Drogba and Mourinho Exchange Touching Tributes 19 Years After Striker First Joined Chelsea

• Ivorian legend Didier Drogba joined Chelsea for the first time on this day (July 20) in 2004
• He endeared himself to the fans especially in the 2012 Champions League final in Munich
• Jose Mourinho has paid tribute to the striker with whom he won the Premier League thrice

Jose Mourinho and Didier Drogba's relationship goes beyond football, and both have displayed it on the 19th anniversary of when the striker first joined Chelsea.

Mourinho was poached by Roman Abramovich - fresh off winning the UEFA Champions League with Porto in 2004 - and the Portuguese tactician proved his worth in English football.

Drogba was one of the soldiers the manager recruited to help win the club's first league title in 50 years and repeated the success the following season, before re-enacting it ten years later.

The Ivorian initially struggled in his first season, but the Special One kept faith in him. The faith paid off, and he became one of the greatest players in the club's history.

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Mourinho's tribute to Drogba

It's already 19 years since Chelsea paid £24 million for the Marseille striker to join the team at Stamford Bridge, as reported by Guardian.

The AS Roma boss took to his official Instagram to adulate one of his greatest players.

"20 July 2004, I signed this striker. He couldn't score, he could work, he couldn't fight, he couldn't lead. I was lucky to win three Premier Leagues with this guy. Forever one of my gang," he wrote.

Drogba acknowledges Mourinho's tribute

The relationship between the two is special. Drogba shared his boss' post on Instastory before following up with his own message to the man who made him one of the best in his position.

"'Didi, you want to be one of the best, then you have to come and play for me'. I listened and followed you, and the rest is history," the player responded.

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Per Transfermarkt, Drogba featured 186 times for Mourinho's Blues over two spells, scoring 73 goals and providing 38 assists en route to three Premier League titles.

Drogba's path to football

Sports Brief also reported that Drogba began his career at right-back and registered as an accountant in case he did not make it as a professional footballer.

His uncle, whom he stayed with in France, instigated a position change. Otherwise, Drogba's career could have been one of the many stories of failing to shine.