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Tag: Michael Essien

  • Michael Essien speaks on Ronaldo and Messi GOAT debate

    Former Ghana midfielder Michael Essien was quite diplomatic when speaking about the Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi debate on who is the greatest player of all-time.

    Ronaldo and Messi have ruled football for more than decade with the two winning 11 of the last 12 Ballon d’Or awards – with the Argentina ace winning six of them.

    When asked who he thinks has been the better player, Essien refused to commit to an answer, indicating that both are at the same level.

    “I won’t pick one and leave the other because they’re both top players. They’re both exceptional in whatever they’re doing,” Essien said on ConvosWithCarol.

    “It’s hard to pick one because I’ve played with Ronaldo and played against Messi and I can tell you they are both excellent players. It’s hard to pick to be honest because they both possess different characteristics.”

    Essien made 21 appearances and scored twice for Real Madrid during the 2012/13 season, playing alongside Ronaldo as the Whites lost the Spanish Copa Del Rey 2-1 to city rivals Atletico Madrid.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Why Michael Essien rejected PSG in 2003

    Ex-Ghana star Michael Essien has blamed Vahid Halilhodži? for his decision to pull the plugs in joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2003.

    Essien blamed the Bosnian trainer for handing him a raw deal and rejecting him as a trialist when Halilhodži? was in-charge at Lille.

    So when Les Parisiens came calling after an explosive three seasons with Bastia, also in the Ligue 1, he decided to pay back Halilhodži?.

    “I turned down PSG because of their coach [Vahid Halilhodži?]. He was coaching Lille when I was with Bastia and I remember going to Lille but after four days I called my agent and told him I don’t want to be here,” Essien said on Carol Tsabalala’s ConvosWithCarol which was monitored by GHANASoccernet.com

    “They didn’t give us the opportunity to train and he later told my agent that he had about twenty Michael Essiens in the reserve team. I moved to Bastia and I was doing well and he went to PSG and he wanted me there.”

    Paris Saint-Germain made Bastia the best offer and it was accepted but the midfield icon had no love for the capital club.

    ”The PSG president was a big fan of me and he really wanted me so I told the board of my reasons for not wanting to sign for PSG but rather Lyon and they were like okay but we’re going to have a big problem,” he added.

    “The next day the PSG president had a lunch with me and asked why I don’t want to join his team. He’s a very nice man and I respect him up till date, he was so nice but I was straight and honest with him.

    ”I told him your coach didn’t want me when I was about 18, 19 years old so how come all of a sudden he want me. For me it didn’t make sense.

    ”Maybe I was young but I remember speaking to the coach on the phone when I went to trial at Lille but the manner in which we ended the conversation was a No for me.

    ”So I explained to the president and he understood me. After that, I packed my bags straight to Lyon.”

    Essien did not regret to decision to sign for the then two-time defending league champions in €7.8 million transfer.

    He spent two seasons at the Stade Gerland where he scored seven goals in 71 appearances.

    Essien was voted the 2005 Player of the Year by France’s National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) and also named Ligue 1 Player of the Year.

    He got nominated for the 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year Award where placed 22nd.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Who is the Premier League’s best ever Ghanaian player?

    Some exceptionally gifted players have come from overseas to light up the Premier League, and we are celebrating the talent that has arrived from a few selected nations.

    We are looking at the achievements of the Premier League’s top Ghanaians and we want to know who you think has been the best.

    A total of 25 players from the West African country have featured in the Premier League, with Nii Lamptey being the first when he represented Aston Villa in September 1994.

    Tony Yeboah became the first Ghanaian goalscorer in the competition when he struck for Leeds United in February 1995.

    It was one of 24 Premier League goals he scored, some of which were truly breathtaking.

    Indeed, Yeboah’s goal tally is the joint-highest among his countrymen but is close to being surpassed by Jordan Ayew.

    The Crystal Palace forward has scored a career-high eight goals in the current campaign, boosting his total to 24 since his first came for Aston Villa against a Swansea City side which featured his brother, Andre Ayew.

    In terms of appearances, Michael Essien leads the way with 168 for Chelsea. The two-time champion is one of only three Ghanaians to lift the Premier League Trophy.

    The others, Jeffrey Schlupp and Daniel Amartey, were both parts of Leicester City’s fairytale 2015/16 campaign.

    Ghana’s most-capped player and highest-ever goalscorer also made his mark on the Premier League.

