Drogba to retire at end of USL season

Former Chelsea and Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba plans to retire at the end of Phoenix Rising’s 2018 United Soccer League season.

Drogba, now player-owner of USL side Rising, has enjoyed an illustrious career in football.

The striker, who turned 40 on Sunday, started out in France, impressing with Le Mans, Guingamp and then Marseille, whom he helped to the 2003-04 UEFA Cup final, before losing 2-0 to Rafa Benitez’s Valencia.

His performances across Ligue 1 and the European competitions persuaded Chelsea to sign him and he became one of the most iconic players in the club’s history.

How about another @didierdrogba goal? Only the king can turn a 1 on 3 into magic. #RisingAsOne #HappyBirthdayDrogba pic.twitter.com/mYrwFDNow3

— Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC) March 11, 2018

In his nine seasons at Stamford Bridge – including a one-year return in 2014-15 – Drogba won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three EFL Cups and one Champions League, Chelsea’s first.

Since the end of his second spell at the club, Drogba has been plying his trade in North America, representing Montreal Impact and then heading to second-tier side Rising, a club he is now part-owner of.

And, while Rising’s target this season is to secure a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise, Drogba expects to call it a day at the end of the campaign in October regardless of the club’s successes.

Speaking to Telefoot, Drogba said: “It’s really a pleasure for me to play. I started late at the top level.

“I really enjoy playing. I like my role of owner-player a lot. I’m surrounded by a lot of youngsters, and I like passing my know-how on to them. But this season is the last. I’m 40, it’s time now.”