Didier Drogba for Chelsea Coaching Team
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is reportedly considering bringing club legend Didier Drogba back to Stamford Bridge to be part of the Blues' new coaching setup, either under new manager Guus Hiddink or whoever replaces him next summer.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is reportedly considering bringing club legend Didier Drogba back to Stamford Bridge to be part of the Blues' new coaching setup, either under new manager Guus Hiddink or whoever replaces him next summer.
That's according to the Daily Telegraph's Matt Law and Jason Burt, who noted the two still speak on a regular basis, and the Russian has always hoped Drogba would accept a role with the club in the future:
Other than bringing in Hiddink until the end of the season and targeting Diego Simeone as Chelsea’s next long-term manager, Abramovich is considering what immediate and future changes he can make to improve the club.
One idea is to bring back Drogba as part of a new coaching set-up, either under Hiddink or a new man next summer.
Abramovich remains incredibly close to Drogba from the striker’s two playing stints at the club and has made no secret of the fact he is keen for the Ivorian to take a position at Chelsea when he retires.
Drogba still has another season on his contract at Major League Soccer club Montreal Impact, where he has been a huge success, and is yet to be offered any position by Abramovich. The pair, however, speak regularly and the subject is likely to be brought up in the coming days and weeks.
Per Law and Burt, former manager Jose Mourinho had previously told reporters he, too, hoped Drogba would return to the club in some capacity.
The former Ivory Coast international is under contract with MLS' Montreal Impact, where he enjoyed a phenomenal season. As you can see in this video, the veteran hasn't lost his scoring touch:
The 37-year-old joined Montreal last summer after a second spell with Chelsea, the club that turned him into a global superstar. While his second spell wasn't particularly impressive, he did win another Premier League title with the Blues, his fourth in total.
In his prime, Drogba was one of the most feared strikers on the planet and a club icon, guiding the Blues to unprecedented heights.
His finest moment came in the 2011-12 Champions League final, where he scored a late equaliser to force extra time against Bayern Munich. He also scored a penalty kick in the ensuing shootout.
Drogba remains one of the most popular players the club has ever had, and he is almost universally revered by the Chelsea fanbase. In the wake of Mourinho's sacking, the Blues are in dire need of some positive news, and the return of the Ivorian would help.
He seemed to enjoy his football with Montreal last season, however, and spoke highly of the league and his experiences during an interview with Tony Jimenez of Reuters:
It's a different challenge (in the U.S.). People think it's easy to play there. Believe me, it's more difficult than playing in the Premier League because of the travel. ... There are not a lot of away wins because when the teams arrive they are tired. There are also some very good players in the league.
It's a growing league and I think it's going to be one of the most important and decisive leagues in the world in a few years.
Drogba doesn't seem ready to hang up his boots yet, and convincing him to end his career and move back to Stamford Bridge in the near future could prove to be difficult.
But there's little doubt he will return to the club one day. He did so before, at a time when his skills had already eroded and he was no longer going to be an impact player, and unless his relationship with Abramovich deteriorates, he will do so again.
