There are so many high-profile forwards that have tried and failed at Chelsea to emulate the incredible success of Didier Drogba.
Retired striker Didier Drogba, 47, sits at the top table with the other Chelsea legends for what he achieved during his time at Stamford Bridge.
The Ivory Coast icon led the line in Chelsea colours with such authority between 2004 and 2012. Afterwards, he would later return in 2014 for a second short stint that lasted one season.
In the present day, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap are two new strikers who have joined the Blues this summer with big expectations. Remarkably, both have already tasted success after helping Enzo Maresca’s side win the Club World Cup tournament, beating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final.
Interestingly, Gary Lineker thinks Delap could succeed at Chelsea by becoming the first centre-forward since Drogba to shine at the club. For what it’s worth, he clearly forgot to mention Diego Costa’s incredible three-year spell in West London from 2014 to 2017.
Didier Drogba couldn’t resist Chelsea return because of Jose Mourinho factor
In his prime years at Chelsea, Drogba was formidable and a nightmare for any opposition defence.
After an eight-year spell with the Blues, the legendary striker left them straight after winning the 2012 Champions League. However, he would later return a couple of years later as a 36-year-old for one last dance with the club.
| Years | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Trophies |
| 2004-2012 (First spell) | 341 | 157 | 80 | 12 |
| 2014-2015 (Second spell) | 40 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
In July 2014, Chelsea confirmed that Drogba had re-signed a one-year contract with them. He was a free agent after leaving Galatasaray. Even though he was behind Diego Costa and Loic Remy in the 2014/15 campaign, he played his role in a successful squad that won both the Premier League and the League Cup.
It’s intriguing to remember that, at the time, he revealed a major reason why he returned to play for Chelsea was because it was a chance to be managed by Jose Mourinho again.
After re-joining Chelsea in July 2014, Drogba said via Sky Sports: “It was an easy decision – I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to work with Jose again. Everyone knows the special relationship I have with this club and it has always felt like home to me.”
Like Drogba, Mourinho also had two spells with the Blues, succeeding both times in the manager’s dugout. He’s another individual whose name is etched into Chelsea’s history forever.
Drogba had a phenomenal record in his career when working under Mourinho, with the majority of that success coming in the first spell in the mid 2000s.
| Players | Appeaarances | Goals |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 164 | 168 |
| Karim Benzema | 150 | 78 |
| Didier Drogba | 187 | 73 |
| Frank Lampard | 215 | 71 |
| Zlatan Ibrahimovic | 100 | 58 |
Drogba would have loved to work under Antonio Conte, another top manager who succeeded at Chelsea. The reality is we think he would have succeeded under any Blues manager throughout history when he was in his pomp.
How Cole Palmer is stepping into Didier Drogba’s shoes
Perhaps the most memorable aspect of Drogba’s game was his ability to turn up in the biggest games, most notably in cup finals.
Well, Cole Palmer is the current Chelsea star now taking up that responsibility to deliver in cup finals.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder scored two goals and created an assist in the Club World Cup final against PSG in July. In addition, he delivered two assists when the Blues beat Real Betis in the Conference League final in May.
Robert Sanchez described Palmer as the world’s best player after his Club World Cup heroics. Without a doubt, it can elevate you to new heights if you make a habit of delivering on the biggest stage when silverware is on the line.
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