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I'm not a Chelsea fan, but I was saddened to learn of Didier Drogba's retirement.
As a Chelsea player, he experienced first-hand many of the club's prime achievements.
He joined the club in 2004, as one of the Mourinho's first signings at the club. He had impressed at Marseille, especially in their run to the final of the UEFA Cup in 03/04 season. He became known to English fans with his strong performances vs. Newcastle United in the semi-final, and soon attracted the attention of leading European sides.
Chelsea was his chance to prove himself at a big club, and in a top league under a rising star manager. He certainly did so - and how. Drogba helped them win Premier Leagues, FA Cups, League Cups, and arguably most notably the Champions League in 2012. He grabbed the winning penalty in the final vs. Bayern Munich and secured his place in Chelsea and footballing folklore.
And also, as a player from and representing Cote d'Ivoire in West Africa, he stands as one of the greatest African players of all-time. He stands as the country's record goalscorer, with 65 goals in 102 games for his country. Drogba also helped his country avert civil war, via a plea with his national teammates on live television.
His main attributes were his pace, strength, finishing abilities, and big game presence, which was exemplified at Chelsea. At the West London club, his goals were elemental in FA Cup, League cup, League title, and Champions League successes, and he netted goals in numerous finals in this regard.
He also won Premier League Golden Boots and was a mainstay in the Chelsea side - along with Lampard, Terry and Cech - which secured major success from 2004 to 2012.
This piece is a tribute to one of the finest strikers from Africa, and also to a player who defined an era at Chelsea. Drogba not only stands up amongst the Premier League striking greats, such as Henry, Shearer, Owen, Wright, Fowler, Aguero, van Nistelrooy, Cole, and Kane. He is one of the African shining lights, being an heir to Abedi Pele, George Weah, Samuel Eto'o, and Emmanuel Adebayor.
Even as a non-Chelsea fan, thanks for the memories, Mr. Drogba.
Marseille
Drogba first came to prominence at Marseille, though he had played in France for Guingamp and Le Mans prior.
But then in the 03/04 season, he scored 11 goals in the UEFA Cup, reaching the final but losing to Valencia of Spain. But his performances along the way showed he could contribute at a higher level in the top leagues, and this materialised when he left for Chelsea in 2004.
Perhaps what alerted him to English/British audiences was the performance/goal above vs. Newcastle United. Whilst many were not familiar with the intricacies of Ligue 1 at the time, viewers and fans were shocked to note the skill and explosive pace of Drogba, and against what was then one of the top English teams.
Of course, clubs had extensive scouting networks, and it was only a matter of time before a club in England, Spain, or Italy, took a punt on him. Ligue 1 has proved a crucial proving ground for top talent in many countries and for numerous clubs. In the immediate years prior to that season, Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet, and Robert Pires were instances of top forwards who had secured big moves to foreign big clubs, and were succeeding in a noted manner.
Drogba was the latest in this line, and his move to Chelsea was soon in the offing.
Chelsea - first season
Chelsea was a club on the up and had been for several years before Roman Abramovich bought it in 2003. It had been revamped and infused with a new vision and purpose in the mid-1990s, with aid from former owner Ken Bates, the late Matthew Harding, and the acquisition of top talent such as Zola, Vialli, Hughes, Gullit, LeBoeuf, di Matteo, and manager Glenn Hoddle. With this new drive, the club won the 1997 FA Cup, 1998 League Cup and UEFA Cup-Winners Cup, and the 2000 FA Cup.
After Abramovich bought the club, the impetus was now there to push Arsenal and Manchester United at the top of the table, and compete for the title. After a season with Claudio Ranieri, up and coming manager Jose Mourinho - fresh from a Champions League win with Porto - relished the new challenge and sought to lead Chelsea to the title as the "special one".
Part of this was to sign Drogba amongst others, but Drogba's scoring talents ensured a very strong and notable season for both Chelsea and the Premier League generally.
He scored 16 goals in the Premier League title-winning campaign, and a goal in the League Cup final victory over Liverpool.
It was an immediately successful season for Drogba, and one which highlighted his abilities to succeed at the highest level.
Chelsea - Title and FA Cup winner
The 2005/06 season brought more glory for the Stamford Bridge club. They won the league again, and Drogba increased his goal haul compared to the previous title season. They became only the second team to retain the PL title, after Manchester United did so in the 1990s and 2000s.
It wasn't until the 06/07 season however that his influence became defining.
