EPL, Premiership, English Premier League

Chelsea

Age: 30

Birthday: May 1th, 1978

Birthplace: Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Position: Forward

2007/08 Goals: EPL- 8 goals, 6 assists. Total - 16 goals, 9 assists.

Biography:

Drogba spent his younger years between France and the Ivory Coast. His parents sent him to live with his uncle in France when he was 5 years old. His uncle, Michel Goba, played professional football in the French Ligue 2 and played Internationally for the Ivory Coast. In 1991, Drogba’s parents settled in Paris and 15 year old Drogba moved in with them. He soon signed up with youth club Levallois while studying accounting. During the 2006/2007 season Drogba was the EPL top scorer with 20 goals and also won the 2006 African Player of the Year.

In 1998, at the age of 19 Drogba joined Ligue 2 club Le Mans though he did not sign a contract until he became 21. A year later he signed with Ligue 1 club Guingamp. The next season Guingamp finished in a club record 7th place with Drogba having scored 17 goals. Drogba was signed by Olympique de Marseille in the 2003/2004 season. Out of 35 appearances he scored 19 goals including 5 goals in the Champions League. He also won French Player of the year; at the end of the season he was signed in record transfer for Chelsea. The €24 million was well worth it for Chelsea as Drogba continued to play well: he scored 16 goals out of 40 appearances. Chelsea went on to win the League Cup with Drogba scoring in extra time in the 3-2 win against Liverpool.

The next season saw Drogba lead the league with 11 assists and 16 goals; Chelsea managed to win the League Title again becoming only the 2nd club to win consecutive titles.
The 2006/2007 season saw Drogba score a total of 33 goals with 20 in the EPL. He was named African Footballer of ther Year.

The 2007/08 season was upsetting for Drogba as Mourinho left Chelsea. Drogba stated his desire to leave the club: “Mourinho’s departure destroys a certain familiarity we had at the club. Many of us used to play first and foremost for the manager. Now we need to forget those feelings and find another source of motivation. I want to leave Chelsea. Something is broken with Chelsea, The damage is big in the dressing room.” He later said he regretted the comments and stated he was committed to the club. In March of 2008 Drogba suffered a knee injury which was operated upon. That same season he was attacked by Benitez who said he dived during a UEFA Champions League game.

“Benítez was a coach I used to respect a lot. I used to believe he had class but he has seriously disappointed me. His words have shown his weakness. A great coach will never attack a player so meanly. If he doesn’t want me to fall down he should focus on his team’s game and tell his defenders to stop fouling me. In the first leg, Carragher and Skrtel didn’t stop. At the end of the match I was covered in bruises. Last year, I picked up a broken rib during the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool.”

In April of 2008 Drogba could gain satisfaction from having scored 2 goals against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final which Chelsea won 3-2. However, Drogba slapped Vidic in the Final and was sent off. Chelsea lost in penalties 6-4.

Drogba despite having a very rustic style managed to score goals. With time at Chelsea and with Mourinho’s coaching and trust Drogba quickly managed to become more elegant in his game-play. Around and in the box Drogba can score with his back to the box. He has very quick feet and an extremely accurate shot.