    While Asamoah Gyan’s time in the competition was brief, he reached 10 goals in one season for Sunderland, where he was joined on loan by his compatriot Sulley Muntari.

    Three seasons prior Muntari had helped Portsmouth to their highest-ever Premier League finish as ended the 2007/08 campaign in eighth place and won the FA Cup.

    Source: Premier League

  • ‘The game was very disappointing’- Essien recalls Champions League game against Barca

    Former Chelsea star Michael Essien has opened up on the famous UEFA Champions League semi-final game against Barcelona in 2008/9 season which saw his side exit the competition after a 1-1 draw at the Stamford Bridge.

    The Ghanaian superstar put the home side in front in the ninth minute to give his side a comfortable lead in the game.

    From outside the penalty box, the former Persib Bandung midfielder fired hard volley using the left foot. The ball raced into the corner of the opponent’s goal without being able to be driven out by goalkeeper Victor Valdes .

    Chelsea were able to keep the Catalan club from scoring until a rocket from Barca’s Andrea Iniesta ended the Blues hope of reaching the final.

    “The game was very disappointing. Even though my goal was beautiful, one of the best in my career against a great team like Barcelona,” Essien recalled the dramatic defeat at Stamford Bridge .

    Essien left Chelsea in 2014 after recording 256 appearances and 25 goals in all competitions.

    He then traveled to AC Milan, Panathinaikos, Persib, and now plays for Sabail in Azerbaijan.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Michael Essien among former Premier League stars who are still active

    Chelsea legend Michael Essien is among a number of former English Premier League stars who are still playing actively.

    The veteran midfielder is still performing at the age of 37, where he features for Azerbaijani side Sabail.

    The ex-Ghana international Essien is still strutting his stuff and has recently played crucial roles for Panathinaikos and Indonesian side Persib Banding.

    He is currently starring for Azerbaijani side Sabail, who were only formed four years ago.

    Essien, nicknamed the ‘Bison’ for his physical presence on the pitch, was one of Roman Abramovich’s most successful signings at Stamford Bridge.

    With the Blues he won two Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League amongst others.

    After leaving Chelsea he featured 20 times for Italian giants AC Milan in an injury-hit spell before plying his trade in Greece.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • This is how much Michael Essien is being paid at Sabail FK

    The salary of Ghana midfielder, Michael Essien in Azerbaijan has been revealed.

    Essien has been a key figure for Sabail FK.

    The Chelsea legend earned about 800,000 euros in Asia and about 250,000 euros in Azerbaijan.

    Speech by Umukh Mukhtar, the former head coach of Persib Bandung, said that the current player of Sabail lived a luxurious life in Indonesia.

    “Michael had a fantastic salary and luxurious conditions in Indonesia. He was also saddened to leave Persib Bandung. At that time, the club’s management was planning to keep Essien for the 2018 season. But for some reason, he broke his contract with Persib Bandung. Maybe the issue was with the coach. However, he had a contract. But what can I do, maybe his departure was due to the mentality. He failed in Persib.”

    Michael’s contract with Sabail expires at the end of the current season.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Michael Essien was my idol while growing up- Nasiru Moro

    Former Accra Lions centre-back Nasiru Moro has spoken about his early days as a midfielder, saying that former Ghana star Michael Essien was his idol while he was growing up.

    “I know many will doubt why a defender choosing a midfielder as a role model,” Moro said.

    “I started my career as a midfielder and i watched him play for Ghana and various clubs in Europe, he showed me how great soccer was played. I miss watching him play tho.

    “He shows both individual skill and the importance of teamwork. The ability he has to keep control of the ball is what made me interested in soccer growing up.

    “Essien who is a versatile player is one of the greatest soccer players in the history of Ghana.

    Nasiru penned a three-year deal in 2018/2019 season with HNK Gorica in the Croatian Premier League.

    Source: footballmadeinghana.com

  • I like it here in Azerbaijan – Michael Essien

    Former Chelsea ace and Ghana international Michael Essien is enjoying life in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku due to the less traffic in the European city.

    Essien compared his stay in Baku to his time in Indonesia, where he reveals the traffic was ‘twenty times worse.’

    The 37-year old left Indonesian club Persib Bandung in 2018 to join Azerbaijani side Sabail FK as player coach.

    “When I told my friends about Baku, they did not even know where the city was. But nothing prevented me from going to Azerbaijan,” Essien told Russian media, Sportbox.

