MICHAEL ESSIEN: GHANA'S MIDFIELD DYNAMO
Michael Kwabena Amponsah Essien an indigene of Awutu Breku in the Central Region was born to James Kweku Badu Essien and Aba Djanode on December 3, 1982. Growing up as a lad, he developed a passion for football and was nurtured by Stanley Quaye.
He attended Saint Augustine's College which unearthed football icons such as Alex Mingle, Edward Boye, Manuel Agogo, Ishmael Addo, Bernard Dong Bortey, Francis Bossman and Matthew Amoah for his secondary education.
The footballer began his career with Liberty Professionals and featured as Ghana triumphed at the 1999 CAF Under-17 Nations Cup. Following the Black Starlets' third place finish at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup staged in New Zealand later that year, he attracted considerable attention from European scouts.
Nicknamed Bison for his physical strength and combative style of play, he joined French side SC Bastia.In 2001 he featured for Ghana at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup and later debuted for Ghana in a 0-2 loss to Egypt on January 4, 2002.
He also played at the Nations Cup staged in Mali that fateful year, finished as a bronze medallist with the Black Stars in 2008 and missed out on the Golden Fleece two years later as Ghana finished second.
Having acquitted himself creditably, he was snapped up by Olympique Lyonnais and formed a dynamic midfield with Juninho Pernambucano, Mahamadou Diarra and Florent Malouda, won a string of titles before joining Chelsea.
His stint at Stamford Bridge was truly remarkable winning two league championships, four FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League in 2008 under the tutelage of Roberto Di Matteo.
He played at the 2006 and 2014 World Cups besides netting nine goals in fifty-nine caps for Ghana.
After spells in Spain, Italy, Greece, Indonesia and Azerbaijan, he retired from the beautiful game and currently coaches at Danish side FC Nordsjaelland.