Nigeria’s ace defensive midfielder and Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has retired from professional football after a 20-year professional career.
The former Nigeria international announced his retirement on Tuesday on his social media account.
Obi retires at the age of 35 with laurels won for both clubs and country.
Born on April 22, 1987, with Anambra as his State of origin, Mikel started playing top-flight football at the age of 15 with the Jos-based Plateau United before joining Norwegian club Lyn at the age of 17 in 2004.
He had a brief spell in South Africa with Ajax Cape Town and gained global recognition in 2005 when he played in the FIFA World Youth Championship where he and his Nigerian teammates were beaten 2-1 in the final by Argentina.
Commentators misspelled his middle name continually as Mikel, instead of Michael and he decided to keep the new name; according to him, it had a special ring to it.
Lyn Oslo had contacted Mikel’s agents telling him that their services were no longer needed.
Rumors had it that the deal was concluded for 4 million pounds as John Mikel obi net worth then.
However, he had to change the port of registry in January 2006.
After which, Chelsea and Manchester rivals said that they had already agreed with Mikel and his agents.
His club then, Lyn Oslo, categorically denied that fact.
However, it became clear to all that Chelsea was the main reason for the player moving to Europe.
And later, in one of his matches, he impressed the Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
The famous player on May 11, 2005, went missing during a match against Klemetsrud in the Norwegian Cup; though he had not been selected for the match but was watching from the stands.
Mikel was believed to have left with one of his agents, called John Shittu.
His disappearance attracted massive media coverage in Norway as Lyn Oslo’s director claimed that he had been kidnapped.
Also, these claims were later repeated by Man United’s assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, who accused Chelsea of being involved in the alleged kidnap.
After that incident, Mikel told Sky Sports News that he was pressurized into signing the contract with Man united, claiming that it was a breach by both Manchester United and Lyn Oslo.
The footballer also claimed that he had asked both clubs for a week to think about it, but they refused and the clubs pressured him in the contract signing without his advisors being present.
Because of these claims, it means that Manchester United had acted in breach of FIFA and FA rules.
Later the footballer told the British media that Chelsea was the club he genuinely wanted to sign up for.
After all these events, Man United made an official complaint to FIFA concerning the behavior of both Chelsea and the player’s agents, John Shittu and Rune Hauge.
FIFA replied to the complaint of Man United in August 2005 stating there was not sufficient evidence to bring a case against Chelsea.
This spectacular player Mikel, made his first start for Chelsea On September 12, 2006, in a UEFA Champions League match against Levski Sofia and took a powerful shot which the goalkeeper couldn’t save and Didier Drogba pounced on the rebound.
Because of his brilliant performance in that match, he received many positive comments.
But after being sent off in a match against Reading on 14th October 2006, he was fined on three different occasions by Chelsea for coming to training late.
It is believed that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, was having strong reservations about Mikel’s lifestyle outside of Stamford Bridge, and according to the club, they were considering offloading him.
Mikel was indeed dropped for over a month, during this period.
His father Michael voiced his concerns over his son’s behavior.
The player was recalled after improved punctuality and showing up at training sessions, for Chelsea’s Champions’ League group away match against German’s Werder Bremen on the 23rd November 2006.
Mikel scored his first-ever goal for Chelsea in their 6-1 FA Cup victory over Macclesfield Town on 6th January 2007.
He also scored a goal against Nottingham Forest in the following round of the competition.
And by the way, Mikel Obi earned £75,000 weekly salary in Chelsea at the time.
Mikel made his first-ever international start in Nigeria’s final group game in a 2-1 victory over Senegal.
Obi has earned for himself five international caps and has scored one international goal as of February 7, 2007.
He began to play for the Nigerian national team in 2005.
While in 2013, he became part of the Nigerian national team going to the African Nations Cup and captained them to victory.
In the last World Cup in Russia in 2018, he was still the captain of the Nigerian Super Eagles.
In July 2019, Mikel retired from International football. Said he then: His words, “Egypt is a country where I’ve started and have finished my National career. In 2006 I played my first official championship for my Country. 2019 African Cup of Nations marks my last championship for National Team with Super Eagles.
“My national career started in 2003 under 17 World Cup and I’m grateful for the national team for placing me on the world arena and giving me an opportunity to show my skill and have an incredible National and International career.
“At the age of 32 it’s time for me to retire from the National team and let the youth take over, who’ve done an amazing job securing a bronze medal at AFCON 2019.
“Thank you to all my Nigerian supporters and to my Country for all the trust, support and love you’ve shown me over the past 15 years.
Mikel am out!”
