Didier Dragba explains his reasons for quitting being a defender

Didier Drogba wasn’t always the intimidating striker who blazed through European stadiums. Actually, the Ivorian icon began as a defender before he excelled at Le Mans, Guingamp, Marseille, and most importantly, Chelsea.

Drogba shares a startling tale about how a family member influenced his career in the next episode of The Bridge, which is co-hosted by Sébastien Abdelhamid and Aurélien Tchouaméni and features guests including Drogba, Tony Parker, Kameto, and Paul de Saint-Sernin.

“I started off as a right-back in Dunkerque when I signed my first license at the age of 11. Like Lilian Thuram, I would cut in on my left, move down the flank, and fire,” Drogba remembered. When he noticed me, my uncle said, ‘What are you doing at right-back?’ I informed him that it was the sole open post. “We’re strikers in our family,” he remarked. You’re not going to stay there. However, I was afraid to speak to the coach. I played defense at the end of the season.

His future was sealed by a turn of events. After we relocated to Abbeville, the coach inquired about my situation. Despite the fact that I had never played there, I called him “striker.” I began to score goals, and that season I scored over 40. That was the start of it all. The rest is history in football.