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Featured Image Credit: TuffToe/Twitter
Topics: Chelsea, Didier Drogba, Premier League
Daniel Marland
An insane video dedicated to Didier Drogba's time at Chelsea proves he was one of the world's top strikers in his prime.
Back in 2004, then Blues boss Jose Mourinho needed fresh blood up front and many were surprised when he forked out £24 million for Drogba.
The former Ivory Coast international was an unknown quantity to most at the time, but scored double figures in his two seasons in Ligue 1 for Guingamp and Marseille respectively.
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By the time he left Stamford Bridge, everyone knew the name. Drogba scored 164 goals across two spells in London and won four Premier League titles as well as the Champions League, plus four FA Cups and three League Cups.
Drogba wasn't afraid to use his physicality on the pitch and bullied defenders up and down the Premier League.
He'd fight for every ball and hold it up to bring his teammates into play, which is why he could function as a lone striker.
That's not to say he didn't enjoy having someone next to him and his best goalscoring campaign came in 2009/2010, when he bagged 29 goals alongside Nicolas Anelka.
Drogba's ability in the big games saw him score 10 goals in 10 finals for Chelsea, including the winner in the 2007 FA Cup final and important equaliser in the 2012 Champions League final.
Chelsea's luck with strikers is well known at this point, but Drogba was an unmitigated success. Fans have reacted to the video and they'd love someone like him up top nowadays.
One commented: "We've not had a striker like him since."
Another said: "I could go on and on about the quality this guy had."
A third tweeted: "Good at scoring, dribbling, heading. His power, speed and balance is incredible too. Never find this kind of striker this time."
While someone put: "Doesn’t even look at the goal once. He knew where it was. Legend."
Drogba's best ever goal was probably a wicked volley against Everton in 2006.
He took the ball down on his chest and let it bounce before unleashing a strike that flew over Tim Howard's head and into the net.
Still so satisfying to watch all those years later.
Since Drogba's final departure in 2015, finding that long-term target man up front has been tough.
Romelu Lukaku was signed for a club record £97.5 million last summer and is already keen on a return to Inter Milan.
Timo Werner is mainly used as a winger nowadays and Kai Havertz is regularly used as a false nine after initially being a midfielder.
If only there was another Drogba hanging around...