Table of Contents
- Drogba is widely regarded as one of the greatest African footballers of all time
- Drogba’s achievements during his playing days show that he was a quality player
- The Chelsea legend boasts several records, including being the only player to score in three League Cup finals and the only player to score in four FA Cup finals
Didier Drogba is widely regarded as one of the greatest African footballers of all time, but how good was he? Drogba’s achievements during his playing days show that the Ivorian was a quality player. The Chelsea legend won the African Footballer of the Year twice, in 2006 and 2009.
He is also a four-time Premier League winner, a UEFA Champions League winner, a four-time FA Cup winner, a three-time Football League Cup winner and two time FA Community Shield winner, all with Chelsea.
Drogba won four English Premier League titles with Chelsea. Photo/ The Talking Moose.
The former forward left the English Premier League in 2015, but some of his records are yet to be broken. He is the only player to score in three League Cup finals, the only player to score in four FA Cup finals and the only player to score in and win both English domestic cup finals in the same season, just to mention a few. At the time of writing this article, he ranks third on the list of African players with most assists in the Premier League.
Drogba was famous for his trademark goal celebration, which saw him slide on his knees accompanied by an arm pump and salute.
How Good Was Didier Drogba?
You must be wondering how good Drogba was if you never saw him in his prime. To begin with, Didier Drogba is often described as a late boomer considering his late breakthrough in professional football, having signed his first professional contract at the age of 21.
On the pitch, Drogba was a nightmare to some of the best defenders of his generation, like Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Carles Puyol. The legendary attacker was known for his physical strength, accurate strikes, ball retention, powerful shots and ability in the air.
One good thing about Drogba is that he was a player who delivered when his team needed him the most. The legend was a big game performer, as shown by his outstanding performances in the finals he played for Chelsea.
Drogba scored nine goals in nine cup finals for the Blues. And this includes four successive FA Cup deciders and three League Cup finals.
Drogba celebrates after scoring for Chelsea. Photo/ Chelsea Football Club.
Chelsea fans will never forget the Ivory Coast international for helping the team win its first-ever UEFA Champions League title in 2012. Bayern Munich were leading 1-0 when Didier Drogba scored the equalizer in the 88th minute. The African star then scored the deciding penalty to win Chelsea the title. What a night it was for Drogba and the Blues fans around the world!
But it was not only in the final where Drogba did wonders. The legendary footballer also scored crucial goals on Chelsea’s way to several cup finals. He also provided assists for his teammates, recording a total of 71 during his time with the London club.
The former Chelsea man was also a good free-kick taker. He used to strike the ball with pace and power, and according to Bleacher Report, he adopted the knuckleball technique. Jose Mourinho, who brought Drogba to Chelsea, has praised the African striker on several occasions.
Where Is Drogba Now?
Drogba left Chelsea in 2012 after over a decade with the London club. He joined Shanghai Shenhua, where he spent the 2012-13 season, then moved to Galatasaray. The legendary striker won the Super Lig, Turkish Cup and the Turkish Super Cup during his one season in Turkey, and then returned to Chelsea.
He spent one season with the Blues, winning the Premier League and the FA Cup before signing a deal with Montreal Impact. Drogba last played for Phoenix Rising before announcing his retirement from professional football.
The Ivory Coast legend has been involved in various initiatives since his retirement. He is the current vice president of Peace and Sport, which is an international organization advocating for sports through the beautiful game. Over the years, he has been involved in various projects that promote peace.
Drogba is also a philanthropist and is the head of Foundation Didier Drogba. The organization focuses on providing education and good healthcare to children in Africa.
Drogba is a philanthropist. Photo/ Goal.com.
