Talk about going out on top. Chelsea's star striker, Didier Drogba, is leaving the team just days after he scored a game-tying goal and game-winning penalty kick in Chelsea's Champions League-winning match against Bayern Munich.
Reports surfaced on Monday that Drogba, 34, began telling teammates he would be leaving. On Tuesday, it was reported on Chelsea's website that he would, in fact, no longer be with the team. He has been with Chelsea for eight years.
"It has been a very difficult decision for me to make and I am very proud of what we have achieved," Drogba told the site, "but the time is right for a new challenge for me."
Drogba leaves fourth on the club's all-time goal scoring list with 157 in 341 appearances. The Ivory Coast native is also a two-time African Player of the Year. But now, he looks at the team accomplishments.
"As a team we have accomplished so much and have won every single trophy possible," Drogba said. "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."
There has been a great amount of speculation as to where Drogba will land next. Most have linked him to join Shanghai Shenhua in China. His former teammate Nicolas Anelka joined the team in January and is now a coach with the club.
"Didier is undoubtedly a Chelsea legend and will always be part of the Chelsea family. He is certainly leaving on a high after Saturday night but he feels the time is right for a new challenge," Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said.
