Michael Essien
| Name: | Michael Essien |
| Nationality: | Ghanaian |
| Date of Birth: | 03/12/1982 |
| Height: | 5' 10" (177cm) |
| Weight: | 13st 6lbs (85.35kg) |
| Previous | |
| Clubs: | Lyon, Bastia |
| Position: | Midfielder |
Michael Essien signed a two-year extension to his existing contract in June 2010 that will keep him at the club until 2015.
It was welcome news for a player who has suffered two bad seasons with injury and missed the first African World Cup as a result.
The midfielder, nicknamed 'The Bison' by fans in his home country of Ghana, ruptured a cruciate ligament on international duty in early September 2008, and it wasn't until March that season that Chelsea fans saw him again.
His comeback was a half-hour cameo in the FA Cup quarter-final as Coventry were swept aside, before he landed a starting role in Turin for a crucial Champions League tie against Juventus.
In typical Essien style, he came back with a performance full of running and commitment, weighing in with an equalising goal on the stroke of half-time to dampen home spirits.
Just a few days later he scored on his Premier League comeback too. At first sight it was a stunning half-volley into the top corner, but replays showed a shinned mishit had been enough to earn a 1-0 victory against Manchester City.
Michael's short season continued as he put in a trademark dominating performance against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, before crashing in the Chelsea Goal of the Season at home to Barcelona.
It looked like that left-footed volley had been enough to send us into the Rome Final, only for Michael's tired clearance to fall at the feet of Andres Iniesta, who powered home.
The season would end on a high though as the FA Cup came back to Stamford Bridge, Essien having played the first hour of the 2-1 win over Everton.
Unfortunately in 2009/10 he did not play for Chelsea again after December 8.
He was in the starting 11 for the league opener against Hull and his versatility lent him to either the wide or anchor midfield roles. It was on the right that he started, but at the foot of the diamond that he finished both our first two league games as we came from behind for wins.
With John Mikel Obi and Michael Ballack also fit, manager Carlo Ancelotti was able to rotate his midfield regularly, meaning Essien was in and out a little bit in the opening couple of months. Against Liverpool at home he was excellent in the holding role and was hitting top form.
He fired home from distance against Blackburn in late October as we won 5-0, then dominating Bolton twice in four days and finally providing the effective barrier that prevented Man United from scoring at the Bridge.
Michael hit another two, the first time he had done so for Chelsea, against Wolves in November, his first a header and his second another from outside the area that wriggled under the goalkeeper.
He was imperious alongside Mikel against Arsenal at the Emirates, once more ruling the centre of the field, and attracting the foul that saw Drogba smash our third of the afternoon from a free-kick.
Then, after defeat at Manchester City, came Essien's final input, against APOEL in the Champions League. At 1-0 down, it was he who fired home from 25 yards to level the scores before succumbing to a torn hamstring.
The damage kept him out until January, by which time he had joined up with Ghana at the African Cup of Nations, but after playing 45 minutes against Ivory Coast, he broke down in training with a fresh knee problem.
There were fears over the extent of the injury, and he underwent surgery at the end of January, but complications meant he would not return before the end of the campaign, forced to spend the Double-winning celebrations, and the World Cup, on the sidelines.
In happier times Essien was voted 2007 Player of the Year by supporters, recognising not just steam train performances in midfield but also his ability to provide solutions to a multitude of problems elsewhere on the pitch.
He followed up an outstanding performance in central defence during a clean sheet 2007 FA Cup Final display with his selection at right-back in the Champions League Final a year later, selected ahead of two specialists in the position.
The occasion in Moscow completed a season when Michael was again in the top four appearance makers although with 15 less starts than the season before. Included that season was his 100th Chelsea game.
Memorable goals are part of the Essien repertoire. His equaliser against Arsenal in December 2006 was voted that campaign's Chelsea Goal of the Season and was nearly matched by a charge forward and angled drive in Valencia that sent the Blues into the 2007 Champions League semi-final.
It was in that competition for French club Lyon that Michael had caught the eye of many in England. A protracted transfer, that dragged on almost as long as the 2005 close season, finally came to an end when his former club accepted a then Chelsea record fee for their star midfielder.
José Mourinho used the word 'multifunctional' and the reported £24.4 million price tag reflected this versatility. He is the most expensive African footballer in the world.
Michael grew up Accra, capital of his homeland, and the city that also gave the world Marcel Desailly.
Unlike the former Chelsea captain, Michael remained in Africa into adulthood, playing for his country at junior levels and beginning his club football at Liberty Professionals.
His profile was raised by a third-place finish for Ghana in the Under 17s World Cup which led to a trial at Man United. But it was to Corsica he went, signing to play in the French league with Bastia.
At first he was used to fill a variety of positions across the defence but could not hold down a regular place. Then injury left a vacancy in midfield and Michael never looked back.
Bastia reached the French Cup Final in 2002 and the following summer he made the move to league champions Lyon for 7.8 million euros.
He was voted Player of the Year in France while at the club and shone as Lyon became one the Champions League's most feared teams, but he made no secret of his desire to move to the Premier League.
Michael's Chelsea debut came as a sub against Arsenal in August 2005, the start of an understated first season in London.
Source:.chelseafc.com
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