Micheal Essien was a player of Chelsea
John Mikel Obi has named Michael Essien as his top pick among a stacked list of elite midfielders, placing the former midfielder ahead of Claude Makélélé, N’Golo Kanté, and current Chelsea star Moisés Caicedo.
The former Nigeria captain, who played alongside Essien at Chelsea during one of the club’s most dominant eras, didn’t hesitate to shower praise on his former teammate when asked to pick his best midfielders among the players.
“What a player. He didn’t get the recognition he deserved. Michael Essien, oh my God, we called him The Train,” he said.
That nickname, Mikel explained, came from Essien’s sheer dominance on the pitch, combining pace, power, and technique in a way few could match.
While Makélélé defined the modern defensive midfield role and Kanté has earned global respect for his stamina and intelligence, Mikel leaned toward Essien for his all-around impact and unmatched versatility.
“It’s a tough one,” he said. “But I’ll go with Essien,” Mikel added.
Mikel also weighed in on Chelsea’s current midfield enforcer, Moisés Caicedo.
While he acknowledged the Ecuadorian’s potential, he emphasised that there’s still a long road ahead before comparisons to legends like Essien can be made.
“Young players still have a lot to achieve. Caicedo has qualities, but for me, I will still go with Michael Essien,” he said.
Essien, who won two Premier League titles and the Champions League with Chelsea, is often remembered for his thunderous strikes and selfless adaptability, filling in at right back, centre back, and midfield whenever called upon.
For Mikel, that kind of consistency and commitment is what sets Essien apart, even among some of the greatest midfielders of the Premier League era.
Watch the interview below:
FKA/MA
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