Michael Essien Fan

A fresh report from Football Insider has offered an intriguing update on Everton’s long-running pursuit of Chelsea playmaker Conor Gallagher. Everton have now made an approach to try and sign the 22-year-old England international ahead of the 2022/23 season. The young Chelsea midfielder spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Crystal Palace and was one of the Premier League’s rising stars as he enjoyed a fine spell, scoring eight goals from 34 top-flight appearances, helping Palace to a comfortable 12th-place finish.

That form drew the attention of England head coach, Gareth Southgate, and Gallagher is now firmly in contention for a spot on the plane to Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, he has a decision to make on his immediate future now that he has returned to Chelsea, where he faces competition in a crowded midfield group. Continue reading EVERTON MAKE APPROACH FOR CHELSEA STAR WHO MICHAEL ESSIEN LIKES

Michael Essien started his career as a professional footballer at French club Bastia in 2000 on the back of his spell as a youth player at Liberty Professionals in his native Ghana.His Bastia debut came as a substitute for club skipper Laurent Casanova during a league game against Metz on September 30, 2000.Essiendidn’t command a place in the Bastia XI on a regular basis immediately as he was deployed in positions across the back four. His debut campaign at Bastia ended with one goal in 13 league matches. The lone goal came during the 3-2 defeat to Metz.

In his second season at Bastia, manager Robert Nouzaretgave Michael Essienthe chance to play in central midfield and he seized it thus establishing himself in the position.The Ghanaian star formed midfield partnerships with Cyril Jeunechamp and Nicolas Dieuze as he found the back of the net with important goals in wins over Lorient, Guingamp and Nantes. On January 12, 2002, Michael Essien scored the Bastia equaliser against hosts Marseille at the StadeVelodrome to level the match at 2-2. He was also on target during the win over Le Mans in the French League Cup. Future Chelsea teammate Didier Drogba scored for Le Mans during the cup game. Continue reading MICHAEL ESSIEN: BASTIA CAREER IN FOCUS

Former Brazil and Chelsea defender Alex has revealed that he has undergone heart bypass surgery after four blocked arteries were discovered. The 39-year-old retired from the sport in 2016 after a long and successful career playing for Chelsea, PSV Eindhoven, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan. Alex’ former club Santos posted on its social media channels a video of the former defender at a hospital in an undisclosed location as he recovers on Friday.

He said he is coming to deny the various reports that were claiming that he had a heart attack. He added that he discovered a health problem a few days ago, with doctors deciding to give him a bypass surgery. He said he had four blocked arteries too. Also, he collided by saying that he just left the intensive care unit, and that he will stay at the hospital for another six days. Continue reading ESSIEN, OTHERS WISH FORMER CHELSEA STAR SPEEDY RECOVERY AFTER SURGERY

Chelsea icon Michael Essien has had his say on Callum Hudson-Odoi’s new look as the winger returned to training following an injury absence. The 21-year-old has now missed a total of 14 games since picking up an Achilles problem back in March. The timing of the injury was rather unfortunate as he had started more and more games in his preferred left winger role up until that point.

The Chelsea academy graduate would have provided Tuchel with more options in wing-back positions as well if he had been available. He announced his return to the team training on Wednesday — as well as his new haircut — with social media posts. This attracted the attention of Blues fan favourite ESSIEN. “Looking much nicer with this hairstyle,” the former Ghana international wrote in the comment section. Continue reading MICHAEL ESSIEN REACTS TO CHELSEA STAR’S NEW LOOK

Michael Essien was delighted that the Black Stars of Ghana pulled off an impressive feat as they qualified for the World Cup 2022 tournament in Qatar at the expense of West African rivals Nigeria. Michael Essien took to his official Twitter account to celebrate the World Cup qualification at the expense of Nigeria at the end of last month.

Ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder Michael Essien was a key player for Ghana during his playing days. He scored nine goals in 59 games for Ghana over a 12-year period. He was part of the Ghana squad that qualified for the FIFA World Cup tournament for the first time at the 2006 edition in Germany before they were eliminated by five-time champions Brazil at the last 16 stage. Michael Essien was suspended for the round of 16 game with the Brazilians which ended in a 3-0 defeat.

Ghana were able to qualify for their fourth World Cup tournament by seeing off Nigeria via the away goals rule. The Ghanaians came into the two-legged World Cup playoff tie with Nigeria on the back of a poor showing at the last African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Cameroon. The five-time African champions crashed out of the AFCON tournament in Cameroon at the group stage after suffering a disappointing 3-2 defeat at the hands of lowly Comoros with ten men. Ghana played the majority of the game with ten men after skipper Andre Ayew was sent off in the first half.

In their World Cup playoff tie, Ghana were forced to a goalless draw at home to Nigeria at the end of the first leg before the Ghanaians booked their place in Qatar after a 1-1 draw at the end of the second leg in Nigeria. Thomas Partey gave Ghana the lead before it was cancelled out by the penalty from William Troost-Ekong. Ghana sealed their place in Qatar via the away goals rule.

