With the day of Didier Drogba’s return to Stamford Bridge with current team Galatasaray in the Champions League knockout stages, another quite different type of return is being mooted by Chelsea chairman Roman Abramovich. Drogba, whose young family still live in Surrey, is rumoured to be returning to Chelsea as a coach when his current contract runs out at the end of the year.
Drogba, 35, scored over 150 goals in all competitions for Chelsea – including the penalty that won them the Champions League two years ago – and the Ivorian is still regarded as a legend amongst the Blues faithful. Drogba’s power, technique and aerial ability especially came to the fore in the biggest games and grandest stages, which led to ten trophies during his eight year long career at Stamford Bridge. Despite having no prior experience of coaching, his goal record and fan favourite status will lend credence to any venture he enters into at Chelsea, but there are more specific reasons for bringing Drogba back to southwest London. As a huge, strong striker, many comparisons have been drawn between the on-loan Romelu Lukaku and the now departed Drogba. With Lukaku developing at a fast rate at Everton this year but still relatively raw, the prospect of one of the Premier League’s finest ever big man strikers tutoring the promising young Belgian is enough to make any Chelsea fan’s mouth water.
With the Blues supporters already gearing up for an emotional return from one of their favourite sons, it may well be that the return has far longer-lasting consequences than first expected; and with Drogba and manager Jose Mourinho being such good friends, it may well be a match made in heaven for all involved.
