Mikel John ObiMON (bornJohn Michael Nchekwube Obinna; 22 April 1987), also known asJohn Obi Mikel, is a Nigerian former professionalfootballer who played as adefensive midfielder.
Mikel began his career with local clubPlateau United, before joining Norwegian clubLyn at the age of 17 in 2004. In 2006, he made a controversial transfer to English clubChelsea afterManchester United claimed they had already signed him.
In a 14-year international career between 2005 and 2019, he played 91 times forNigeria, scoring six goals. He went to fiveAfrica Cup of Nations tournaments (winning in2013), twoWorld Cups, and won a bronze medal at the Olympics in2016.
Early life
Mikel was born inJos,Plateau State.[3] He is the son of Michael Obi, who runs an inter-state transport company in Jos.[6] His father was a member of theIgbo ethnic group.[7]
Club career
Early career
Mikel started his football career at the age of 12 , when picked as a talented footballer from over 3,000 young talents to play inPepsi Football Academy, a team that at the time was well known for travelling across Nigeria scouting young footballers with the potential to play professionally.
Look, I wasn't really kidnapped. I was just staying away from the public eye making sure no one knew where I was. But there was a public announcement in Norway that, if anyone saw me, they should report it to the police, so we had to go and hide. Obviously, [Manchester] United were trying to get hold of me. So were Lyn. There were some tough times. It was like a movie.
— Mikel John Obi reflecting on his bizarre transfer saga.[9]
On 29 April 2005, a few days after Mikel turned 18,Premier League clubManchester United announced that they had struck a deal with Lyn to sign him.[10] United's website also claimed that they had done a deal directly with the teenager and that he had signed a contract to join them. Mikel's agents were bypassed as the club persuaded him to sign a four-year contract without representation. Lyn allegedly sent a fax to his agents abroad, claiming their services were no longer required by Mikel. Reports said the deal was initially worth £4 million,[11] and would see Mikel arrive atOld Trafford in January 2006.
Chelsea, Manchester United's Premier League rival, later issued a counter-claim suggesting that they already had an agreement with Mikel and his agents, but Lyn denied this claim. Subsequent reports indicated that Chelsea claimed to have been involved in arranging the player's original move to Europe with a view to signing him at a later date. Further substance was added to this claim after it was revealed that the player had impressed Chelsea managerJosé Mourinho while training with the club's first-team squad during the summer of 2004.
Mikel expressed his delight at joining Manchester United in a hastily arranged press conference, where he was pictured holding up a United shirt bearing the squad number 21.[12] Following his signing of the contract to join United, there were claims from Norway that he had received threatening phone calls from unknown sources. Mikel was assigned a security guard and moved to a safe hotel. On 11 May 2005 he went missing during aNorwegian Cup game against Klemetsrud; he had not been selected for the match but had been watching from the stands. Whilst he was believed to have left with one of his agents, John Shittu, who had by now flown in to meet Mikel, his disappearance sparked massive media coverage in Norway and also provoked a police enquiry after Lyn directorMorgan Andersen made claims in the Norwegian media that Mikel had been "kidnapped". These claims were later repeated by Manchester United's assistant managerCarlos Queiroz, who accused Chelsea of being involved in the alleged "kidnapping".[13]
It subsequently emerged that Mikel had travelled toLondon with Shittu, who was working forJerome Anderson's SEM group.[14] Manchester United managerAlex Ferguson considered travelling to Oslo to visit Mikel, but decided against this after Mikel was reported to have left the country.[15] Staying in a London hotel and some nine days after disappearing, Mikel stated onSky Sports News that he had been pressured into signing the contract with United without his agent present, claims rebuffed by both Manchester United and Lyn.[16] Mikel told the British media that Chelsea were the club he genuinely wanted to sign for. In response to these events, United made a complaint toFIFA about the behaviour of both Chelsea and the player's agents, Shittu andRune Hauge, already infamous for his role in theGeorge Graham bungs scandal.[17] FIFA dismissed these claims in August 2005, stating there was insufficient evidence to bring a case against Chelsea.
