Foot OM – Drogba back in Marseille, the dream almost came true
Even if he only made one season under the jersey of Olympique de Marseille between 2003 and 2004, Didier Drogba marked the Marseille public. So much so that his return to the Vélodrome was often desired by the supporters.
A UEFA Cup final, 32 goals in 55 games… Didier Drogba had a real full season in Marseille. Despite the defeat against Valencia in Goteborg (0-2), the Ivorian international had still managed to enter the legend of the Marseille club. For some fans, he is also one of the best strikers in history. No wonder then to see that he was invited to the “Heroes’ Match”, scheduled for October 13 at the Vélodrome. Thanks to Orange and Unicef, Drogba will therefore return to Marseille. A real happiness for the 43-year-old man. “Playing at the Vélodrome again is a great pleasure, especially since the cause is noble, in partnership with Unicef and the Didier Drogba foundation. It is to build classes and schools in Ivory Coast. We’re talking about education so I’m very happy and excited too ”, a launched Drogba, who is eager to evolve alongside Fabrizio Ravanelli, Djibril Cissé, Mamadou Niang, Eric Di Meco, Fabien Barthez or Habib Beye.
“It was a lot of emotions for me”
However, this return to the Vélodrome will not be his first since leaving OM in the summer of 2004. Since in 2010, he faced Marseille with Chelsea in the Champions League. “It was a special moment. These are moments that we very rarely experience in a football career. I had the opportunity to play a Champions League match against Marseille, at the Orange Vélodrome, with Chelsea. It was a lot of emotions for me and I couldn’t, I mean, it didn’t even occur to me to score against OM. It really was a gala match. But we had lost and it still hangs in my throat. I play to win, and even for this charity game. You have to keep good habits. Score and win at the Vélodrome », explained the former striker on The Phocaean.
“It was an opportunity and unfortunately it was not taken”
Now retired, Drogba no longer has to answer questions about his famous transfer to OM. A comeback that almost happened, when Didier Deschamps tried his luck after the title of champion of France … “Yes, I could have come back to OM in 2010. It was an opportunity and unfortunately it was not taken. Afterwards, things happened, it’s football, it’s like that. I stayed at Chelsea and won the Champions League in 2012. I scored with a header from a corner in the final in Munich, like Boli. As for Basile, a corner taken by a left-hander, I scored with a crossed head … the whole scenario of this goal reminds me of OM’s victory in Munich ”, admitted Drogba, who will in any case tread the lawn of the Velodrome once again next week. To the delight of Olympic supporters!
Casually, the first time Didier Drogba publicly admits that he could have returned to OM in 2010, just after the title https://t.co/oqF0rTIabh
– Romain Canuti (@romcanuti) October 8, 2021