Happy Birthday, Didier Drogba!
Legends
More than two decades on from his brilliant spell in Ligue 1 McDonald's, memories of Didier Drogba's time in the French top flight are still strong. The Ivorian was a game changer for both EA Guingamp and Olympique de Marseille before reaching the pinnacle of the European game with Chelsea. On his 47th birthday, join us in celebrating a true legend of the French game
Humble beginnings
Born in the Ivorian capital of Abidjan, Drogba moved to France at a young age, playing as a youth for a succession of amateur clubs before signing with Le Mans in 1998. A late-bloomer, Drogba was already 20 at the time, and moved to the city with the intention of studying to be an accountant, but he would become a key man for the Breton side. It took no small amount of perseverance on Drogba's part, having struggled with injuries and the rhythm of daily training, but eventually, motivated by the birth of his first son, he became a first team regular.
His performances weren't exactly prolific, but his potential was clear enough for neighboring Guingamp, then playing in the top division, to take a chance on him, signing him in January of 2002. He scored just three goals down the back half of that campaign, and Guingamp stayed up by just two points, but the next season was something different indeed as his 17 goals (third in the league) helped his side finish a club-record seventh, just five points off of second place and good enough for a place in the Intertoto Cup.
On a global stage at Marseille
With such a strong performance for a club that had struggled badly in the previous season, it was only inevitable that Drogba had suitors from bigger clubs, eventually deciding to join Olympique de Marseille. What happened there was what truly cemented his legend. Twice winning Ligue 1 Player of the Month, Drogba finished with 19 goals in the league and a further 11 in Europe, helping l'OM on a fairytale run to the final of the UEFA Cup. While his time in France would be cut short by a massive offer from Chelsea that summer, there was no question he had become an immediate icon for France's most-supported club.
His subsequent spell with Chelsea saw him win a raft of trophies, and while major silverware would evade him with Côte d'Ivoire, he would finish with more than a hundred caps (and 65 goals) for his country. A shining example of perseverance and ability, he is truly a legend of the French game -- Happy Birthday, Didier!
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