PLAYER PROFILE

Didier Drogba

Position: Forward

Height: 6'2

Weight: 13st 3lbs

Date of Birth: 1978-03-11 Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba signed for Chelsea in July 2004, with the Blues breaking the English transfer record for a striker.

Drogba signed a three-year contract after Chelsea and Marseille eventually agreed on a £24million fee. Jose Mourinho had been after the exciting forward for some time, and had one £18million bid turned down, with the French club reluctant to let their star striker quit.

In the end, Roman Abramovich's money was too good to turn down. Drogba had only joined Marseille one year previously, in a £4million deal from Guingamp.

In July 2003 he was virtually unknown, but rose to prominence with some stunning performances in the Champions League - in particular against Mourinho's Porto. In 46 appearances for the French side he netted 27 goals, and Blues chief executive Peter Kenyon said the transfer fee is completely justified because "his record speaks for itself".

The 2004/05 season proved Drogba as a useful hitman in Mourinho's all-star squad. Playing 41 matches, he scored 16 goals, including one in the Carling Cup Final against Liverpool at the Millenium Stadium and five in his team's drive to the Champions League Semi-Finals.

However, his inconsistant form in the latter half of the season led to criticisms that he was not living up to his large price tag. The striker had also found it difficult to adapt to life in England. All of this made 2005/06 a crucial season for him.

He started it well with two goals against Arsenal in the Community Shield, adding 13 more throughout the course of the season, though he was also dogged by controversy at times, particularly after appearing to admit to 'cheating' after clearly handling the ball to score a goal against Manchester City.

He put in some good performances for Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations and the 2006 World Cup, but the arrival of Andriy Shevchenko in the summer put even more pressure on Drogba to finally become the consistent goal-scorer that Chelsea need.

Gladly for Jose Mourinho he rose to the challenge in 06/07 as he outshone his Ukranian strike partner by scoring 33 goals in over 50 games, winning the Golden Boot award.

Drogba expressed his disappointment at the departure of Jose Mourinho at the beginning of 2007/08 season, sparking rumours that he may be leaving Chelsea. But he remained at the club, and helped the club reach the Champions League final. But Drogba was sent off in extra time as Chelsea were beaten by Manchester United on penalties.

Drogba saw his progress in 2008/09 disrupted by injury and suspension, as well as the form of fellow frontman Nicolas Anelka. Indeed, the Frenchman became Luis Felipe Scolari's first choice striker, but once the Brazilian left the club to be replaced by Guus Hiddink, Drogba got his place back.

He scored 15 goals in 39 games all in all, but the season was not without its controversies. In November, he was banned for three matches after throwing a coin back into the crowd during Chelsea's Carling Cup defeat to Burnley, while in May he landed himself in hot water with UEFA after confronting referee Tom Henning Ovrebo at the end of Chelsea's 1-1 Champions League semi-final second leg draw with Barcelona.

He finished the season by scoring the equaliser in Chelsea's 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Everton - his sixth goal in a major English cup final.