Naomi wears many hats. [209] Drogba has two younger brothers who are also footballers: Jol and Freddy Drogba. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. In 2020, he launched a bid to become president of the Ivory Coast FA but was ruled out. Ivory Coast's retired soccer player, Didier Drogba, is one of the most famous soccer legends in the world. [214][215] His uncle, Michel Goba, is also a professional footballer and Ivorian international, and his cousin Kvin Goba (Michel's son) is a professional footballer who played in the lower leagues of France. In addition, he was the key player in Chelseas winning both the Football Association (FA) Cup and Carling Cup trophies that season, as he scored the clubs only goals in the finals of those two tournaments. Just four days after his Champions League games, Drogba scored a late goal in the FA Cup semi-final match against Arsenal after Frank Lampard's pass found Drogba and he carefully rounded Arsenal goalkeeper ukasz Fabiaski before passing the ball into Arsenal's empty net. [163] In July 2017 Drogba attracted attention after scoring an impressive last-minute free kick in a game against Orange County to tie the game. Moreover, Drogba has endorsed carbonated soft drink manufacturer Pepsi in 2012. [100] On 31 December 2011, Drogba scored his 150th goal for Chelsea against Aston Villa, putting him level with Peter Osgood and Roy Bentley in terms of the club's top scorers of all time. He is best known for his career at Chelsea, for whom he has scored more goals than any other foreign player and is currently the clubs fourth highest goal scorer of all time. players and Premier League players. [131] Mohamed Salah, who wore the number during the 201314 season, took over the number 17 shirt vacated by Eden Hazard. Oldest African goal scorer in the Champions League: 36 years and 259 days old. [136] Five days later, with Chelsea's attack limited by injuries to Diego Costa and Loc Rmy, Drogba started against Manchester United at Old Trafford, making his 350th appearance for the club. [157] With both his fitness, due to a lingering back injury, and his role in the team in question, Drogba did not travel with the team to, although he was in attendance at, their first postseason match at D.C. United, a 42 victory on 27 October. He also became an owner of the club, making him the very first player-owner in football history. While Drogba's eminence and legacy is, for many, cast in stone, even the perception of him as utterly dependable in finals did not always hold. [132] On 15 August, however, it was announced that Drogba had been given back the number 11 shirt he previously wore at the club, with its previous occupant Oscar taking over the number 8 jersey vacated by Frank Lampard. The Ivory Coast striker, 40, had two spells at Chelsea, scoring 164 goals in 381 games and . Didier Drogba plans to take a leaf out of Roman Abramovich's book after taking the unprecedented step of becoming . In March 2012, he became the first African player to score 100 Premier League goals. Now a new chapter of his footballing life will be written, one in which he hopes to . For other inquiries, Contact Us. [166] On 8 November, Phoenix lost the USL Championship game 10 at Louisville City FC. He is best known for his career at Chelsea, for whom he has scored more goals than any other foreign player and is the club's fourth highest goal . On 5 September, Drogba scored a hat-trick on his first MLS start, the first player to do so in the league's history. The former Ivory Coast international was seen bare-chested in bed with a mysterious woman in December last year and came under severe criticism from his native in West Africa. Between the 200910 and 201112 seasons, he managed 24 assists in the Premier League, with an average pass success rate of 61.4 percent, owing to his vision and creativity on the ball. ET on Monday (January 30, 2023), our beloved footballer Didier Drogba passed away. [165][203], One of the greatest African players ever, Drogba is usually ranked among the three greatest African strikers, alongside George Weah and Samuel Eto'o. [156] 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. [180], On 4 June 2010, Drogba was injured in a friendly match with Japan. Didier Drogba, in full Didier Yves Drogba Tbily, (born March 11, 1978, Abidjan, Cte dIvoire), Ivorian professional football (soccer) player who was Cte dIvoires all-time leader in goals scored in international matches and was twice named the African Footballer of the Year (2006, 2009). "[110] In November 2012, Drogba was named Chelsea's greatest ever player in a poll of 20,000 fans conducted by Chelsea FC Magazine. [9] He also played in the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final, in which he scored an 88th-minute equaliser and the winning penalty in the deciding shoot-out against Bayern Munich. [107], In the Champions League final on 19 May 2012, Drogba scored the equaliser from Juan Mata's corner in the 88th minute, taking Chelsea into extra time and then penalties. He had not received enough nominations. On 12 December, Drogba continued his performance with two goals in 33 draw against Everton. [182] The match ended in a goalless draw at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium with Drogba coming on in the 65th minute. On 4 August, he scored his first two goals in a 51 win against Hangzhou Greentown. Please show your sympathy and condolences by commenting on and liking this page. However, he returned to form the following season, scoring five goals in 21 appearances. