Didier Drogba In Marseille 2003-2004; The Making Of A Legend
Even though it was with English giants Chelsea that Didier Drogba made a name for himself, it all started for the Ivoirian Coast striker in France. It was there that he caught the eye of big European clubs before being snapped up by the then newly appointed
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. Drogba has the same quality he had when he started out, just more experience which makes him one of the best strikers in the world. For the Blues Drogba has scored almost 100 goals in a period of about six years, an impressive achievement
by anyone’s standards.
At the age of 21, Didier Drogba did not have a professional contract and with an uncertain career signed with Olympique de Marseille. He spent one year with the French side, but the player has, on more than one occasion, declared his undying love for the
Ligue 1 champions. And the feelings are mutual, Marseille regard Drogba as a legend, even though he was with the club for only 12 months, and his shirt from his only season at the club is framed in Notre-Dame de la Garde, the basilica of Marseille.
The love and support he enjoys at Marseille might be hard to understand for some, he did score only 17 goals in a total of 34 appearances and failed to lead the club to any silverware. However, it was his dedicated performance that earned him the love and
support of the fans. Before the arrival, the club was facing difficulties and was in desperate need of a hero and in Drogba they found exactly that. Even though Drogba failed to score too many goals, his devoted routine match after match more than made up
for it and even came close to delivering the silverware the Marseille fans craved so much.
It took Drogba a few matches in Ligue 1 to start scoring, his first goal for the French side coming in a 2-1 loss against Racing Club de Lens. Alain Perrin, the Marseille coach maintained his faith in the striker and over his short period with the club,
Drogba maintained a steady performance and made it a habit to score regularly. He was feared by defenders despite not being as physical he is today, he had a certain power in the air, which made him a big threat in the oppositions half.
Drogba was never a typical striker; it was never one thing he was good at. Even in his early days there was nothing he couldn’t do; from converting crosses, to meeting corners to score off a text book header into the bottom corner of the net or simply putting
the ball past the keeper in a one on one situation. Drogba was also never lazy, like most strikers tend to be, he went for the ball instead of simply waiting for it. Drogba has scored some spectacular goals in career and all of them vary from the other, simple
finishes, volleys, accurate free kicks and of course, his trademark run to drive past the defenders and then knock the ball past the keeper, mostly always in the back of the net.
It was his performance in the 2003-2004 UEFA Cup that is most remembered by Marseille fans, Drogba was essential in the French side reaching the final of the European Cup. Unfortunately, the side received runners up medals after losing 2-0 to Spanish side
Valencia in the final, but Drogba’s contribution was not forgotten. He scored a total of six goals, out of the eight Marseille had in the competition, including the memorable strike against English side Newcastle United in the semi finals of the competition.
A record move to Chelsea the next summer meant that Marseille lost their newly found hero, but the support he had gained still lives on. So much, that the Marseille supporters have more than once planned to raise money to buy the Ivoirian international back.
The “Drogbathon” is one example, a group of supporters claimed they would meet the price Chelsea demanded for the striker, €28 million, by convincing all the Marseille supporters to contribute. Nothing became of the effort and Marseille fans are slowly coming
to terms with the fact that the striker might never return to France.
At least not for the reasons they want. Didier Drogba will return to France, to Marseille, to take them on in the Champions League second leg of their fixture with English Champions Chelsea. Chelsea defeated Marseille 2-0 at the Bridge in midweek, thanks
to goals from striker Nicolas Anelka and captain John Terry. Drogba was unable to feature in the match; he is still serving a ban brought forward from last season. However, he will be available to play the fixture against Marseille and one can only wonder
if the Marseille fans will celebrate or grieve if their hero scores against them. The match is still far away, the Blues will travel to Marseille on December 8 for the much awaited fixture.
Tags: