Didier Drogba says he was offered a ‘perfect’ coaching role at Chelsea but rejected a return to Stamford Bridge so he could bid to become the next president of the Ivorian FA. The 41-year-old hung up his boots at the end of last year after a spell with Phoenix Rising and announced in September that he would run for the top job at the Ivory Coast Football Federation.
On Wednesday, he met with a large number of presidents and representatives of lower tier clubs in the country and shared his plans to replace Augustin Sidy Diallo. It could have been very different for Drogba, who was offered the chance to work alongside Frank Lampard at Chelsea during the summer, but he felt he could offer more to his home country.
Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting in Abidjan, where he grew up, Drogba said: ‘I had an offer to stay at Chelsea where everything would be perfect and conditions are met.
‘But I want to help Ivorian football because I love it!’
Speaking at a business forum when he first announced his plans, Drogba said: ‘I am a leader, and my vision is bigger than just the simple role of being a coach.
‘A coach has an impact on a club – but I want to have an impact on an entire nation. I want us to re-think football, with a nationwide vision, so we can develop the game here. The Ivory Coast has a glorious footballing past.
‘The funds are in place, together with talent and potential, but they are under-exploited. There are some very competent people in the Ivory Coast who can work with me on this project.’
Drogba is eager to help revive football in the country, having failed to qualify for the last World Cup, and received the backing of the body that oversees the third-tier of football in the country after Wednesday’s meeting.

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