Legendary striker Didier Drogba didn’t come to Phoenix to enjoy 60-degree weather in the winter and relax by the pool in the summer. No, Drogba joined Phoenix Rising to win games and to elevate the club’s status in USL and around the world.



During a home game against San Antonio FC in July of 2017, Drogba started at striker for Phoenix in the full heat of the Arizona summer. In a moment when he wasn’t busy giving San Antonio’s center backs headaches with his movement and his 6-foot-2 frame, Drogba tossed out an irresistible pitch to a talented opponent about coming to Phoenix.



San Antonio winger Billy Forbes, who won the USL player of the month award earlier in the 2017 season and would receive a number of calls from other interested USL clubs looking to acquire his services in the offseason, caught Drogba’s attention during that July game.



“Didier told Billy on the field, ‘You’re going to play for us next...