[94][95] On 29 November, Drogba rejected a new deal with Chelsea and was set to sign for the highest bidder. On 9 May, Drogba helped Chelsea to win the Premier League by scoring a hat-trick in an 8–0 win over Wigan Athletic. [188][189] Richard Beech of the Daily Mirror says that his "powerful and intrusive approach made him the lone striker José Mourinho grew to admire, and made it nearly impossible for opposing teams to isolate him and freeze him out of the game. [162] On 8 November, Phoenix lost the USL Championship game 1–0 at Louisville City FC.
Mar 11, 1978 (42), Place of birth:
Drogba was again important in the 2–0 win over title rivals Liverpool on 4 October. For using this site, please activate JavaScript. [5], As the talisman of the team Drogba contributed to the Ivory Coast qualifying for its first ever FIFA World Cup, held in Germany in 2006. The second half of the 2001–02 season saw Drogba make 11 appearances and score three goals for Guingamp. [12][13] Carl Anka writes, "Local derbies, top four six-pointers, title challenges or cup finals — if the game was big, Drogba got bigger". It includes all of the player's appearances against the club. Chelsea Premier League: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2014–15 UEFA Champions League: 2011–12 FA Cup: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012 League Cup: 2005, 2007, 2015 Community Shield: 2005, 2009 Galatasaray Turkish Süper Lig: 2012–13 Turkish Cup: 2014 Turkish Super Cup: 2013 Pheonix Rising Western Conference (USL): 2018
After the departure of Damien Duff to Newcastle United, Drogba switched from the number 15 shirt he had worn for Chelsea since 2004 to the number 11 shirt vacated by Duff. [89], Drogba played the next game at home against Stoke City where he lasted the whole 90 minutes and scored his fourth Premier League goal of the season when he kicked home a penalty after Nicolas Anelka was brought down by Thomas Sørensen inside the box. In December 2007, Drogba was voted fourth (after Kaká, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo) for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year. [142] On 29 October, Drogba scored Montreal's third goal in a 3–0 home win over Toronto in the knock-out round of the Playoffs, to advance to the Eastern Conference Semi-finals for the first time in the club's history;[143] they were eliminated by Columbus Crew SC.
This pages shows the player's personal record against the selected club.
Drogba retired later that month at the age of 40,[163] but remained with his final club to work on their bid to join MLS. I couldn't turn down the opportunity to work with José Mourinho again. [161][196], One of the greatest African players ever, Drogba is usually ranked among the three greatest African strikers, alongside George Weah and Samuel Eto'o. [137], On 27 July 2015, Drogba signed a Designated Player contract with Major League Soccer side Montreal Impact, believed to be 18 months in length. [92], While playing against Norwich City on 27 August 2011, Drogba suffered a concussion in a collision with Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy. He later captained the Ivory Coast at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. [18], Drogba is a member of the Bété people[19] He was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and at the age of five was sent to France by his parents to live with his uncle, Michel Goba, a professional footballer. One of six players to score a hat-trick in consecutive Premier League games. [90] On 7 November 2010, Drogba missed the first half of Chelsea's 2–0 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield. Dr. Ken Bray of the University of Bath has described him as a specialist especially from central positions, and says that he "really just passes the ball very hard". One of seven players to score an opening weekend Premier League hat-trick. ", "Sir Alex Ferguson believes Drogba departure will help Chelsea's rivals", "Zola calls for Di Matteo to be given Chelsea job", "Top Drog: Chelsea fans pick Euro hero Didier as club's greatest ever player", "Drogba shows class is permanent in Shanghai", "African goalscorers in Europe & China August 25–26", "Former Chelsea strikers Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka could be sold by Shanghai Shenhua", "Didier Drogba: Galatasaray sign striker from Shanghai Shenhua", "Drogba transferinde beklenen haber geldi", "Süper Lig: Didier Drogba'nın lisansı TFF'ye ulaştı", "Didier Drogba scored on his Galatasaray debut in a 2–1 win at Akhisar Belediye", "Drogba double guides Galatasaray to victory", "Galatasaray win record 19th Turkish title", "Galatasaray: Didier Drogba questions racists who abused him", "Mohamed Salah changes Chelsea kit number", "Oscar gives Drogba Chelsea's No 11 shirt for new season", "Didier Drogba scored his first goal since rejoining Chelsea as they recorded their biggest Champions League win with a dominant victory against Maribor at Stamford Bridge", "Didier Drogba joins MLS side Montreal Impact", "Montreal Impact confirms signing ex-Chelsea star Didier Drogba", "Didier Drogba claims perfection and history with hat trick in first MLS start | MLS Now", "Montreal Impact striker Didier Drogba wins Etihad Airways Player of the Month award for September", "Match Report: Impact beats Toronto FC and finishes third in the East", "Dider Drogba scores as Montreal beat Toronto FC in MLS playoffs", "Columbus Crew beat Montreal Impact thanks to Kei Kamara winner", "Benny Feilhaber, Sebastian Giovinco, Kei Kamara contend for Landon Donovan MVP as MLS announces 2015 Awards finalists", "Montréal Impact to Didier Drogba: We want you to stay", "Montreal Impact uncertain Didier Drogba will complete season in MLS", "Didier Drogba won't play on turf for Montreal Impact to start MLS season", "Star striker Drogba confirms he will play for Impact in 2016", "Villa, Pirlo and Kaka headline MLS All-Star squad to face Arsenal", "MLS All-Stars 1–2 Arsenal: Didier Drogba scores but Gunners do enough", "Didier Drogba refused to play after exclusion from Impact XI – Biello", "Montreal Impact's Didier Drogba won't travel with team to face D.C. United", "Didier Drogba went to D.C. to see the Impact's playoff game despite rift with club", "Didier Drogba: Corinthians deal did not feel like right move at this time", "You've heard of player-managers, now Chelsea legend Didier Drogba is to be player-OWNER at American third-tier side", "Didier Drogba joins US side Phoenix Rising as player and co-owner", "RECAP: Drogba Powers Phoenix Rising FC With Goal, Assist in 2–1 Win Over Whitecaps FC 2", "Video: Didier Drogba scores super 94th free kick goal vs Orange County!
At the end of the season, he was bought by Chelsea as the club's then record signing for £24 million. He also became a minority owner of the club, making him the very first player-owner in football history. [107], On 22 May 2012, Chelsea released a note on their official website announcing that Drogba would leave the club when his contract expired at the end of June 2012.
It was an easy decision. [217] Under the slogan "Together, we can beat Ebola", FIFA's campaign was done in conjunction with the Confederation of African Football and health experts, with the players holding up eleven messages to raise awareness of the disease and ways to combat it. [152] On 14 October, following his exclusion from the starting lineup of a match against Toronto FC by manager Mauro Biello, Drogba refused to play for the team that night, removing his name from the squad. [24], After a switch of coaches, Drogba retained his position in the team, scoring 19 goals and winning the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Player of the Year award. [31] Chelsea won the Premier League, only their second English top-flight championship and their first in 50 years,[32] and the League Cup. "[11] On 28 July 2014, Chelsea announced that Drogba would wear the number 15 shirt which he wore when he first signed for the club in 2004. However, Drogba only played Arsenal 15 times so his goals have come at a rate of 0.9 per game compared to Rooney’s 0.4 per game.
Most Premier League away goals scored in a season: 15 in 2009-10. He scored his 100th goal for Chelsea in a 3–1 defeat against Wigan Athletic. Centre-Forward, Former International: Drogba went on scoring his first goal of the season in a 4–1 win.