After playing for the Impact in MLS for the last two season, F Didier Drogba has joined ownership group of USL club Phoenix Rising FC and will "help develop the team as a player before advancing to an executive role," according to the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Drogba is Ivory Coast’s all-time leading scorer and a four-time EPL champion with Chelsea (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/13). In N.Y., Rory Smith notes Drogba's contract "allows for either one or two more seasons as a player, before moving to a role either in the back office or on the club’s coaching staff." He has also "taken equity in the team, which aims to secure one of four MLS expansion slots in the next three years." Drogba said, "I can help them reach MLS. I have always liked challenges." Drogba will "probably" become Sporting Dir once he retires. Drogba: "This is a transition for me. It is time to prepare for the next stage of my life, to get everything ready for the next phase" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/13). In London, Matt Law notes Drogba "will be involved in all boardroom decisions" (London TELEGRAPH, 4/13).
ORDER OF THE PHOENIX: SOCCER AMERICA's Paul Kennedy notes Phoenix Rising was a "last-minute entry into the MLS expansion race and has built a pop-up stadium near Tempe" (SOCCERAMERICA.com, 4/13). FOXSPORTS.com's Alex Dowd noted Phoenix Rising has the "investors, land for a stadium and now a big-name player/co-owner on board." Their "next big step will be securing the funding and approval for a stadium to build" (FOXSPORTS.com, 4/12).
