DIDIER DROGBA confirmed his retirement at the age of 40 with a throwback picture and emotional message on social media.

Drogba announced he was hanging up his boots last night, bringing to an end a 20-year career which took in six different countries and 18 major trophies.

The former Chelsea striker described how proud he was of his achievements and thanked all those that made his “journey one of a kind”.

Alongside a childhood team photo when he would have been 11, he said: “1989 when or where it all started!!

“When I think of the last 20 years of my professional career, looking at this picture can’t make me more proud of what I’ve achieved as a player but most importantly how this journey as shaped me as a man.

“If anyone tells you your dreams are too big, just say thank you and work harder and smarter to turn them into reality. #alwaysbelieve

 

“I wanna thank all the players, managers, teams and fans that I have met and made this journey one of a kind!!!

“Also a huuuuge thank you and love to my family, my Personal Team for supporting me all my career during all the ups and downs no matter what.

“Looking forward to the next Chapter and hoping God will Bless me as much as he did for my football career DD11.”

In an exclusive with SunSport, Drogba revealed he had doubts during his early career at Stamford Bridge.

5Drogba played in three World Cups and scored 65 goals for Ivory CoastCredit: Getty – Contributor

5He admitted to SunSport his struggles during his early career at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty Images – Getty

He said: “I was a bit scared to fail and after my first difficult year at Chelsea I spoke to Jose Mourinho and told him ‘I’m not happy here. Maybe this is not for me and I need to leave.’

“But he was saying ‘no, you have to stay. I will help you.’

“Everything had been so comfortable for me in France and after that first season in England I was looking for that comfort zone again, which meant going back to Marseille and being the only striker.

“And then I heard the manager saying something really interesting to all the players.

“He said ‘if you want to be the only king then go back to the team where you were playing before and score 100 goals.

5

“But here at Chelsea there are 22 kings, so you have to accept that and work together. Or you go’.

“That’s when I understood that Chelsea were giving me the challenge to go beyond what I had already done.”

Drogba was named African Footballer of the Year twice, representing his beloved Ivory Coast at three World Cups and scoring a record 65 goals for his country – he even helped achieve peace during the civil war back home.

But it was at Chelsea he became one of the best strikers in the world – he managed 164 goals, 381 games and 12 major trophies across his two spells at Stamford Bridge.

Arguably his standout moment, though, was scoring the winning penalty in the 2012 Champions League final, his last kick for the club before leaving for China.

He ended his career with an 18-month stint at US side Phoenix Rising, the club he co-owns.

His last game was a 1-0 defeat to Louisville City in the United Soccer League Cup final earlier in November.

It was some career for the man who left his parents in Ivory Coast aged six to move to France, started out as a goalscoring right-back and wrote letters to clubs begging for trials.

Drogba told the BBC: “I was excited to leave Ivory Coast and go to France until I got to the airport. My mum was in tears, I could see sadness in her face.

 

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“I realised this six-year-old would leave his mum and dad to go to a place he doesn’t even know.

“I started as a right-back. I was going up and down, scoring goals from set-pieces, coming inside and shooting. My uncle said ‘why are you playing as a right-back? As a family we only have strikers’.

“When I moved to another city I introduced myself as a striker. Luckily enough I scored 40 goals that season and that’s where everything started.

“Before joining Le Mans in 1998 I was writing letters to first division teams for a trial and I would never get a positive answer but I never gave up. When I had the chance to go to Le Mans I jumped on it.”

TopicsChelseaDidier Drogba

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00:24:47  00:34:42  

“I realised this six-year-old would leave his mum and dad to go to a place he doesn’t even know.

“I started as a right-back. I was going up and down, scoring goals from set-pieces, coming inside and shooting. My uncle said ‘why are you playing as a right-back? As a family we only have strikers’.

“When I moved to another city I introduced myself as a striker. Luckily enough I scored 40 goals that season and that’s where everything started.

“Before joining Le Mans in 1998 I was writing letters to first division teams for a trial and I would never get a positive answer but I never gave up. When I had the chance to go to Le Mans I jumped on it.”