Chelsea legend Didier Drogba appears to have ended his glittering footballing career in the wake of Phoenix Rising FC’s defeat to Louisville City in the final of the United Soccer League Cup.
The former Ivory Coast striker, who is a player and co-owner at the Phoenix club since 2017, had previously said that he would retire at the end of the season, which has now come to a close with the 1-0 loss to Louisville City FC.
In March, the 40-year-old striker had announced his plans to retire, calling an end to a career that has also seen spells at Le Mans, Marseille, Shanghai Shenhua, Galatasaray and the Montreal Impact.
He also won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups with Chelsea, and a Turkish Super Lig crown.
Drogba helped Chelsea win the Champions League in 2012, scoring the equalising goal before netting the winning penalty in the shootout against Bayern Munich.
Sky Sports reports that the defeat to Louisville City marks the end of Drogba’s trophy-filled career.
At full-time, Drogba approached the Phoenix faithful, hugged one gutted fan and told him: “Don’t cry, don’t cry.”
He proceeded to shake supporters’ hands and thank them.
His fellow owner Berke Bakay hailed the 40-year-old for his “amazing contributions to the beautiful sport”.
Bakay tweeted: “You have laid the foundation of something really special that we are all going to enjoy for many years to come!”
The Sun quoted Drogba as saying last month:
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