Chelsea didn't win the league - Manchester United was able to secure it for the first time since 2003. However, Chelsea recorded a domestic cup double, via both the League Cup and FA Cup, and Drogba was instrumental in attaining this.
In the League Cup final, he scored both goals in a 2-1 final win vs. Arsenal.
In the FA Cup final, the first held at the new Wembley Stadium, he proved the difference with a well-taken winner deep into extra-time.
He was proving to be an exceptional big game player, and how.
FA Cup and Double winner
The 2007/08 season didn't go as well for Drogba or Chelsea, as Manchester United won the league title, Portsmouth the FA Cup, and they lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup final.
Moreover, the season ended in another defeat in a major final, with United getting revenge for the season's prior FA Cup defeat with a memorable penalties wins in the Champions League final. Captain John Terry notably slipped on the then potential winner, as Ryan Giggs netted United's eventual winning strike.
However, the following season proved more fruitful. The league was won again by Manchester United. But FA Cup glory was attained again - and Drogba stood up to this mantle.
After scoring vs. Arsenal in the semis, he proved again telling in the final, following a 2-1 win vs. Everton.
Drogba yet again proved that he could rise to the occasion, and enabled Chelsea to get its then 4th FA Cup title. 2009/10 was Chelsea's first double season, as with manager Carlo Ancelotti he won the Premier League Golden Boot, scoring 29 goals in 32 games.
There was also controversy though in this season, with a noted Champions League semi-final vs. Barcelona, which despite Chelsea dominating ended in a 1-1 draw. Chelsea lost by away goals, and it resulted in an incensed response by the Chelsea players. Drogba himself even swore on national TV (Sky Sports).
It may have been a negative means to protest this injustice. But it showed his capacity to rise to the occasion, and his competitive spirit.
Champions League winner
The 2010/11 season, despite running Manchester United close for the title, was otherwise not successful for Drogba nor Chelsea.
However, Chelsea's league form in the following campaign was poor. They finished 6th, with them losing manager Ancelotti, and a poor start under new boss Andre Villas-Boas. Villas-Boas was dismissed later in the campaign, and club legend Roberto di Matteo took over as caretaker manager. This proved a sound move by the club's hierarchy and resulted in a stellar and ever-memorable season's end for the West London club and by extension Drogba.
They won the FA Cup again, defeating Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley.
Drogba, as ever a big game player, stepped up to score the winner. Liverpool's Andy Carroll got one back for the Reds, but it wasn't enough to stop the victory.
However, the key point was in the Champions League final in Munich. Bayern was essentially playing in its home stadium, as they were Chelsea's opponents at the time.
But as yet again the big game player for the club, Drogba's influence was telling and timeless.
He scored a wondrous header in the dying stages of normal time. But struck home the winning penalty, to secure Chelsea their first ever Champions League title. Despite Arsenal reaching the final in 2006, they remain the only London club to have won the Champions League.
Drogba certainly laid an indelible mark on this game and in Chelsea history.
Cote d'Ivoire legendary scorer and peacebroker
Drogba also scored many goals for his country, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast in English).
He scored 65 goals in 150 games for his country, including several in major tournaments, such as the AFCON (African Cup of Nations) and the FIFA World Cup.
Drogba also is credited for halting a civil war in his own country. Since independence from France, Cote d'Ivoire has had many internal issues, often culminating in coup d'etat and even civil wars. Trouble was brewing, and conflict seemed inevitable in 2005.
However, Drogba, along with his compatriots in the national team, made an appeal to his country and the Ivorian President to cease hostilities.
His country qualified for the World Cup for the first time, and this helped bring together various factions in a united front.
How many players, in any country or time, can say they have effected mass political change for their peoples? Drogba's legendary status thus transcends the footballing arena, and enters the political stratosphere.
Thanks for the memories
From helping to end a conflict in his country to his many goals for Chelsea, and winning major trophies/finals for the West London club, Drogba is surely a legend for his club, country, and the Premier League at large. And for Africa also.
Pound for pound, Africa possibly produces the next best players in the world after Europe, and certainly is on a par with South America in this regard. To use Premier League players from Africa, then he surely must rank amongst the Toure brothers, Kanu, Essien, Mahrez, Salah, Adebayor, and Lauren.
And further afield, he certainly equates with Weah, Eto'o, and other top talents from the continent.
I feel his defining moment is below, the winning penalty for Chelsea in the 2012 Champions League final. He made Chelsea the finest in Europe and proved his tag as the big player for the biggest of occasions.
Thanks for the memories Didier Drogba, and all the best in your future endeavours.
