Former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has successfully completed the highest coaching course in Europe the UEFA license A.
Having secured an initial license B in 2020, the 40-year-old is finally eligible to manage any team following his latest accomplishment.
Essien, who has been working as part of the staff of Danish side FC Nordsjaelland was grateful to his affiliated clubs on bagging the certificate.
“Step by step, I am learning and growing as a coach. Happy to have completed my UEFA A and UEFA Elite Youth A license. Thanks to the family, @fawales, my tutors, my mentor and RTD/FCN for the support. And big thank you to Tom Vernon and Flemming Pedersen.
@FCNordsjaelland” he wrote on his twitter page.
Step by step, I am learning and growing as a coach. Happy to have completed my UEFA A and UEFA Elite Youth A license. Thanks to the family, @fawales, my tutors, my mentor and RTD/FCN for the support. And big thank you to Tom Vernon and Flemming Pedersen. @FCNordsjaelland pic.twitter.com/WgyZDYA7eH
— Michael Essien® (@MichaelEssien) February 14, 2023
Prior to 2020, when he last kicked the ball, Essien had spent majority of his playing career in Europe playing actively for Bastia, Olympic Lyon, Chelsea, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Panathinaikos.
He also had stints with Australian side Persib Bandung and Sabail in the Azerbaijan Premier League.
Aside from winning collective titles with Lyon and Chelsea including all domestic trophies in England as well as the UEFA champions league, he also has numerous individual awards to his name.
Prior to joining Chelsea, he won the Ligue player of the year at the end of the 2004-05 season. He was also named the BBC African player of the year in 2006 as well as the Chelsea player of the season in 2006-07,
With the exception of 2007, Essien was also named in the CAF team of the year in each of the years between 2005 and 2009.
