Former Ghana international, Michael Essien has shared insights into his transition to coaching after retiring from professional football.
At 41, Essien holds a UEFA License A coaching certificate and is currently serving as an Individual Player Coach at Danish club FC Nordsjaelland.
In an interview with Joy Sports, he admitted that coaching was never part of his initial plans post-retirement.
However, he quickly recognized the importance of staying active in the sport to avoid depression.
“When I was playing, if you asked me if I wanted to go into coaching, I would say no,” the former Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder said.
“But as time passed, I started thinking: I’ve been in football all my life; why not take up coaching and acquire my licenses to still stay in football and be around the players?
“I took this decision to go into coaching because I didn’t want to be one of these ex-players who finish their careers, go home, and start thinking about what they want to do, only to get into depression,” he added.
Essien announced his retirement in 2020, having enjoyed a successful career that included Champions League and Premier League titles, as well as FA Cup and League trophies with Chelsea.
He also played for clubs such as Bastia, Lyon, and AC Milan.
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