Celtic hat-trick hero Giorgos Giakoumakis has cited Chelsea icon Didier Drogba as his biggest footballing inspiration.
In a Twitter Q+A, where he also revealed he’d chatted to Vasilis Barkas and Giorgios Samaras prior to his Celtic move, Giakoumakis was asked about music, holidays and all sorts. But he’s joined a club at Parkhead that includes Ismaila Soro, who also said Drogba was his idol.
Giakoumakis said of the Ivory Coast and Chelsea legend [Celtic FC]: “Didier Drogba [was my idol]. He was confident, strong and his finishing was incredible.”
Quite the inspiration. And, if things had turned out just a little differently back in 2001, it could be a Celtic player that Giakoumakis was inspired by.
In 2001, Drogba asked Momo Sylla, a former teammate at Le Mans, what his chances were of signing for the Bhoys. Sylla warned him that with John Hartson, Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton and erm, David Fernandez at the club, there wouldn’t be many first-team chances [Planet Football].
Drogba instead stayed in France with Guingamp, then moved to Marseille, where he dazzled in European competition. Chelsea came calling soon after, and the rest is history.
The Ivorian striker, who helped to halt a civil war [BBC], scored 164 goals for Chelsea and 65 for the Ivory Coast. He also won 4 Premier League titles and a Champions League in West London. All in, not exactly bad inspiration for an aspiring striker.
Celtic striker Giakoumakis could do far worse than cite Chelsea legend Drogba as inspiration
You can see it in parts of Giakoumakis’ game. The anticipation, the first-time finishes, the upper-body strength and the movement; it’s all very Drogba, at times. If he can reach similar heights for Celtic, we’ll be absolutely delighted, given the medals Drogba amassed at Chelsea and elsewhere.
Although, spare a thought for Greek striking heroes like Euro 2004 hero Angelos Charisteas, or ex-Celtic forward Giorgios Samaras. Clearly, neither had quite the impact of Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, at least for a young Giakoumakis.
Giakoumakis has looked revitalised in 2022 after a difficult start to life at Celtic. Injuries and the lack of a pre-season hampered the former VVV-Venlo man, but he’s getting into an excellent goal-scoring habit for the Hoops.
On Sunday, he scored a “perfect” hat-trick against Dundee, and is covering well in the absence of striker Kyogo Furuhashi.
With 7 goals to his name thus far, Giakoumakis is averaging a goal every 126 minutes, in 884 minutes of action in total. It’s impressive form, and it’s certainly giving Ange Postecoglou options in a revitalised Hoops attack.
For a Twitter Q+A, Big Giak was extremely insightful, and he’s already riled up our rivals. On and off the park, he’s doing the business.
Read more: Watch: Letsosa’s screamer that secured dramatic Celtic B comeback
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