Jose Mourinho and Michael Essien share a close bond akin to a father-and-son relationship, with Essien attributing much of his success to Mourinho.
Essien rose to prominence and endeared himself to Chelsea fans during the 2005–2006 Premier League season, where his pivotal role contributed significantly to the club’s triumph.
Mourinho played a key role in assembling a formidable squad at Chelsea, which included African talents like Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, and John Obi-Mikel, alongside Essien.
However, it’s noteworthy that Essien stands out as the only player among them to have played under Mourinho at both Chelsea and Real Madrid, underscoring the special connection between them.
He said, albeit playfully, that, he sometimes had to stop Essien from referring to him as ‘daddy’ due to the closeness of their age gap. “Every time I go to Africa, I cannot walk. The guys, they love me. Even in Europe, many of the African guys love me. And to be honest, I love the guys and I feel that the African player is very loyal and very pure.
Many of them call me Daddy, and some of them are almost my age. When Essein calls me daddy, I say, ‘Come on, Michael, don’t call me daddy; you are almost my age,” he said.
Michael Essien attributes much of his success to Jose Mourinho, with whom he shares a father-and-son-like relationship. Essien’s rise to fame and adoration among Chelsea fans coincided with his pivotal role in the club’s 2005–2006 Premier League triumph.
Signed by Mourinho, Essien was part of a cohort of talented African players at Chelsea, including Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, and John Obi-Mikel, all of whom significantly contributed to the manager’s success.
Notably, Essien stands out as the only player among them to have played under Mourinho at both Chelsea and Real Madrid, highlighting the unique bond between them.