Chelsea fans have swamped social media to show their appreciation of former striker Didier Drogba, who has announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 40.
The ex-Ivory Coast international has been plying his trade for US side Phoenix Rising over the last couple of years, but he has finally decided to hang up his boots and he leaves behind a career that saw him explode into one of the finest strikers in the world.
Having signed for Chelsea in 2004 from Marseille, Drogba became an integral figure of a Blues side that won four Premier League titles and a Champions League during his time at the club, and Drogba's sensational goals record saw him become the most feared striker in the English top-flight.
A fine record of 164 goals in 381 games launched Drogba into the highest echelon of strikers to have graced the Premier League, but a celebration of his goalscoring statistics just highlights the frailties in their current attacking line-up and how the Stamford Bridge faithful would love to see a Drogba style player spearheading Maurizio Sarri's current team.
Eden Hazard has at times been winning games single-handedly this season and the Belgium attacking midfielder is topping the league goal charts for the Blues on seven, but away from the diminutive star there's an attack at Chelsea that lacks any cutting edge - a trait Drogba had during his time at the club.
Alvaro Morata may have scored five goals in the league, but his constant failures in front of goal can really hurt Chelsea in the latter stages of the season, if they continue to remain unbeaten into the New Year, while Olivier Giroud may possess the aerial presence Drogba had, but the Frenchman has yet to hit the back of the net all season in the league.
With four assists in the league, Giroud is often used by Sarri to provide service for Hazard, but the World Cup winner's lack of goals will hurt Chelsea in the long run and the Blues need to add another striker to their squad in January, if they are to challenge.
While Drogba stepped up in the big matches (scored nine goals in finals for Chelsea) both Morata and Giroud can often misfire in the must-win games and it's all left to Hazard to try and deliver that knockout blow, so what Chelsea fans would do for a Drogba-style player now!
