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Born in Abidjan on 11 March 1978, Didier Drogba spent his childhood in his home country Côte d’Ivoire and his adopted France. ‘Tito’ as he was known to friends and family, first left the country of his birth at the age of five. He headed for Brest in Brittany, where his uncle, Michel Goba, was a professional footballer. Drogba spent three years there with his uncle, living in Brest, Angoulême  and Dunkirk, before returning home.

Following a downturn in economic conditions in which his parents lost their jobs,he returned to live with his uncle in Dunkirk, though he continued to move around France as a youngster. It was at this time that he began to play football.

 In 1991 his parents also travelled to France, first to Vannes and then in 1993 settling at Antony in the Paris suburbs, at which point the 15-year-old Drogba returned to live with them and his siblings. He signed for local club Levallois, where he rose through the ranks, playing for them in National 2, the fourth French level, aged 18.

 His progress was hindered by poor physical condition; he did not train every day and lived on a diet of junk food. After leaving school he moved to Le Mans to study accountancy.

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