Nigeria’s Super Eagles former captain and Chelsea legend, John Mikel Obi has announced his retirement from football after 20-years professional career.
The 25-year-old, who made the announcement in a post shared on his Instagram page on Tuesday, September 27, said he is satisfied with all his achievements and thanked those who supported him to have a successful career.
Mikel wrote: “There is a saying that “all good things must come to an end”, and for my professional football career, that day is today.
“I look back at the past 20 years of my career, and I must say that I am very satisfied with all that I was able to achieve and more importantly the human it has helped shape.
“All of this would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my family, managers, clubs, coaches, teammates and most importantly my ever-loyal fans. You supported me through my highs and lows, even on days that I did not live up to your expectations. I say a big thank you.
“I will also like to encourage everyone who I may have inspired one way or the other in the course of my career to never give up on their dreams, for every time you think about quitting, remind yourself why you started.
“This is not goodbye, it’s the start of another journey, another chapter of my life. I look forward to what the future holds and I hope you will walk with me. Thank you.”
The former Super Eagle captain started his career with a local club, Plateau United, before joining a Norwegian club, Lyn Oslo, at the age of 17 in 2004.
Chelsea scouted him only two years later and brought him to their star-studded squad at Stamford Bridge after he snubbed Manchester United.
The Nigerian great enjoyed tremendous success during his 11-year stint in Chelsea as he amassed a total of six goals and 13 assists in 372 appearances.
The 35-year-old won two Premier League titles, three FA Cup trophies, the 2007 League Cup and the 2013 Europa League.
Obi Mikel was also part of the Chelsea side that won the 2012 Champions League trophy.
The versatile midfielder also enjoyed immense success on the international stage as well as he won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 with Nigeria.
Obi Mikel left Chelsea in 2017 for Chinese outfit Tianjin TEDA before his return to England for Middlesbrough only two years later.
He then moved to Turkey in 2019 where he won the Turkish Cup with Trabzonspor a year later.
Obi Mikel made one final comeback to England in 2020 for Stoke until his departure for Kuwait SC a year later.
The Chelsea legend had been a free agent since last November until his decision to roll credits on his career at age of 35.
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