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Profile
Overview
Michael Essien
Michael Kojo Essien is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder and is currently a member of Danish Superliga club Nordsjælland's coaching staff.
03December
1982
03 December 1982
Born
Michael Essien was born on December. 3 1982.
29June
1999
29 June 1999
Early life
Essien, born in Accra to Aba Gyandoh and James Essien, started his football career at Liberty Professionals after graduating from St. Augustine's College, and gained recognition when he played in the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship, leading to a trial at Manchester United, though he was unable to obtain a work permit and eventually opted for a move to France as per his mother's preference.
29June
2000
29 June 2000
Club career
Michael Essien began his professional career with Bastia before joining Lyon, where he achieved success and won multiple titles, including three consecutive league titles and the Trophée des champions. He later moved to Chelsea, becoming one of the club's key players and earning accolades such as Chelsea Player of the Year and African Footballer of the Year. Essien also had loan spells at Real Madrid and AC Milan during his career.
29June
2001
29 June 2001
International career
Essien had an impressive international career with Ghana, starting with his participation in the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship and the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship, followed by his debut in the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations and subsequent involvement in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He played a key role in Ghana's progress in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, but suffered a knee injury that affected his participation in the 2010 World Cup. After a period of absence, he returned to the national team for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and made his final appearance in the 2014 tournament, eventually retiring from international football in 2018.
29June
2020
29 June 2020
Coaching career
Essien began training with Danish Superliga club Nordsjælland in August 2020, gaining valuable experience in working with the team and academy, as well as furthering his coaching education, as part of their partnership with the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana. Eventually, on 9 September 2020, it was confirmed that Essien had joined the club's coaching team for the 2020-21 season in an assistant role, assisting with training sessions and providing input to the coaching team's evaluations.
29June
2023
29 June 2023
Style of play
Essien, known as "The Bison," was a versatile midfielder with physical strength, playing primarily in a central midfield role, known for his box-to-box style, powerful tackling, defensive skills, good technique, vision, tactical intelligence, leadership qualities, and ability to strike the ball effectively from long range.
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