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Chelsea legend Didier Drogba with wife Lalla Diakate in 2012, Didier Drogba and wife Diakite Lalla at London Fashion Week in 2010, Credit: Landmark Media. The Ivorian has never played for. The only player score in and win both English domestic cup finals in the same season. You only struggle because youre ready to grow but arent willing to let go. Didier Drogba says he is 'launching legal action' against Daily Mail Premier League Drobga will not return to Chelsea this season Premier League Drogba could return to Chelsea with Montreal. [149], During the MLS offseason, recently appointed Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink revealed interest in bringing on Drogba in a short-term coaching capacity after Drogba made a visit to Stamford Bridge to watch a Chelsea match with Hiddink and owner Roman Abramovich. [65], Drogba suffered a string of injuries early on in the 200809 season and struggled to regain fitness, missing games from August to November due to knee problems. [87] Between 3 and 30 January Drogba was on Africa Cup of Nations duty and came back on 2 February against Hull City where he scored a 40th-minute equaliser to tie the game 11. The legendary striker Didier Drogba has several lucrative endorsement deals with popular sports brands and other companies. When he returned to live with his parents, in 1993, his new home was in Antony, in the Hauts-de-Seine region near Paris, where he moved in with his six brothers and sisters. In his international career, he played 104 games and scored 65 goals for his country. In doing so, he not only collected his third League winner's medal but also won the Golden Boot for the season, his second time doing so, by topping the chart with 29 league goals, beating Wayne Rooney to the title who remained on 26 goals. He does post funny stuff and pictures with other players from time to time but also most importantly uses it to promote social messages and help people via influencing so many people at the same time. The pool offers a view of the expansive garden courtesy of bi-folding doors, while the leisure complex also features a sauna and jacuzzi. On 11-3-1978 Didier Drogba (nickname: Titto) was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. [23] He helped the Blues win back-to-back Premier League titles in his first two seasons and stayed until 2012 - his final act was to score the winning penalty in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich. On June 16, Didier Drogba will headline the 2019 Soccer Aid for Unicef, hosted at Stamford Bridge. [216] So, how much do you know about him? Olly Allen For Mailonline. Amazing throwback picture emerges of a young Wesley Fofana posing with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Saint-Etienne - as the pair now link up at Chelsea after Blues' summer overhaul. In the film, which a representative claimed had been hacked, she playfully sinks her teeth into Drogba's shoulder as he screams in pain. Drogba was born on 11th March 1978 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and at the age of five, he was sent to France in the care of his uncle, a professional footballer. Footballer Drogba was born on 11 th March 1978 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and his full name is Didier Yves Drogba Tebily. . ", "Demba Ba becomes second oldest African Champions League goalscorer with Manchester United strike", "All you ever wanted to know: Champions League hat-tricks", "Cote d'Ivoire: Drogba Retires From International Football", BBC World Service: African Footballer of the Year 2008, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Didier_Drogba&oldid=1139412985, *Club domestic league appearances and goals. 7 - Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has now scored . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Additionally, it was considered a "perfect hat-trick", with one goal scored with either foot and one with the head. Who is Adam Lambert's partner? Premier League legend Didier Drogba's 6.25million Surrey house is put up for sale, with a place on the Crown Estate, six bedrooms, a two-storey garage and swimming pool Despite his second. He is best known for his career at Chelsea, for whom he has scored more goals than any other foreign player and is currently the club's fourth highest goal scorer of all time. Didier Drogba won 12 major trophies during his two spells at Chelsea - and we still can't believe just how good he was in cup finals. The UNDP were impressed with his previous charity work and believed that his high-profile would help raise awareness on African issues. [41] Drogba scored 33 goals in all competitions during the season (more than his tally in the previous two seasons combined), including 20 in the Premier League to win the Golden Boot. In July 2004, Drogba moved to Premier League club Chelsea for a club record 24million fee, making him the most expensive Ivorian player in history. Similarly, In the same year, he also won the Golden Boot of the English Premier League. I know his personality very well and I know if he comes back he's not protected by history or what he's done for this club previously. However, unknown to many of these fans is his life story. " "[20], Drogba is renowned for performing in big games, with a goalscoring record at club level of 10 goals in 10 finals winning 10 trophies. However, despite his second stint at Stamford Bridge ending in 2015, the Ivorian has continued to own a house on the esteemed Crown Estate in Oxshott - located close to Chelsea's Cobham training ground. In March, he was named African Footballer of the Year for the first time, ahead of Samuel Eto'o and Chelsea teammate Michael Essien. [102] Drogba scored his 100th Premier League goal for Chelsea on 10 March 2012, in a 10 win over Stoke City. status." . The couple got married in 2011 in Monaco in a private wedding ceremony that only close friends attended. [175] The semi-final was a rematch of the 2006 final against Egypt, but it was to be the end of the road for Drogba and the Ivory Coast, losing 41 to the eventual champions. Didier had a successful career, playing both at international and club levels. Further, He also guided the club to the African Cup of Nations final that year. He is famous for his football diving, nutcracking skills and shouting at the camera before spitting into it. After eight years with Chelsea where he scored 157 goals in 341 appearances and helped them win 10 titles including their 2012 Champions League trophy, the Ivory Coast Striker . [181] On 15 June 2010, Drogba was cleared by FIFA to play in the Ivory Coast's first group game against Portugal wearing a protective cast on his broken arm. CASINO DEALS: BEST SIGN UP OFFERS TO CLAIM OVER 700. At the end of the season, he was bought by Chelsea as the club's then record signing for 24million. 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