Ex-Chelsea star Michael Essien, 37, lands first coaching job at Danish side FC Nordsjaelland
MICHEAL ESSIEN has landed his first coaching role after being appointed as part of FC Nordsjælland’s coaching staff for the 2020/21 season.
The Ex-Chelsea star earned his coaching badges while spending time around the team and its academy.
Essien, 37, has now agreed to become a player/coach under the guidance of head coach Flemming Pedersen.
The Danish side confirmed his appointment in a statement, explaining what his role will be in more detail.
The statement said: "He will join the staff in an assistant role and participate in the trainings alongside the players to help implement the drills and ideas in the best possible way.
"As well as contribute with new input to coaching group evaluations of the training session afterwards."
Essien also expressed his delight at his new role via his social media account.
He said: "I am delighted to have joined FC Nordsjaelland coaching staff as part of my development towards my full coaching licence."
His first official day at the club will start from September 10, 2020.
Essien had an illustrious career as a player, and won trophies in both France with Lyon and in England with Chelsea.
He joined Lyon in 2003 where he won back-to-back Ligue 1 titles, in the 2003/04 and 2004/05 season consecutively.
This was rounded off with a personal achievement when he won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award in 2005.
His success with Lyon caught the attention of Chelsea, who he joined, also in 2005.
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Essien became one of the first players to become a-part of Roman Abramovich's revolution, and signed for £24.4million, which at the time was a club record for the Blues.
The price tag also made him the most expensive African player in history at the time.
His career went from strength to strength at the Bridge, and he helped the club win the Premier League in 2005/06 and in 2009/10, as well as four FA Cups (2007,2009,2010,2012), one League Cup (2007), a Community Shield (2009) and the Champions League in 2012.