Mikel Retires From Professional Football

After 20 years of an illustrious career, Nigeria’s Super Eagles midfielder John Mikel Obi has officially retired from professional football.

The skilful player announced his retirement through his Instagram handle on Tuesday afternoon and appreciates everyone who has contributed one way or the other to his career.

” There is a saying that ” all good things 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 will say I’m very satisfied with all the that I was able to achieve and more importantly the human it has helped to shape.

All would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my family, managers, club coaches, teammates and more importantly my lot of fans.

You supported me through my highs and lows even on the days I failed to live up to my expectations, I say a big thank you to you.

I will also look to encourage everyone who may I 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 hold and I hope you will walk with me, thank you”, he wrote.

Mikel Started his professional career with the Nigeria league using Plateau United before joining the Norwegian club Lyn Oslo 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.

Mikel is one of the few players that appeared at all levels of football for Nigeria.