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Now that Wayne Rooney has retired, I am putting up a detailed thread comparing him to Didier Drogba, explaining why Drogba is massively underrated and overhated, whereas Rooney is heralded as one of the greatest PL players of all time.
Disclaimer: This is not a thread intended to throw shade at Rooney. In fact, I respect Rooney a lot and consider him a proper legend. The intention however, is to show how Drogba is not very far behind, both in terms of ability, and legacy.
Rooney is considered one of the top PL forwards of all time alongside Henry, Shearer and Aguero.
Drogba is considered overrated, and is often compared with “lesser” players such as Vardy, Lukaku, Heskey, Bent, and even Yakubu.
Drogba is considered overrated, and is often compared with “lesser” players such as Vardy, Lukaku, Heskey, Bent, and even Yakubu.
Firstly, comparing only PL stats, Rooney scored 208 goals and recorded 111 assists in 491 PL appearances at 0.65 G/A per game (0.76 p90) in a career spanning 16 odd years.
Drogba had 104 goals and 63 assists in 254 apps at 0.66 per game (0.86 p90) over 8 years.
Roughly half.
Drogba had 104 goals and 63 assists in 254 apps at 0.66 per game (0.86 p90) over 8 years.
Roughly half.
Now one would argue that Rooney played a lot of time as a youngster, and even played as a deep-lying playmaker in his later years.
There are arguments in Drogba’s favour too.
There are arguments in Drogba’s favour too.
Drogba featured in the AFCON in 5 of those 8 seasons, meaning he lost roughly a month of football in January in those 5 seasons.
He also played under 8 different coaches, many of them being pragmatic and defensive, as opposed to Rooney’s 13 seasons of SAF’s attacking football.
He also played under 8 different coaches, many of them being pragmatic and defensive, as opposed to Rooney’s 13 seasons of SAF’s attacking football.
Also, in Drogba’s second Chelsea stint, he featured in 28 apps. But in those 28, he featured only in 852 out of a possible 2520 minutes (mostly as a late second-half substitute).
A lot of games, but very little time to actually make an impact.
A lot of games, but very little time to actually make an impact.
This was Premier League. Moving on to FA Cup:
Player-Apps-Goals-Assists-G/A per game-G/A p90
Rooney-49-23-7-0.61-0.68
Drogba-29-12-7-0.66-0.73
Slightly in Drogba’s favour.
Player-Apps-Goals-Assists-G/A per game-G/A p90
Rooney-49-23-7-0.61-0.68
Drogba-29-12-7-0.66-0.73
Slightly in Drogba’s favour.
League Cup:
Player-Apps-Goals-Assists-G/A per game-G/A p90
Rooney-28-7-4-0.39-0.50
Drogba-20-10-3-0.65-1
Clearly in Drogba’s favour.
Player-Apps-Goals-Assists-G/A per game-G/A p90
Rooney-28-7-4-0.39-0.50
Drogba-20-10-3-0.65-1
Clearly in Drogba’s favour.
For Champions League, due to availability of data, I have compared the entire career tally:
Player-Apps-Goals-Assists-G/A per game-G/A p90
Rooney-85-30-21-0.6-0.66
Drogba-92-44-15-0.64-0.73
Again, slightly in Drogba’s favour.
Player-Apps-Goals-Assists-G/A per game-G/A p90
Rooney-85-30-21-0.6-0.66
Drogba-92-44-15-0.64-0.73
Again, slightly in Drogba’s favour.
National Team:
Player-Apps-Goals-Assists-G/A per game-G/A p90
Rooney-120-53-21-0.62-0.74
Drogba-84-57-11-0.81-0.96
Also in Drogba’s favour. One may argue that Drogba played against inferior opponents as opposed to Rooney. However, Drogba played WITH a largely inferior side.
Player-Apps-Goals-Assists-G/A per game-G/A p90
Rooney-120-53-21-0.62-0.74
Drogba-84-57-11-0.81-0.96
Also in Drogba’s favour. One may argue that Drogba played against inferior opponents as opposed to Rooney. However, Drogba played WITH a largely inferior side.
The England sides Rooney featured in were littered with legends of the game - from Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard in midfield, to Ferdinand, Terry, Cole in defence.
