Didier Drogba is the case when you don’t need a special reason to honor his memory, wait for his birthday or the anniversary of one of the many important goals he scored in his career to write his beautiful story.

Born 45 years ago in the slums of Abidjan on the Ivory Coast, he reached the summit of Everest on a great and difficult journey through the fields of Europe. And if in the eyes of some he is not someone who undeniably deserves the title of the best football player Africa has ever produced, he is certainly a huge personality, one of those who write history on and off the field in sports.

Why Didier Drogba is a special figure in world football is not only his numbers and all sorts of successes: 236 goals in 538 professional matches, 66 goals in 106 matches for the Ivory Coast, Champions League, 4 leagues and many FA Cups, 3 League Cup, 2 times top scorer in the Premier League, two years the best African footballer and a host of other awards at the individual, club or national level.

Why he is so special, José Mourinho explains it in his own way in a text he wrote a few days ago to congratulate him on his 45th birthday:

“Didier Drogba entered my life in the 5th minute of the Champions League match against Marseille at the legendary Velodrome. I hardly would have been sad when the giant with the number 11 on the shirt scored: he celebrated this goal as if it were his last, the crowd went wild, the noise was deafening. During the break, I found him in furs and said: “Since I don’t have money to buy you, do you have cousins ​​in Ivory Coast who play the same way as you?” He laughed, hugged me and said: “One day you will be in a club that can buy me.” Six months later, I signed a contract with Chelsea. I found a powerful club that everyone wanted to negotiate with, everyone wanted to be connected with, everyone wanted to play with. I had many options, but I went and said: “I want Didier Drogba.” Questions and doubts arose at that time in many people. “Why him? Why not this or that?”, “Are you sure he will adapt?”, “Is he really that good?” “I want Didier Drogba,” I said. A few days passed and I met Didier in private airport in London. He hugged me again, but this time in an unforgettable way. A hug that showed his gratitude and affection for people who mean a lot to him. Indescribable … Then he told me: “Thank you. I will fight for you. You will never regret it, I will be faithful to you forever.” And that’s exactly what he did… His dedication showed in his leadership and how he always faced all the hard times. Moments when nothing else matters but being close to the captain and crew members. I knew that this was a man I could count on for anything and everything that I might need. When the team was under pressure, he was there to help them win. When he felt pain, he pushed himself to the limit. Then, of course, he brought in what he did best: scoring goals. Those goals brought him titles and awards, but what remains with me are the countless stories we lived together. Happy 45th birthday to Didier Drogba!“.

The way Special One has described Drogba’s leadership personality leaves no room for misinterpretation. When such a special football person, who has worked with many of today’s top football players in his career, speaks of you in such terms, it is certainly a special lapel badge.

Eternal values ​​are measured not only by the measure of success, but also by the metal of character, the strength of the personality, the brilliance of the leader figure. And Drogba has always been special, as evidenced by the way he used the great success of his country’s national team to stop the bloody civil war at least for a while. Immediately after reaching the final stage of the 2010 World Cup, he gathered his teammates, they all knelt together in front of the cameras and himself addressed the people of his country:

“Men and women of the Ivory Coast, from the north, the south, the central regions and the west, today we proved that the Ivorians can coexist and fight together for a common goal by winning the World Cup. We promised that the holidays will bring people together. Today we beg you, we beg you on our knees, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. The only country in Africa with such wealth should not get involved in such a war. Please stop the war, organize elections and everything will be better…»

The ceasefire was for some time Didier Drogba’s biggest victory of his career, even bigger than Chelsea’s 88th-minute golden goal in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in 2012. who brought the game into overtime so he could hit the final and decisive Russian roulette penalty kick.

This goal brought the greatest success that Didier Drogba has experienced in his career and is an eternal source of inspiration for him, a resounding message for everyone: “Looking at this photo, I am very proud of what I have achieved as a player after a 20-year career in professional football. Most importantly, however, is how this trip has shaped me as a person. If someone tells you that your dreams are too big, just say thank you and work harder and smarter to make them come true. Always believe…»