On 20 July 2004, Chelsea completed the signing of a promising Ivorian striker from Marseille, who had impressed during his one season on the French south coast, particularly in European competition.

Few could have anticipated the incredible impact Drogba would go on to have at Stamford Bridge, playing a major role as we won a host of silverware, including our first UEFA Champions League and four Premier League titles.

In total, Didier would score 164 goals in 381 appearances across two spells with the Blues. That makes him our highest scoring foreigner of all time – fourth on the overall list – and we recall some of his most memorable strikes below…

West Ham United 1-3 Chelsea, Premier League, 2005/06

Chelsea were defending Premier League champions for the first time in 50 years and fighting hard at the top of the table to retain that title. West Ham threatened to cause a setback in that pursuit, though, with an equaliser early in the second half.

However, we retook the lead through Hernan Crespo before Drogba made the three points safe. It was easy on the eye too, as Crespo cushioned a high ball into the path of Eidur Gudjohsen to play in Drogba over the top, first time. The Ivorian finished ruthlessly, with a brilliant first touch before drilling low across goal.

Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona, Champions League, 2006/07

Barcelona had knocked us out of the previous Champions League campaign on their way to winning the competition, but this time around Drogba ensured it was the Blues supporters celebrating at the final whistle.

His decisive intervention to settle the game arrived just after half-time. Collecting Ashley Cole’s pass under pressure on the edge of the box, he showed smart footwork to turn away from Carles Puyol and create a sight of goal, before smashing a powerful effort past Victor Valdes.

Everton 2-3 Chelsea, Premier League, 2006/07

This fixture has produced some brilliant matches over the years, and this is up there with the best of them. An end-to-end encounter saw Chelsea trailing 2-1 with 10 minutes remaining, before Frank Lampard levelled.

There was one more incredible twist to come, though, three minutes from time. Everton probably didn’t think they were in much danger when Andriy Shevchenko nodded Hilario’s long kick to Drogba 30 yards out, but he promptly turned and unleashed an unstoppable half-volley which dipped perfectly to leave the keeper pawing at thin air.

Manchester United 0-1 Chelsea, FA Cup, 2006/07

Few goals are as memorable as when they win you a trophy, especially when they are as good as this one. This FA Cup final was goalless with just four minutes of extra time left when Drogba and Lampard combined – as they so often did – to break open Man Utd’s defence in a matter of seconds.

Drogba’s 33rd goal of a brilliant season came at the end of a rare game when he had struggled to make an impact. That changed emphatically when a brilliant one-two took the entire United defence out of the game, allowing Didier to toe a finish over the onrushing Edwin van der Sar.

Portsmouth 0-1 Chelsea, FA Cup, 2009/10

Another FA Cup final-winning goal from the king of Wembley. Throughout his time at Chelsea, Drogba had demonstrated his threat from set-pieces, thanks to a technique of striking free-kicks with pace and dip to wrongfoot goalkeepers. This was a perfect example of that and came at a crucial time, just four minutes after Petr Cech had saved a Portsmouth penalty.

We hit the woodwork five times over the course of the match, but when the killer blow was delivered it went in off the inside of the post, as Drogba’s pinpoint free-kick dipped and swerved to leave the keeper rooted to the spot. Not to mention sealing Chelsea’s first-ever domestic Double.

Bolton Wanderers 0-4 Chelsea, Premier League, 2010/11

Drogba had twice scored impressive goals in 4-0 wins over Bolton the previous season, including one incredible team goal of keepy-up over the defence involving Deco and Lampard. By the end of this game the Trotters, and in particular goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, must have been sick of the sight of the Blues and our legendary striker.

This time it was about Drogba’s own technique and power. Florent Malouda won possession and fed his close friend Didier 30 yards out. As Bolton hesitated to close him down, the striker needed no second invitation, unleashing a rocket full of power and moving unpredictably in the air, which left Jaaskelainen flummoxed and the crowd speechless.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-5 Chelsea, FA Cup, 2011/12

The last season of Drogba’s first spell with the Blues provided some of his best and biggest goals as we ended with two trophies. One of those was the FA Cup, after Didier had opened the scoring in our Wembley semi-final in emphatic fashion.

Our centre-forward made it look like men against boys when he controlled Lampard’s high ball on his chest and swivelled around William Gallas – himself a Premier League winner at Chelsea - with a neat flick. That gave him space, and he made excellent use of it, unleashing an unstoppable strike to send the bouncing ball into the top corner.

Bayern Munich 1-1 (3-4 pens) Chelsea, Champions League, 2011/12

The very last game of Drogba’s first spell at the Bridge will forever be a part of Chelsea history. He had long shown his ability in the air, and his header against the same opponents back in his debut season with the Blues was arguably a better example, but this one wins out for the pure drama at a crucial point on the biggest stage.

Chelsea were trailing in the Champions League final to Bayern Munich on their own turf in the last minute of the 90 when Juan Mata whipped an inswinging corner towards the near post. Who else could it be to meet it than Drogba, turning in mid-air to power a header in high at the near post. The rest is history, as our Ivorian secured his legendary status by converting the decisive spot-kick in the penalty shootout.