May 23, 2012 -- Updated 1229 GMT (2029 HKT)
Didier Drogba leaves Chelsea
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Chelsea striker Didier Drogba confirms he is to leave the English club in June
- Ivory Coast forward sealed Chelsea's first European Champions League on Saturday
- The 34-year-old has scored 157 goals in 341 appearances since joining in 2004
- Drogba has been linked with a move to China and says Chelsea will remain in his heart
The Ivory Coast forward
scored the decisive spot kick as Chelsea defeated Bayern Munich to
secure club football's most coveted trophy, but he is to seek pastures
new when his contract expires in June.
The 34-year-old has
scored 157 goals in 341 appearances since he signed for the west London
club from French side Marseille back in 2004 and he has been linked with
a big-money move to China.
He told Chelsea's official website: "I wanted to put an end to all the speculation and confirm that I am leaving.
Champions League round up
Blues cheer Chelsea triumph
"It has been a very
difficult decision for me to make and I am very proud of what we have
achieved but the time is right for a new challenge for me."
Drogba's eight years at
Stamford Bridge have been littered with success. He won three Premier
League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and one European Champions
League.
He has finished as the Premier League's top scorer on two occasions and has twice been voted the Players' Player of the Year.
"As a team we have accomplished so much and have won every single trophy possible," he added.
"Saturday was a very
special moment for everyone at the club and for all the fans, and I am
very proud to have played my part in bringing many trophies to this
club, which has been my home for the last eight years.
"I would like to take
this opportunity to thank everyone at the club especially (Chelsea owner
Roman Abramovich) and my teammates, many of whom have become very close
friends and will be my friends for life.
As a team we have accomplished so much and have won every single trophy possible
Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba
"I would also like to
say a very special thank you to the Chelsea fans who have shown me so
much love and support over the years. I wish the club all the best and
continued success for the future -- you will always be in my heart."
Drogba was signed by
Jose Mourinho, who now coaches Spanish giants Real Madrid, and has
spearheaded Chelsea's front line for the best part of a decade.
He has the reputation of
being a big-game player and has scored nine goals in cup final matches
for Chelsea. Drogba opened talks last year about extending his contract
but the two parties could not reach an agreement.
Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said that Drogba will always be a part of the club's family.
"He is certainly leaving
on a high after Saturday night but he feels the time is right for a new
challenge," Gourlay told the club's website.
"He has been a
consummate professional during his entire time here and as one of the
natural leaders in our squad he has been an inspiration to a lot of our
younger players.
"We have known for some
time that this outcome was likely but Didier and the club only made a
final decision on that in the last couple of days, because for obvious
reasons neither Didier nor the club wanted to distract focus away from
the Champions League Final."
Speculation in recent
days has linked Drogba with a move to China and a reunion with former
Chelsea striking partner Nicolas Anelka, who is now player-manager of
Shanghai Shenhua.
No comments:
Post a Comment