Didier Drogba will return to Chelsea as part of the coaching staff at the request of Roman Abramovich, according to African publication Jeune Afrique.
The Blues owner called up the Ivorian striker, who played at Stamford Bridge between 2004 and 2012 then again in the 2014-15 season, just hours after sacking Jose Mourinho to invite Drogba to work under the club's next manager.
Drogba is currently with Canadian side Montreal Impact in the MLS but will call time on his playing career in order to take up the new position, which will initially be in recruitment. The 37-year-old will work on earning his coaching badges before eventually taking up a more senior coaching role with the first team.
A source told the newspaper: "He's happy to return to Chelsea. It's his heart club, even if he felt betrayed by Jose Mourinho, who had not met all obligations to him when he returned to England during the 2014-2015 season."
Guus Hiddink is expected to be appointed interim manager until the end of the season in the next few days.
Neil Wilkes
