SASoccermag.co.za looks back at the legends of the Premier League, and today features Didier Drogba and his exploits in the 2009-2010 season.

The 2009-10 Premier League season will go down in history as one of the best ever after Carlo Ancelotti’s Blues and Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United went into the final day of fixtures separated by just a single point.

Chelsea, much to the neutral spectators’ delight, ended United’s three-season reign as champions of England as they demolished Wigan 8-0, meaning the Red Devils’ 4-0 triumph over Stoke City counted for very little while Burnley, Hull City and Portsmouth were relegated from the top flight.

It was Chelsea’s brilliance in attack that landed them the title as they scored a record 103 goals, romping to the title in Ancelotti’s first season in charge of the London club. The Blues followed up their league success with FA Cup glory a week later as Didier Drogba scored a free kick to cap a perfect season for himself and the club.

The Ivorian battered defenders and goalkeepers en route to scoring 29 goals to claim his second Golden Boot title, despite missing almost a month due to international duty. The race for league honours mirrored the battle for the Golden Boot as Drogba eventually edged Wayne Rooney to the award. The England international was forced to settle for second place as he finished three goals short of Drogba’s tally, which was boosted by a final day hat-trick in Chelsea’s title-deciding win over the Latics.

Drogba’s exploits would see him earn a number of individual awards, including the 2009 BBC African Footballer of the Year, a place in the PFA Team of the Year (2010) and the Chelsea Player of the Year (2009-10).

The 2009-10 season was the second and final time Drogba would score 20-plus goals in a league campaign, the first coming in the 2006-07 season. The burly Ivorian ended his eight-year stay at Stamford Bridge in May 2012, after Chelsea opted against renewing his contract. Drogba enjoyed spells in China and Turkey before returning on a brief one-year contract with the Blues.

Drogba is enjoying a fruitful spell in the MLS with the Montreal Impact.