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Ivory Coast legend Drogba confirms retirement from playing football

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Didier Drogba

Ivory Coast and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has confirmed his retirement from playing football after it was expected he would retire after the United Soccer League Cup final earlier this month.

The 40-year-old striker had two spells at Chelsea, scoring 164 goals in 381 games and winning four Premier Leagues and the 2012 UEFA Champions League.

Drogba won three Premier League titles in his first eight years at Chelsea, including in each of his first two seasons in England, as well as four FA Cups and two League Cups.

He spent the last 18 months of his career with US side Phoenix Rising, the club he co-owns.

“After 20 years, I have decided to put an end to my playing career,” he told BBC World Service’s Sportshour.

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Drogba did not play top-flight football until the age of 23, when French side Guingamp signed him from Ligue 2 Le Mans in January 2002.

He moved to Marseille 18 months later – and the following year completed a reported £24m move to Chelsea, where he had the best spell of his career.

His international career was also something, as he scored 65 times in 105 appearances for the Ivory Coast, playing in three World Cups and being named African Footballer of the Year twice.

 

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