Didier Drogba has disclosed that he began his footballing journey not as a prolific forward, but as a right-back, in a revelation that adds a new layer to the story of one of African football’s greatest icons.
Speaking on The Bridge, a YouTube talk show hosted by Sébastien Abdelhamid and footballer Aurélien Tchouaméni, Drogba shared the little-known tale of how a family intervention rerouted his career from the backline to the frontline.
The show, also featuring Tony Parker, Kameto and Paul de Saint-Sernin, airs its new episode this Friday at 8 p.m.
“When I signed my first license at 11 years old at Dunkirk, I started at right back. I took the wing like Lilian Thuram, I came in on my left foot, I shot,” Drogba said, describing his earliest days on the pitch.
But it was a comment from his uncle that changed everything.
“My uncle saw me play and asked me: ‘But what are you doing at right back?’ I replied: ‘It’s the only place available, so the coach put me there.’ He said to me: ‘No, at home, we’re strikers, you’re not going to stay in that position.’”
Despite his uncle’s advice, Drogba continued in defense for the remainder of that season, respecting the coach’s decision.
The real transformation occurred after a move to a new club, Abbeville, where Drogba saw an opportunity to redefine his role.
“The coach asked me where I played. I said, ‘Centre forward,’ even though I’d never played that position before. I started, I scored goals after goals… I think I scored more than 40 that year. And that’s how it all started.”
That bold decision marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey that would see Drogba go on to represent clubs such as Le Mans, Guingamp, Olympique de Marseille, and most famously, Chelsea, where he became a legend.
His transition from defender to striker not only reshaped his destiny but altered the trajectory of Ivorian and global football history.
From makeshift full-back in Dunkirk to Champions League-winning forward, Drogba’s evolution is a reminder that careers can take unexpected turns—and sometimes, greatness begins with pretending to play a position you’ve never tried before.
