Didier Drogba - Chelsea

Arguably the African player of the decade, Drogba burst onto the English game under Mourinho's regime at Chelsea. Battering ram for Chelsea and captain of Ivory Coast, Drogba is never far from controversy.

Already at 8th highest for all time Chelsea goals, he is the top scoring foreigner for the London club. He is both a great goal-scorer and a scorer of great goals. He has scored decisive goals in cup final games - the 2007 FA Cup and the Carling (League) Cup 2005 and 2007. With 68 goals, he is always on the shortlist to be the leading EPL goal-scorer over the past 5 years.

Drogba has been the front man who uses strength, power and pace, alongside a ferocious shot and great guile to terrorise defences. Capable of scoring from 2 yards as well as from 30, he has a good work ethic on the field and will often be found in his own box, defending corners. His trademark trick is to receive the ball facing his own goal, with the opposition defender on his back, holding ball, turning, or playing another player in. His link up play with Lampard, Anelka and Malouda has been excellent, though he has had a few disagreements with Ballack.

Drogba started his career at Le Mans. Then earned some frame for scoring 17 goals in 34 games for Guingamp. In 2003, he moved to Olympique de Marseille for £3.3 million, and his 19 goals earned him a £24 million move to Chelsea.

Definitely the greatest Ivorian footballer, he is captain of his country and scored Ivory coast's first ever goal in a World Cup tournament in 2006. He was African footballer of the year in 2006. 41 goals in 60 games for his country is also a stunning return for the Chelsea front man.

Away from the pitch, Drogba is known for his charity work and was appointed by the United Nations Development Programme as a Goodwill Ambassador in 2007. He has three children with his Malian wife, Alla.

On the pitch, however, Drogba has always courted controversy. He admitted that he occasionally dived, after being accused of being a serial diver. He had on-field pantomime spats with the equally volatile Jens Lehmann of Arsenal. He was banned for 4 games in the Champions league after swearing into the camera after the infamous game against Barcelona, in the semifinals. Love him or hate him, you cannot ignore Drogba.