The Drog's Final Farewell

It's been a remarkable last eight years in west London for Chelsea forward Didier Drogba; countless trophies later and it looks as if his career at Stamford Bridge has come to an end.

The striker joined from Marseille in 2004 for a fee of around £24million, a high figure for someone who had only joined the French club a year previously for a mere £3.3million.

Drogba at Marseille

It took the Ivorian a while to get going. Many were admiring his talents at acting rather than his goals.

His first two seasons saw him bag 16 goals in both campaigns; including a special goal against Liverpool in the 2006/2007 season - Drogba chesting down a cross before swivelling and rifling a ferocious shot, left footed past 'keeper Pepe Reina.

It's fair to say that the 2009/2010 season was his best; netting an impressive 37 goals in 44 games (all competitions).

The last two seasons for Drogba haven;t been as great with just 13 a piece however, he has showed his value over the years by grabbing important goals, notably in Cup Finals; Drogba himself became the first player to score in four different FA Cup Finals after scoring in the 2012 show-piece against Liverpool.

Of course, it wasn't just the FA Cup where his came alive - In the League Cup he totalled 9 in 15, European competitions has seen Drogba find the net 34 times, making him number one goalscorer for Chelsea in Europe.

We all watched the final, we all know what happened and we know Bayern dominated the majority of the match.  I did have a feeling it would be Chelsea's night - There were so many similarities to the Barcelona semi final n the Nou Camp it was unreal; Drogba giving the penalties away in both games, both number 10s (Messi and Robben) missing the penalties, Chelsea under the cosh for long periods, getting a goal from a rare foray up field.

It was fitting that his final touch of a football in a Chelsea shirt was slotting in the winning penalty against Bayern Munich in the Final of the Champions League?  Banishing the memory of the 2008 Final defeat where Drogba was sent off - He would have been the man to take the fifth penalty that day, instead, John Terry took it and we all know what happened.

Terry slips and hands United the trophy

I'm not a fan of Chelsea, admittedly I wanted the English team to win on Saturday, but I was happy for Drogba to sign off his Blues career in a way that he will always be remembered for - Of course, he will always be remembered as a Chelsea great but to see him, especially put the penalty away was a good sight to see and, of course, as an Englishman, there isn't a much better sight in football than seeing the German's crying after a penalty shoot out defeat is there?!.

YOU SCHWEIN: Bastian's tears

Who will fill the boots of "The Drog" now? Can Torres step up to the plate? Will they bring in someone such as Radamel Falcao from Athletico Madrid? Hulk from Porto? Edinson Cavani from Napoli?

DROGBA: Got there in the end

Where next for the Drog?  Will he join former strike partner Nicolas Anelka in Shanghai? Whatever happens in the future, Drogba will always be forever a Chelsea legend.

Oh, and before I leave you, Drogba's statistics during his time at Stamford Bridge:

341 appearances
157 goals
3 Premier Leagues
4 FA Cups
2 Carling Cups
1 Champions League

Not a bad record I suppose!

Until next week....