Didier Drogba is arguably the most successful African footballer of all time and one of the greats of the Premier League era. Renowned for his shooting power and heading prowess, his career began in France with Le Mans, Guingamp and Marseille but entered its most exciting phase after he joined Chelsea in 2004. He went on to play for Shanghai, Galatasaray, Montreal Impact and then became the first ever player/owner of club Phoenix Rising FC in 2017.
During Didier’s two spells at Stamford Bridge, from 2004 to 2012 and in 2014-15, he made 381 appearances, scored 164 goals and was a key member of the team that brought the Premier League title to Chelsea for the first time in their history. He scored more goals than any other foreign player at the club and is their fourth-highest scorer ever.
In his first sojourn in London SW6, Didier won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and the much coveted Champions League in 2012, when he scored both the late equalizer and the winning penalty. He also became the first player to score in four FA Cup finals. Such exploits secured Didier’s place in Chelsea fans’ hearts – in 2012 they voted him the club’s greatest ever player.
Didier has worked as UN goodwill ambassador and his Didier Drogba Foundation established in 2007 works to improve health and education in the Ivory Coast. The Foundation opened its first school in 2018 plus has provided IT equipment and training for three more facilities in association with Ippon Technologies. It has also launched their first mobile clinic in partnership with the Heart Fund to help screen and treat cardiovascular diseases, and a clinic for the health of women and children.
Didier was selected as the recipient of the 2020 UEFA President's Award by Aleksander Čeferin, with the UEFA President selecting the Ivorian for his “commitment to excellence both on and off the pitch.
During Didier’s two spells at Stamford Bridge, from 2004 to 2012 and in 2014-15, he made 381 appearances, scored 164 goals and was a key member of the team that brought the Premier League title to Chelsea for the first time in their history. He scored more goals than any other foreign player at the club and is their fourth-highest scorer ever.
In his first sojourn in London SW6, Didier won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and the much coveted Champions League in 2012, when he scored both the late equalizer and the winning penalty. He also became the first player to score in four FA Cup finals. Such exploits secured Didier’s place in Chelsea fans’ hearts – in 2012 they voted him the club’s greatest ever player.
Didier has worked as UN goodwill ambassador and his Didier Drogba Foundation established in 2007 works to improve health and education in the Ivory Coast. The Foundation opened its first school in 2018 plus has provided IT equipment and training for three more facilities in association with Ippon Technologies. It has also launched their first mobile clinic in partnership with the Heart Fund to help screen and treat cardiovascular diseases, and a clinic for the health of women and children.
Didier was selected as the recipient of the 2020 UEFA President's Award by Aleksander Čeferin, with the UEFA President selecting the Ivorian for his “commitment to excellence both on and off the pitch.