    “There is no traffic jam in Baku at all and I have something to compare. A few years ago I played in Indonesia, the traffic situation was 20 times worse. The cuisine in Azerbaijan is very tasty, but high in calories,” he added.

    The Chelsea legend is not showing any signs of retirement soon after a spectacular career, that has seen him win multiple titles including the UEFA Champions League.

    The ‘Bison’ as he is affectionately known played for several clubs including European giants Real Madrid and AC Milan.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • ‘When you hit that top corner’- Micheal Essien recalls Premier League goal

    Chelsea Legend Michael Essien brought back some good memories during his time with the English club where he established himself as one of the best central midfielders in the world.

    Essien helped Chelsea to win the Premier League in 2006 and 2010, as well as three FA Cups and one League Cup.

    He also won the UEFA Champions League in 2012, while also placing as runner up in the 2008 UEFA Champions League.

    He won the Chelsea Goal of the Season award twice, in the 200607 and 200809 seasons.

    Essien in a post on his official IG page re-lived one of the goals he scored for the Blues in a Premier League match and captioned it ” When you hit that top corner”.

    The 37-year-old made 168 appearances in the Premier League for Chelsea, scoring 17 goals and 10 assists.

    VIDEO: “When you hit that top corner’- Micheal Essien recall Premier League goal

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

  • Michael Essien handed Sabail FK U-19 coaching job

    Ghanaian legend, Michael Essien has been handed a coaching job with the u-19 team of Azerbaijani side Sabail FK.

    The former Chelsea FC star joined the senior team of Sabail FK as a player in March 2019 as a free agent after ending his contract with Indonesian side Persib Bandung.

    One year on, he has been offered a contract that makes him one of the coaching staff of the U-19 team of Sabail FK.

    He inked a one-and-a-half-year deal to extend his stay in Azerbaijan as a player with the senior team of his club as well as a coach for the youth team.

    According to sources, the club sees him with great potential and could in the future make him the main coach for the u-19 team.

    Michael Essien has had an outstanding career as a footballer after playing for clubs such as Chelsea, AC Milan, and Real Madrid.

    He is considered a legend in Ghana after making 58 appearances for the Black Stars and scoring 9 goals.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Ghana legend Michael Essien suffers groin injury

    Ghana hero Michael Essien is set to spend sometime on the sidelines after suffering a groin injury during Sabail FK 1-1 draw with Neftchi PFK in the Azerbaijani Premier League.

    The veteran midfielder sustained a groin injury and was substituted 16th minute of the game.

    Essien was unmarked at the time of the injury. He made a long pass and a few seconds later, he played the ball out of play while he expressed pain and walked out of the pitch.

    The former Chelsea star was later replaced with Elchin Rahimli.

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

  • Chelsea legend Michael Essien meets Wales manager Ryan Giggs

    Former Ghana midfielder Michael Essien met Wales manager Ryan Giggs in Baku, Azerbaijan.

    The two were long time rivals in the English Premier League, when Essien played for Chelsea with Giggs playing for Manchester United.

    “It was great meeting you again, Ryan Giggs, Legend,” he posted on Instagram.

    The two have enjoyed several battles at the opposite ends but the most famous fixture between them was the 2008 Champions League final in Russia.

    Giggs had the better of Essien, leading the Red Devils to their third title.

    Michael Essien is now player manager at Sabail FK in Azerbaijan.

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

  • Playing for Real Madrid one of the highlights of my career – Michael Essien

    Ghana midfielder, Michael Essien has reiterated playing for Spanish giants, Real Madrid is one of the biggest moment in his playing career.

    The former Lyon and Bastia kingpin joined the La Liga on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea in September 2012 after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus injury to team up with his former manager, Jose Mourinho who sign him from Lyon in 2005 at the club.

    Read:Essien becomes the second African player to make FIFA 20 Ultimate Team Icon list

    “Every player will love to play for Real Madrid,” he told EA Sports. “They are the biggest club in the world.

    “I have the chance to play for them so I had to give everything I had.

    “I really enjoyed playing for them and it one of the best moment in my playing career,” he added.

    Read:Michael Essien to play in Real Madrid-Chelsea legends match

    Essien scored on his debut as Real Madrid demolished Real Zaragoza by 4:0 at the Santiago Bernabeu and wrapped up his loan stint with the club with a final goal against Osasuna.

    The former AC Milan midfielder made 35 appearances for the Real Madrid and made history by winning the La Liga title.

    Source: footballghana.com