Of Drogba’s Ivory Coast teammates, only Yaya Toure can be considered a legend of the game.
Of Drogba’s Ivory Coast teammates, only Yaya Toure can be considered a legend of the game.
Since Drogba featured 8 seasons in the PL whereas Rooney featured in 16 seasons, I decided to compare career club stats:
Player-Apps-Goals-Assists-G/A per game-G/A p90:
Rooney-764-313-167-0.63-0.72
Drogba-686-300-125-0.62-0.79
Shocking, eh? Drogba’s got arguably better stats!
Player-Apps-Goals-Assists-G/A per game-G/A p90:
Rooney-764-313-167-0.63-0.72
Drogba-686-300-125-0.62-0.79
Shocking, eh? Drogba’s got arguably better stats!
PL Career trophy haul (only comparable ones):
Rooney:
5 League titles
1 FA Cup
3 League Cups
1 UCL
1 Europa League
1 FIFA CWC
Drogba:
4 League titles
4 FA Cups
3 League Cups
1 UCL
Much better for Drogba, considering his career in PL was half as long as Rooney’s.
Rooney:
5 League titles
1 FA Cup
3 League Cups
1 UCL
1 Europa League
1 FIFA CWC
Drogba:
4 League titles
4 FA Cups
3 League Cups
1 UCL
Much better for Drogba, considering his career in PL was half as long as Rooney’s.
Notable Individual Career highlights (only comparable ones):
Rooney:
3 X PFA TOTY
5 X PL POTM
1 X PFA POTY
1 X FIFPro World XI
1 X Golden Boy
Drogba:
2 X PFA TOTY + 1 X Ligue 1 TOTY
2 X PL Golden Boot
1 X FIFPro World XI
1 X Ligue 1 POTY
2 X Ligue 1 POTM
Rooney:
3 X PFA TOTY
5 X PL POTM
1 X PFA POTY
1 X FIFPro World XI
1 X Golden Boy
Drogba:
2 X PFA TOTY + 1 X Ligue 1 TOTY
2 X PL Golden Boot
1 X FIFPro World XI
1 X Ligue 1 POTY
2 X Ligue 1 POTM
The PFA POTY won by Rooney in the 2009-10 season was a very debatable one. Drogba had better stats, even though he missed a month of football due to AFCON. He also won the league that season, and also the PL Golden Boot.
He also has 3 Ballon D’or Top 10 finishes - 0 for Rooney.
He also has 3 Ballon D’or Top 10 finishes - 0 for Rooney.
Drogba is also regarded as one of the most clutch forwards in modern times, having scored 9 goals in 10 finals for Chelsea, and winning 8 of those 10 finals.
He was a proper big-game player, and proved pivotal in the most crucial times.
He was a proper big-game player, and proved pivotal in the most crucial times.
Drogba was a late bloomer, getting better with age, whereas Rooney started out very early and had a longer career at the highest level.
Being English helped Rooney’s cause a long way, as opposed to Drogba making a very long journey to reach the highest level.
Being English helped Rooney’s cause a long way, as opposed to Drogba making a very long journey to reach the highest level.
Drogba’s greatest moment in his career came at the age of 34 in the UCL final in 2012. He played at the highest level for a good 2-3 years after that.
Rooney turned 35 last year and has started managing - his career at the highest level was effectively over by the age of 31.
Rooney turned 35 last year and has started managing - his career at the highest level was effectively over by the age of 31.
All in all, Drogba had similar stats, won as many honours, and was as important to his side as Rooney over the course of their careers.
And yet we see a massive difference in how their careers are compared and who it is compared with.
And yet we see a massive difference in how their careers are compared and who it is compared with.
I don’t believe only in comparing raw stats. Playing style, eye test, impact on the game, and importance to the team are aspects that need to be compared alongside numbers.
One cannot in their right mind say that Drogba was any less important, or had less ability than Rooney.
One cannot in their right mind say that Drogba was any less important, or had less ability than Rooney.
Again, this is not intended to disrespect Rooney. I agree, he is one of the best forwards in the 21st century.
But those that make disrespect Drogba need proper reminding that he is ALSO one of the best forwards of this century.
But those that make disrespect Drogba need proper reminding that he is ALSO one of the best forwards of this century.
Stats courtesy of @Transfermarkt and @Wikipedia
