Drogba's mum was a huge fan of Yugoslav strongman Tito
7 Oct 2009, 1156 Hrs

Add comment          Mail          Print          Write to Editor

London, Oct.7 Yugoslav leader Marshal Tito's fighting spirit and bravery enthused football star Didier Drogba's mother Clotilde so much that she dubbed her son Tito.

Clotilde wanted to instill those leadership values in her son when she gave him the nickname, reports The Sun.

Clotilde said: "When I was pregnant with Didier there was this general who was the leader of Yugoslavia, Marshal Tito, that I appreciated a lot for his values and perseverance. I loved him a lot because of his fighting spirit and that's why we called Didier Tito."

It is the perseverance that Tito showed as leader of Yugoslavia that inspired Drogba, now 31, to stick with football when things were going against him.

Aged 11, after a financial crisis hit the Ivory Coast, Drogba moved to France with uncle Michael Goba, a journeyman pro footballer.

Parents Clotilde and Albert didn't join him until he was 13 - and the first thing they did was ban him from playing football for a year. That was because Didier was in danger of becoming a tearaway and, when he was forced to repeat a year in school, his parents acted swiftly.

A few years later, aged 17, he spent another year away from football - this time breaking a foot in a training-ground accident when at Levallois.

The Ivory Coast hit man had to wait until he was 25 to make his breakthrough with Marseille before a 24-million pound switch to Chelsea made him a global star. (ANI)

Related Latest

IPL has the ability to generate international fan bases, says Hayden Female fan gets naked at Robert Pattinson's request! Belle de Jour scientist's mum proud of her 'brilliant' daughter Susan Boyle says she promised mum to do something with her life Adriana Lima becomes mum of baby girl Dhoni fan club president in poll fray Life as single mum "full of laughter", says Elle Macpherson Average Brit mum relies on just nine meals to feed her family Queen a big fan of The Kumars At No 42 Tottenham's Defoe sees mum and family as his toughest critic

Related Latest

Brit woman turns her back on lawyer's career to make easy money as hooker Ride-on lawnmowers land thousands of people in hospital every year Cat endures 3,000-mile sea journey from Egypt to UK in shipping container! Stem cells in breast milk could fulfil baby's 'genetic destiny' Wayne Rooney's gay cousin wants to be a dad Mariah Carey 'to host grand champagne party for X Factor champ' Elizabeth Hurley's India affair over? Goa all set to host IFFI from Monday A.R Rahman urge people to maintain cleanliness around Ajmer Dargah FIFA may impose World Cup ban on French 'Hand Ball' striker Henry

• Elizabeth Hurley's India affair over?
• Mariah Carey 'to host grand champagne party for X Factor champ'
• Brit woman turns her back on lawyer's career to make easy money as hooker
• Ride-on lawnmowers land thousands of people in hospital every year
• Cat endures 3,000-mile sea journey from Egypt to UK in shipping container!

• भारतीय क्रिकेट की मजबूत दीवार
• कंगारूओं के आगे ढेर, चीतों से कैसे मुकाबला करेंगें शेर
• Reducing greenhouse gases may not be enough to slow global warming
• बीकानेर महापौर चुनावः एक विश्लेषण
• Deepawali: The Festival Of Lights