Drogba Started as a Right-Back and Was a Registered Accountant Before Chelsea Career

• Didier Drogba is one of the greatest footballers to come out of Africa
• The Ivorian striker is best remembered for his eight years at Chelsea
• His life could have gone a different way if football had not worked out

You cannot tell the story of African football without mentioning the name Didier Drogba.

The Ivorian cemented his legacy as one of the greatest strikers by being the man for the big occasions; the man who stepped up when it mattered the most.

He spent most of his playing career at Chelsea and endeared himself to the Blues fans with his ability to decide games, especially the 2012 UEFA Champions League final, where he scored the equaliser and the winning penalty.

However, like most footballers, his career could have taken a different path if he had stuck to the position he started with or even his life in general, if he had not made it in the sport.

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Drogba started as right-back

As reported by Guardian, Chelsea sealed the transfer of Drogba for £24 million in 2004, a move over which José Mourinho told former Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich to 'pay and not speak'.

He became one of the Special One's favourite weapons, but as revealed on his website, his uncle, Michel Goba - whom he lived with - was pivotal after he told him to stop playing as a right-back due to scouts noticing strikers more.

As revealed by Express UK, the 44-year-old could have also worked professionally in finance and is currently a registered chartered accountant. He completed his education before he focused on football.

Drogba won the Premier League four times with Chelsea over two stints, as well as cup victories including four FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League in 2012.

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He was voted African footballer of the year twice: in 2006 and 2009.

Mourinho compares Osimhen to Drogba

Drogba retired from professional football in 2018, but the generation of African strikers who came after him have often been compared to the Ivorian and Samuel Eto'o.

Mourinho compared Osimhen to Drogba after the Nigerian scored as Napoli beat Roma 2-1 in a Serie A match weeks ago, as earlier reported by Sports Brief.

The Special One told the striker that if he were at a club with unlimited resources, he would have signed him, but the Portuguese manager could not make a move.