Didier Drogba Hangs Up His Boots

Ivory Coast striker and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has finally confirmed his retirement from playing after 20 years on the pitch.

While at Chelsea, he scored a total of 164 goals in 381 games and helped the club win four Premier Leagues and the 2012 Champions League.

The last 18 months, Didier Drogba has been with Phoenix Rising, a club he co-owns in the United States of America.

Speaking to BBC, the player said that “after 201 years, I have decided to put an end to my playing career…. It is the best way to end, helping some young talent to develop…. To give something back to the game was the best way to finish as I have learned so much in the game.”

Drogba did not play top-flight football until the age of 23, when French side Guingamp signed him from Ligue 2 Le Mans in January 2002.

He moved to Marseille 18 months later – and the following year completed a reported £24m move to Chelsea, where he had the best spell of his career

Drogba won three Premier League titles in his first eight years at Chelsea, including in each of his first two seasons in England, as well as four FA Cups and two League Cups.

He also won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2006-07 and 2009-10.

He left on a high, scoring the winning penalty in the Champions League final shootout against Bayern Munich.

Drogba then spent six months with Shanghai Shenhua and a year and a half with Galatasaray before returning to Chelsea.

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