The Pride of London
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Five most impactful Chelsea players of the Roman Abramovich era

By Olaoluwa Nwobodo

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 19: Didier Drogba (L) of Montreal Impact and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich (R) are seen on the stand prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on December 19, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 19: Didier Drogba (L) of Montreal Impact and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich (R) are seen on the stand prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on December 19, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /
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MUNICH, GERMANY – MAY 19: Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team’s equalizing goal during UEFA Champions League Final between FC Bayern Muenchen and Chelsea at the Fussball Arena München on May 19, 2012 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY – MAY 19: Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team’s equalizing goal during UEFA Champions League Final between FC Bayern Muenchen and Chelsea at the Fussball Arena München on May 19, 2012 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) /

2. Didier Drogba (Striker)

Didier Drogba arrived at Chelsea—twice. The first time from Marseille in the summer of the 2004/05 season, the second time from Galatasaray in the summer of the 2014/15 season. Drogba directly impacted big games with goals throughout his Chelsea career. Drogba has an outrageous record of scoring 12 goals in 15 finals. That is not the record of a run-of-the-mill striker. Drogba was prolific in the normal sense of the word, but to have the confidence and poise to show up in so many finals is regal.

Drogba played the center forward position the way the football gods meant for it to be played. His signature move of controlling the ball with his chest while turning is etched in the minds of many fans. In fact, former Liverpool centerback Jamie Carragher is on record saying they (Liverpool defenders) changed the way they looked at the game when playing against Chelsea because of the striker. As good Drogba was, he was maybe the only center forward who got even better when he was riled up. Usually, players are off their game and discombobulated when they’re angry, not Drogba. The Ivorian transformed into a deity when the spotlight was on him.

Drogba maintained 0.65 goals or assists per game as a Chelsea player. He won the Golden Boot for the Blues in the 2006/07 league season and in the 2014/15 title-winning season. He embodied the perfect striker: fast, strong, technically brilliant, imposing and intelligent. He was a free kick specialist too. They simply don’t make them like Drogba anymore.

Across his two stints at Chelsea, he made 381 appearances and played massive roles in 16 major trophies. These trophies include four Premier League titles, one Champions League title, four FA Cup titles and four League Cup titles. He played an unforgettable role in the 2012 Champions League final, where he equalized Thomas Muller’s goal in the 88′. He then went on to score the winning penalty in the shootout to seal the title, a fitting pinnacle of his club career.

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