Didier Drogba, born March 11, 1978, in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, is an Ivorian international footballer who plays as a center-forward. He is a former Ivorian professional footballer who played for OM and Chelsea. Discovered at Guingamp, Didier Drogba went on to become a Chelsea legend. Since the end of his soccer career, the Ivorian has been active in the world of sport, where he is vice-president of FIFA's Football Players' Committee and ambassador for sport and health for the World Health Organization. He also acts as a consultant for Canal+ on European evenings.
Family origins
Didier Drogba's family belongs to the Bété ethnic group. He grew up in the Yopougon Sicogi district of Abidjan. He is the son of a bank clerk and a typist. He left Côte d'Ivoire at the age of five, in 1983, when his family sent him to France to live with his uncle Michel Goba. Goba worked as a professional footballer for Stade Brestois for three years, and the child followed his uncle from town to town, transferring first to AS Angoulême and then to USL Dunkerque. But his residence permit was not renewed and he had to return to Abidjan. The following year, both his parents lost their jobs and he was returned to the care of his uncle, who had re-signed with USL Dunkerque. Drogba signed his first license with the club as a pupil and played right-back. Didier followed his uncle to SC Abbeville in 1989, but the club went bankrupt at the end of the season and the two Ivorians joined US Tourcoing. Didier Drogba was reunited with his parents in 1991 when they moved to France with his siblings. Several family members tried their hand at soccer careers, but Drogba drew more attention to his family.
In 1999, Didier Drogba met Lalla Diakité, a young woman from Mali, and married her in Monaco in 2011. The couple had three children, Isaac Drogba, Iman Drogba and Kieran Drogba. The marriage had its ups and downs, with the couple confirming their divorce on Wednesday January 13, 2021.
Soccer career and achievements
The right-handed Drogba began his career in France, with Le Mans Union Club 72. He made his Ligue 1 debut with En avant Guingamp, before playing his first European games for Olympique de Marseille.
The striker transferred to Chelsea FC in 2004, where he is one of the best players and strikers of his generation. He won the 2011-2012 Champions League with the English club. After his departure, he was voted "best player in the club's history" by the fans. To this day, he is considered one of the greatest African players of all time.
Didier Drogba was a member of the Côte d'Ivoire national team from 2002 to 2014. Named captain of the national team, of which he is the top scorer, he was twice a finalist in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2006 and 2012.
He announced his sporting retirement on November 22, 2018, after a 20-year career in professional soccer, with over 700 matches played and more than 360 goals scored for club and country.
On December 11, 2018, he officially becomes vice-president of the international organization Peace and Sport. On May 1, 2020, he was appointed Vice-Chairman of FIFA's Football Players' Committee. On October 18, 2021, he was appointed WHO Ambassador for Sport and Health.
After career...
On April 22, 2022, Didier Drogba lost in the first round of the Ivorian Football Federation's presidential elections. With 21 votes out of 130, he finished behind Idriss Diallo (winner in the second round with 63 votes) ahead of Sory Diabaté (61 votes obtained in the second round).
A few days after the election, Idriss Diallo expressed his desire to work with his opponents, including Didier Drogba, whom he would like to involve during his term of office.
From the 2021-2022 season, Didier Drogba will join Canal +'s team of consultants to cover Champions League matches.
Didier Drogba is one of the greatest players in the history of soccer.