Michael Essien played his first game for the Ghana senior team careerduring an international friendly encounter with the Pharaohs of Egypt on January 4, 2002. The game was in preparation for the 2002 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Mali. Michael Essien made his competitive debut for the team during the group stage clash with Morocco on January 21, 2002.

Essienbecame an important player in the Ghana senior national team setup on the back of his outing at the aforementioned tournament in Mali. He was part of the Ghana team that qualified for the World Cup for the first time ahead of the 2006 edition in Germany. Michael Essien formed a strong midfield trio at the tournament on German soil alongside SulleyMuntari and Stephen Appiah. With his input in midfield, Ghana were the only African team to qualify for the round of 16. He was suspended for the round of 16 clash with Brazil which ended in a 3-0 defeat for his team. Continue reading ESSIEN: GHANA SENIOR TEAM CAREER EXAMINED

French teams Lyon and Paris Saint Germain (PSG) were both keen on signing Michael Essienfrom Bastia in the summer of 2003. In the end, Michael Essien snubbed PSG in favour of Lyon in a €7.8m transfer. PSG offered a better transfer feefor Essienthan Lyonand it was accepted by Bastia, but the player preferred a move to Lyon.

Michael Essien was given the number 4 shirt at Lyon when he signed for them from fellow French team Bastiaand he was mostly used as a box-to-box midfielder thus allowing him to provide support for Brazilian playmaker Juninho, while defensive midfielders MahamadouDiarra and Edmilson provided cover for the defence. Continue reading MICHAEL ESSIEN: LYON CAREER EXAMINED

French club Bastia signed Michael Essien as a teenager in the summer of 2000 and he was given his professional debut during a league match with Metz on September 30, 2000. He came on as a substitute for club captain Laurent Casanova.

Michael Essien played for the first time in Europe in the colours of Bastia on the back of his youth team career at Liberty Professionals in his native Ghana. The midfielder didn’t immediately command a regular place in the Bastia XI as he was deployed in a number of positions across the back four. Michael Essien finished his first season in Europe with one goal in 13 league appearances for Bastia. His first goal for Bastia came in the return leg against Metz in his first season at the club. The Ghanaian star scored but he could not prevent Metz from winning 3-2. Continue reading MICHAEL ESSIEN: BASTIA CAREER EXAMINED

It has been revealed that Ghanaian football icon Michael Essien was a massive fan of ex-Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane who has moved to management and punditry since he retired as a player several years ago.

Michael Essien spoke about his admiration for Keane during an interview with The Sun in 2005 as the midfielder said that he supported Manchester United as a boy while growing up in his native Ghana. He stated how overjoyed he was when Manchester United offered him a one-week trial at the age of 17. In the end, the midfield powerhouse could not sign for the Red Devils due to work permit issues. Michael Essien could have started his European career at Manchester United if not for work permit. While he was on trial at Manchester United, Essien was unable to speak to the big players at the club.

Essien would later talk about how he modelled his game after ex-Republic of Ireland international in another interview since they play in the same defensive midfield position.

In the absence of a work permit, Michael Essien moved to France to start his career in European football. He would eventually sign for a Premier League team, but not Manchester United. Essien was at French club Lyon when Chelsea paid a then club-record fee to sign him in the summer of 2005.Jose Mourinho was the Chelsea manager at the time and he played a big role in his signing. Chelsea had won the Premier League title for the first time at the time ahead of London rivals Arsenal and they were able to achieve the feat again in the first season for Michael Essien at Stamford Bridge. Essien was a top performer in midfield as Chelsea became only the second team to defend the Premier League title successfully during the 2005/06 season.

Ghanaian football icon Michael Essien has hailed the world’s first malaria vaccine which could prevent thousands of deaths especially amongst children.

Several years before he became a known name on the Premier League scene, Michael Essien was a barefoot kid in Ghana who scored regularly against goalkeepers with goalposts made of stacked rocks. Like what was obtainable with other children in the world at the time, a young Michael Essien suffered from malaria several times.
Essien said that he’s still alive and kicking after surviving malaria as a child, but he knows that 260,000 African kids are not as lucky. To this effect, the malaria vaccine is a blessing to the continent and Michael Essien shares the same opinion. According to him, the impending rollout of a new vaccine is a very good thing for Africa.

Michael Essien lost count of the times he had malaria as a child but the Ghanaian was certain that he had it several times. He went on to say that when malaria strikes, you get through if you’re lucky and it gets worse if you’re not lucky.

Former Chelsea, Lyon and Real Madrid starEssien learnt about the new rollout of malaria vaccine through a relative via an email. He was told that the first malaria vaccine would soon be administered to children on the African continent. His response to the news of the malaria vaccine was one of relief and excitement. The ex-Chelsea midfielder stated that there’s now a vaccine against malaria whom he called a very bad disease. The Ghanaian football star went on to advise the general public to embrace the new malaria vaccine. The footballer recently turned manager stated that he would like to call on his friends to take the new malaria vaccine in a bid to protect the younger ones. Michael Essien said that he’s looking forward to seeing a lot of children grow healthy for them to have a good education and a good life.