused; he called me and whispered to me saying: you will score with this corner kick. Don’t contest for the ball, just stand near the second goal post pole and you will see the ball come to you. It actually happened as he said and I scored.’’
‘’When AVB was leaving, he called to tell me that Chelsea will win the 2011/12 Uefa Champion’s league. And I told him jokingly: Sir, are you dreaming? We have lost our values, there is no team again, and therefore it is impossible sir! Indeed, it happened just as AVB foretold.’’
Summary of his accolades while in Chelsea:1. Three English Premier League Trophies-04/05, 05/06, 09/10.
2. Four English FA Cups-06/07, 08/09, 09/10, 11/12.
3. Two Carling Cups-04/05, 06/07.
4. One UEFA Champion’s League -11/12.
5. Two golden boots
6. The only player to have scored in four finals at the Wembley Stadium. If Drogba were to be an Englishman, many would be tempted to ask that Wembley Stadium should be named after Didier Drogba when he retires.
7. Seven African Best Player Awards
8. The supposed 2006 World Best Player (Fans Choice).
Tributes:Drogba, though hated by a lot of defenders and coaches while in the field, but they still have this to say about him.
Jose Mourinho: Didier Drogba is a goal MONSTER
Carlo Ancelotti: Just like Inzaghi, Drogba devours every possible contender to his striking position.
He indeed suggested that until Drogba leaves, Torres will not pick his lost form.
Victor Valdes (Barcelona) once described him as Chelsea’s talisman.
Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) calls him the invincible hand of Chelsea. Truly, Neuer is right because he never thought Chelsea would bounce back during those dying minutes of the clash.
Arsene Wenger calls him ‘’The THREE Man Force’’.
Alex Ferguson: Drogba’s departure from the English Premiership has brought relief to every one of us.
Finally, my only regret is that he did not stay back to play in the forthcoming ‘Club World Club’ and the ‘UEFA Super Cup’.
