Didier Drogba - A complete package

“ Judge him when he leaves the club!” said the Special One, Jose Mourinho when he bought Didier Drogba from Marseille back in 2004. Jose Mourinho knows his tactics. He knows what he speaks. More importantly, he knows his players. After eight glorious years, we understand why Jose was so confident about Didier. What really made Didier one of the most respected and feared player in the past ten years? It’s because he is a complete package. He is driven by ambition and focused. He treats every game and every tournament as a mission to be won. It is this quality that made him a winner. Scoring goals in nine finals and winning a trophy is no mean achievement. There are very few people who rise to the occasion better than Didier Drogba.

To succeed at the very top is one thing and establishing a legacy at the top level is another thing altogether. It was always understood that you had to have some outstanding attributes, whether it was raw pace, prowess in the air or maybe the dexterity in front of goal. On his day, Didier Drogba was special. This is what made him a class apart and what made him unplayable.

For a striker with such versatility and physical endurance, it was futile trying to take on Drogba in a game of muscles. We have seen the big Ivorian bully the strongest of defenders. Many players who try to physically dominate their opponents (Ledley King, Micah Richards, Jamie Carragher etc.) suddenly change tactics when it came to facing Drogba. Let’s face it, Drogba is no Messi. Drogba is the personification of immense strength.

To succeed in the art of playing the defenders, you’ve got to master the art of backing in and holding the ball. This is an acumen often undervalued because, to have awareness of the ball in possession as well as the players around is difficult. But he is known as the King. Drogba could do this with finesse. To him, the ball is like a celebrity and he acts like a bodyguard – arms outstretched always trying to stay ahead of the defender. Of course, the less appreciated aspect was when he showed gravity is a much stronger force for him than to the rest of the players, falling down with minimum contact. This made the defenders think twice and made them play with their brains rather than brawn.

Without Beckham, there is no Nistelrooy. Without Xavi or Iniesta, there is no Messi. Similarly, if there is no Frank Lampard there wouldn’t have been many Drogba moments. One would have seen the ball being passed to Lampard in his own half and before it had even reached him, Drogba starts a sprint, making an askew run behind the opposition line of men because he knew that his team-mate would try to feed him with a first-time pass. It became a weapon of destruction.

Someone boasting such an impressive strike-rate of 157 goals in 340 odd games has got to be able to outsmart the defenders day in and day out and has to score in many ways – whether it’s through sheer power, brute force, a subtle side-foot push to the net, or through one of his bullet headers, most famously showcased against Napoli and Bayern Munich. Drogba, on his day, was the epitome of improvisation. If he was surrounded by two defenders, he would twist and turn to shoot with his left foot. Drogba’s adeptness with both his feet made him more unpredictable.

There are very few people who can choose the stage on which they want to perform and be recognized. In the case of Didier, he seems to be the maker of his own luck and the writer of his own destiny. His tenure at Chelsea is the perfect script a footballer can ever want. Ten trophies in eight years, with the Champions League win courtesy his last kick for the club, is like a perfectly good movie that no one can complain about.

All was not totally well with Drogba when he was at Chelsea. His frequent ‘diving’ led to him being booed by his own fans and was thought as an act to compensate on quality. All such memories are now in the bottom drawer thanks to many other moments where he has made himself a legend on the field. Didier is one player who commanded respect from his oppositions. He was loyal throughout. No one would ever accuse a referee on international television nor stand up and score the winner three years later. “If I had not won the Champions League this year, I would have stayed” said Drogba in his last interview. This stands testimony to the fact that this guy loves challenges and also the club.

Don’t worry Didier. Wherever you go, you will remain a hero and stay forever in the minds of the Chelsea fans. The Premier league is not going to be the same henceforth. Wembley will never be the same without you. Your shoes are too huge to be filled in by anyone. Players may come and players may go, but only a few stay on forever. Didier Drogba, you are one such.