Former Chelsea, Galatasaray star Drogba named WHO goodwill ambassador

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) – Former Chelsea and Galatasaray star Didier Drogba on Monday was announced as the World Health Organization (WHO) goodwill ambassador for sport and health.

"His efforts off the pitch are equally impressive, including his role in promoting peace in Ivory Coast, and using his name, his profile and his own resources to promote health and fight poverty. I am delighted to welcome Didier Drogba as a WHO goodwill ambassador for sport and health," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a special event.

Drogba said that it was a "great honor" to be appointed as a WHO goodwill ambassador.

The former Ivory Coast international added that he is "determined to work in partnership with WHO, FIFA, civil society, the youth, the private sectors, and other stakeholders to reach out as many football fans as possible" to increase physical activity and provide healthy lifestyles particularly for youth.

In 2007, when he was an active football player, Drogba became UNDP goodwill ambassador to raise awareness for economic, infrastructural and development challenges in Africa and in the globe.

Drogba began his career in France where he played for Le Mans, Guingamp and Olympique Marseille. However, it was following his move to Chelsea that he started to establish himself as one of the greatest forwards of the 21st century.

He scored 164 goals in 381 appearances for Chelsea.

His most important strike was an equalizer in the 2012 UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich, which led to Chelsea winning this title for the first time.

The 43-year-old also played for Turkey's Galatasaray in 53 matches to score 20 goals between 2013 and 2014. He helped the Istanbul club reach the Champions League quarterfinals in 2013.

He won four English Premier League titles with Chelsea (2005, 2006, 2010, and 2015).

The two-time African Football of the Year was the Turkish champions with Galatasaray in 2013.

Drogba played for his native Ivory Coast in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup tournaments.

He scored 65 goals in 105 international caps for the Ivory Coast.

Drogba retired from playing the game in 2018.