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BREAKING: John Mikel Obi Retires From Football After 20 Years Of Professional Career

Former Chelsea and Super Eagles Midfielder, John Mikel Obi has announced his retirement from football via his Instagram account on Tuesday, 27 September, 2022.

Mikel John Obi, born on 22 April 1987, is a Nigerian professional footballer who formally played as a defensive midfielder.

Mikel began his career with local club Plateau United, before joining Norwegian club Lyn at the age of 17 in 2004.

In 2006, he made a controversial transfer to English club Chelsea after Manchester United claimed they had already signed him.

He stayed with Chelsea for 11 years, before moving to China with Tianjin TEDA in 2017. After two years in China, he returned to England on a short-term deal with Middlesbrough, before joining Trabzonspor on a free transfer in July 2019.

Mikel moved back to England in August 2020 joining Stoke City. In a 14-year international career between 2005 and 2019, he played 91 times for Nigeria, scoring six goals.

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.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjAv5FDKoLq/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

A great bow out to a champ,you have given your own quota to the national team.
I feel you would have achieved more as a player if you were not converted to a dmf, the Obi of 2005 under 20 world cup was fire,he was second to Messi.

20 years no be joke.... Say me well to your twin

Happy ending to an illustrious career.. One of Nigeria's most successful footballer.

Thanks for everything, Obi

All the very best for the future Mikel.
You won everything in Club Football.
Maximum Respect to you my man.

Retired blue army

Asamoah Gyan, mutari,badu,Suarez, and other super stars went back to their and played at least a season to give back to their league but our players no go ever come back how the league want take grow setting bad examples even yenkini who was Nigeria all time scorer and an afcon winner humble himself to play in the NpFL. no be your fault baba na okocha and them KANU wey dey feel too big to come play for our league na. Start am

Cyphar:
20 years no be joke.... Say me well to your twin

he is younger than Messi and Ronaldo o and una go wan compare una self with whites .

BET king you have another signee oya oga go follow okocha dey dance atelegu for betking adverts

Enjoy ur retirement mikel

Happy retirement. You don try....

Great one Legend. Just like yesterday.. I remember Netherlands 2005.

Check out the small Yoruba-English Documentary I did for him.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2vUQ9yQStU

So soon?

Heeyaarh

And Messi still dey ball wella

Happy retirement

Mikel been still dey play ball?

He should've reduced his age so as to continue playing.

He has better achievement than apc

Him been still dey play

stop age forgery una no gree, na so musa @29 return back to kano pillar..

K

Mikel wasn't lucky with football. Happy retirement Sir.

God bless your family and your fans too. Stay happy and loved brother

E try

E don try

Make hin Res small

Cool

He tried 43 years no be here.

Surest and selfless guy