The 19th of May, 2012. Allianz Arena. The air was cool and crisp at 20℃; But for the no less than sixty-two thousand people who were in attendance, the atmosphere has reached fever pitch. For the only time since 1984, Bayern have been the first Champions League finalists to have home advantage. Of course, they have used this to good effect. After a grueling match, Bayern were leading 1-0 with just three minutes of normal time to go. With much of the country behind them, in their own battling grounds, for the Bavarian giants, winning the 2012 Champions League can only be destiny. Enter Didier Drogba.
88th minute of normal time. The referee blows his whistle. The decision has been made – corner to Chelsea. Midfield hero Frank Lampard steps in to take the corner kick. He delivers a sublime corner towards the near post. Drogba wins just enough space to head in the ball towards the net. Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer manages to get a touch off the ball, but he couldn’t keep the ball out. To ball goes in and Chelsea equalise 1-1. The Londoners revive their Champions League hopes.
Extra time then became a war of attrition between two sides who are struggling to stay in the game. Winded out, legs tired, both sides couldn’t edge over the other to go in front.
Thus the game comes to the dreadfully cruel lottery that is the penalty shootout. After four kicks each, score becomes 3-3. Time for sudden death. For Bayern, Bastian Schweinsteiger steps up to the plate. He goes for high centre but Chelsea goalie Petr Cech tips the ball over.
Then it’s Chelsea’s turn. The Stamford Bridge outfit look towards their main man: Didier Drogba. The Ivorian was cold as ice, coolness personified as he drowned out the distractions and delivered an excellent penalty kick and sent Neuer the wrong way for the win, sending his club’s fans into a frenzy.
The win was Chelsea’s first-ever Champions League win in their 107-year history, and they have one of their favourite strikers Didier Drogba to thank for.
Didier Drogba started his footballing career in 1998 with French side Le Mans. His start in the sport was marred with injuries and fitness issues.
“It took Didier four years to be capable of training every day and playing every week,” said former coach Marc Westerloppe.
After his initial struggle, Drogba managed to get his stride and rhythm going, but he wasn’t as prolific, scoring 12 goals in 64 appearances, hardly the from to take to Betting24.
After Le Mans, Drogba played a season each with Guingamp and Marseille, before he eventually signed with Chelsea in July 2004 – and what a signing he turned out to be.
Much like his start in professional football, Drogba also struggled at first in Chelsea. He spent two months on the sidelines due to injury in his first season in London. But Drogba would show his tenacity and press on. After a mediocre performance in his first two seasons, he would go on a scoring spree in 2006, scoring 33 goals, including 20 in the Premier League, which won him the Golden Boot that year.
Since then, Drogba has become Chelsea’s talisman up front, a key player the club can rely on during big occasions. He has scored in all four of his FA Cup finals, leading his club to four FA Cup trophies. Indeed, the Ivorian is the only player to score in four FA Cup finals.
Drogba’s prolific streak has brought him a slew of accolades with Chelsea: 4 Premier League wins, 4 FA Cup wins, 3 League Cup crowns, and 1 Champions League victory.
Truly, Drogba has cemented his status as a club legend for the Stamford Bridge faithful, and he has earned the right to be called Chelsea’s Ultimate Big Game Player.