Michael Essien
Michael Essien, 2013
Michael Kojo Essien ( born December 3, 1982 in Accra ) is a Ghanaian footballer, who currently has a contract with AC Milan.
Career
Clubs
He was elected to the 2002/03 season most valuable player of France, when he was active for SC Bastia. Essien was also twice French Player of the Year.
The midfielder has been with Olympique Lyon in 2004 and 2005 champion of France and moved to the 2005/06 season for 38 million euros from Lyon to English champions Chelsea. There he had a contract until 30 June 2013. 2007 he was awarded the Chelsea Player of the Year award. In September 2008, he retired to a torn ACL. On 4 June 2010, Chelsea announced that Essien contract was prematurely extended until 30 June 2015.
On August 31, 2012 moved Essien for a year on loan to Real Madrid.
For the 2013/14 season he returned to Chelsea. He was in the first round, however, little attention of Jose Mourinho and therefore changed on 27 January 2014 in the Italian Serie A for AC Milan, where he signed a contract until 30 June 2015.
National
With the Ghanaian national team, he took in 2006 at the World Cup finals in Germany in part. With Ghana, he survived the group stage against Italy, Czech Republic and the United States. In the fourth round the Ghanaians met on Brazil, but without Essien because he had received his second yellow card in the tournament in their final group game against the United States and was therefore suspended for this game. This meant that Ghana has been significantly weakened since Essien along with Stephen Appiah the backbone in the middle of the team formed, which remained largely a chance despite your best efforts against Brazil. Due to a knee injury he incurred in January at the Africa Cup 2010, he had to cancel participation in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Play
Michael Essien may be used in the midfield versatile, both offensively and defensively. He can also play in defense when needed. But he is best described as so-called " six " play before the defense.
Achievements
Association
- French Champion: 2004 and 2005
- French Supercup: 2003 and 2004
- English Champion: 2006 and 2010
- FA Cup: 2007, 2009 and 2012
- FA Community Shield: 2009
- Carling Cup: 2007
- UEFA Champions League: 2012
Internationally
- World Cup participants: 2006
- Africa Cup participants: 2002, 2006 and 2008
Personal Achievements
- Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2005
- BBC African Footballer of the Year: 2006
- Chelsea Player of the Year Award: 2007
- Ghana Footballer of the Year: 2008
Trivia
Along with the band Wills and the Willing and his team-mate Didier Drogba Essien took on the song "Skin". He is also ambassador athletes of development aid organization Right to Play.
In 2008, Michael Essien had to stop due to a cruciate ligament injury for half a year. He survived the injury well and shot a few weeks later almost Chelsea against Barcelona in the final of the UEFA Champions League. However, not Londoners came out to a 1-1, the first leg ended 0-0.