Didier Drogba: I thought John Terry was a Chelsea reserve

The Ivorian striker signed from Marseille in 2004, but had such limited knowledge of English football that he did not recognise Terry during his first training session.

"I noticed a tall, strong guy who looked so young, and who walked and carried himself in such a way that I assumed he was from the reserves," he wrote in his autobiography Commitment, which is being serialised by the Daily Mail.

"'That's interesting,' I thought. 'They've obviously brought him over to get a bit of senior squad experience.'

"Towards the end of the session I asked another player who the young guy was. 'It's the captain!' he replied, laughing. 'John Terry'."

"That's how little I knew about the team - I hadn't even recognised their new young captain."

Drogba and Terry, along with Petr Cech and Frank Lampard, formed a formidable spine during his first spell at the club.

The two-time African footballer of the year won three Premier League titles in that stint – adding another in 2014/15 upon his return – four FA Cups and the Champions League.