Former Ghana and Chelsea football icon, Michael Essien, has shared insights into his transition into coaching following his retirement from active play. At 41, Essien, who holds a UEFA License A coaching certificate, has been working as an Individual Player Coach at Danish club FC Nordsjaelland since 2020.
In an exclusive interview with Joy Sports Editor Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo at the club’s training base in Farum, Essien revealed that he had never initially planned to pursue a coaching career after he hung up his boots. However, he soon recognized the importance of staying connected to football. “When I was playing, if you asked me if I wanted to go into coaching, I would say no,” he admitted. “But as time passed, I started thinking: I’ve been in football all my life; why not take up coaching and acquire my licenses to still stay in football and be around the players?
Essien emphasized his decision to coach stemmed from his desire to avoid the potential post-career depression that some former players experience. He said,”I took this decision to go into coaching because I didn’t want to be one of these ex-players who finish their careers, go home, and start thinking about what they want to do, only to get into depression.
Essien began his career with Liberty Professionals and went on to play for several clubs, including Lyon and Chelsea, where he achieved significant success, notably winning the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea in 2012.
Despite facing numerous injuries throughout his career, Essien expressed no resentment towards Ghana, where he sustained some of his worst injuries while playing for the Black Stars. Representing Ghana at two World Cups, including their historic first appearance in 2006, he also led the national team to a third-place finish at AFCON 2008.
Reflecting on his injury history, he noted, “It is widely believed that I could have contributed more for my country were it not for these injuries.” His first major injury occurred during a match against Senegal in August 2007, followed by a severe anterior cruciate ligament rupture in August 2007 during an international friendly.
Essien’s injury woes did not end there. He recounted, ”(I suffered) my first injury while I was playing for the Black Stars, agianst Libya. That was when I damaged my knee badly. I mean, it happens. If there are no injuries, maybe others will not get opportunities so it is part of it,”
Two years later, while at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, Essien faced yet another injury, initially thought to be a recurring hamstring issue, which occurred in training.
Despite these setbacks, Essien remains committed to his new role in football, showing that his passion for the sport continues through coaching.
