Former Ivory Coast striker and Chelsea FC legend Didier Drogba has signed for American side Phoenix Rising as a player and part-owner. Phoenix Rising currently part of the United Soccer League and they targeting Major League Soccer promotion.
Shaun Wright-Phillips, another former Chelsea winger, former Newcastle and QPR defender Peter Ramage and ex-Watford and Derby left-back Jordan Stewart are all on Phoenix’s roster.
The Chelsea FC legend on his official twitter account tweeted to break the news: ‘Happy to announce I have signed with and will be part of the ownership group hoping to take Phoenix to the MLS.’
Drogba, one of Africa’s finest, who was a free agent for nearly four months will play a major role on and off the pitch for USL side Phoenix Rising after announcing himself as the very first player-owner in football history.
The former Le Mans and Marseille striker was recently playing for Canadian MLS side Montreal Impact, where he successfully scored 21 goals in the 2015-16 seasons.
“The USL is a league on the rise, further demonstrated by the calibre of players who have recently joined our ranks,” said USL President Jake Edwards. “The addition of Drogba in Phoenix, as well as the numerous other world class and domestic players competing in the USL, speaks volumes to the professional-quality environment our league continues to build,” quoting their website.
Drogba, 39, said in a statement on Phoenix Rising’s official website: ‘I have taken my time in deciding what I wanted to do next and am really excited about the opportunity at Phoenix Rising FC.
@football_sierra @bittar32
Happy to announce I have signed with @PHXRIsingFC and will be part of the ownership group hoping to take Phoenix to the MLS #Drogba2PHX pic.twitter.com/h1eefmqgJL
— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) April 12, 2017
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