Former
Chelsea and Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba has announced his retirement
as a player.
The 40-year-old scored 164 goals in 381 appearances in two spells at
Stamford Bridge, helping them win the Premier League four times and the
Champions League in 2012.
He also won four FA Cups and three League Cup victories during his time in
west London.
Drogba had most recently been playing in the USA with Phoenix Rising, the
second-tier club at which he is a co-owner.
He had been expected to announce his retirement following the United Soccer
League Cup final defeat to Louisville City earlier this month and he has now
taken to social media alongside pictures of himself as a young player to do
just that.
"When I think of the last 20 years of my professional career, looking at
this picture can't make me more proud of what I've achieved as a player but
most importantly how this journey has shaped me as a man," Drogba wrote.
"If anyone tells you your dreams are too big, just say thank you and work
harder and smarter to turn them into reality. #alwaysbelieve
"I wanna thank all the players, managers, teams and fans that I have met and
made this journey one of a kind!!!
"Also a huuuuge thank you and love to my family, my personal team for
supporting me all my career during the ups and downs no matter what.
"Looking forward to the next chapter and hoping God will bless me as much as
he did for my football career."
Drogba played for Le Mans and Guingamp before joining Marseille, who he left
for Chelsea in 2004 for a then club-record £24m deal.
He left Chelsea to join Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua in the
summer of 2012, but six months later moved on to Galatasaray in Turkey
before returning to Stamford Bridge for a brief spell in July 2014.
A move to MLS franchise Montreal Impact followed and Drogba stayed in the US
to take up the role at Phoenix.
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