09/07/2026
JOSE MOURINHO: "In 2003, managing Porto and facing Marseille in the Champions League, Drogba scored against us and celebrated like it was his last goal. The atmosphere at the Velodrome was insane, the noise was deafening.
At halftime, I met him in the tunnel and I said to him: 'I don't have enough money to buy you, but do you have cousins in Ivory Coast who play like you?' He smiled, hugged me, and said: 'One day you'll be at a club that can sign me.'
Six months later, I signed for Chelsea... I had several options, but I arrived and said: 'I want Didier Drogba.' Some people had doubts, questioning why Didier, 'Why choose this player, why not this other one?' 'Are you sure he will fit in the Premier League?' 'Is he really as good as you say?' Despite all these questions, I kept saying, 'I want Didier Drogba.'
In the end, Didier became a legend at Chelsea. His goals brought titles, but what I cherish the most are the countless memories we shared together."
Drogba ended up being Mourinho's best '9'. In 9 years, he scored 163 goals in 378 games and won 14 titles. Mourinho knew something 🔝