Following the tournament, Mikel failed to return to Lyn, and the club subsequently lodged a complaint with FIFA. On 12 August, FIFA ruled that Mikel should return to Lyn to fulfil the remainder of his contract with the club, whilst they would decide at a later date whether the contract he signed with United should be upheld or cancelled.[18][19] After a delay of over a month, Mikel complied with the FIFA decision and returned to Lyn in early September 2005 after a three-month absence.
Transfer resolved
Rather than leaving FIFA to determine the validity of the contract signed with Manchester United, Chelsea intervened by volunteering to settle the transfer saga through negotiation with Lyn and Manchester United.[20]
On 2 June 2006, the three clubs reached a settlement. Mikel's registration was to be transferred from Lyn to Chelsea, and Manchester United agreed to terminate their option agreement with him. Under the terms of the agreement, Chelsea agreed to pay United £12 million, half paid upon the finalisation of the contract and the other half in June 2007, and Lyn £4 million, half payable immediately and half in June 2007. As a result of this settlement, all claims in the matter were withdrawn.[21] On 19 July, Chelsea were granted a work permit for Mikel after they completed the £16 million signing in June 2006.[22]
In the aftermath of the transfer, Lyn director Morgan Andersen, who had a previous conviction for forging official documents,[23] was convicted of fraud and making false accusations; he was given a one-year suspended jail sentence by an Oslo court. The court also ordered him to pay 20,000kroner (£1,944) in costs.[24] Chelsea made a High Court claim for £16 million against Lyn and Andersen following the conviction, claiming that the previously agreed settlement was not binding as "the transfer was based on a fraudulent misrepresentation, now proven by a court of law."[25] This claim was subsequently resolved out of court.[26]
Chelsea
2006–07 season
On 12 September 2006, Mikel made his first start for Chelsea in theUEFA Champions League against Bulgarian clubLevski Sofia and took a powerful shot which thegoalkeeper failed to save andDidier Drogba pounced on the rebound. Mikel received many positive comments for his performance in the match. However, since being sent off in a match againstReading on 14 October 2006, Mikel was fined on three separate occasions by Chelsea for turning up late to training.
At the time, Chelsea manager José Mourinho was believed to have strong reservations about his lifestyle outside ofStamford Bridge, and the club were reportedly considering offloading the player. Mikel was dropped for over a month, during which his father Michael voiced his concerns over his son's behaviour.[27] After improved punctuality and showings at training sessions, Mikel earned a recall for Chelsea's Champions League group stage away game againstWerder Bremen on 23 November 2006. He scored his first goal for Chelsea in their 6–1FA Cup victory overMacclesfield Town on 6 January 2007. He also scored againstNottingham Forest in the following round of the competition. During Chelsea's triumph in theLeague Cup final in 2007, Mikel was sent off in injury time (having come on as a substitute) after clashing withKolo Touré. The incident was followed by a huge fracas, in which Touré andEmmanuel Adebayor ofArsenal were sent off,Cesc Fàbregas andFrank Lampard were booked and Mourinho andArsène Wenger were involved in an altercation on the pitch.
In subsequent games, Mourinho deployed Mikel as a starter in a holding role in key games where he impressed greatly, notably in the Chelsea–Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup sixth round replay, theChampions League quarter-final games againstValencia, the Champions League semi-final games againstLiverpool and also the victorious2007 FA Cup Final against Manchester United. Mikel's height and great strength, allied to good ball control and an unusually wide range of passing, allows him not only to disrupt opposing attacks, but also to spread the play effectively. Mikel supplanted the French midfielderClaude Makélélé in the lineup following his departure toParis Saint-Germain.[28]
2007–08 season
Mikel was sent-off for the third time in his career in September 2007, when refereeMike Dean dismissed him for a tackle on Manchester United defenderPatrice Evra. Chelsea appealed against the red card, but the three-match suspension was upheld.
Mikel was also sent off in the semi-final of theLeague Cup againstEverton for a challenge onPhil Neville. Despite this, he came back strongly to round off what has been a good first two seasons for him at Chelsea.
2008–09 season
Mikel playing for Chelsea against Spartak Moscow
The summer of 2008 saw veteran defensive midfielderClaude Makélélé transferred to French club Paris Saint-Germain, leaving the defensive midfield position vacant. Throughout the2008–09 season, Mikel saw a great deal of playing time due to an injury toMichael Essien. During this period of increased action, Mikel performed admirably in the role. His ever-improving game was praised by Chelsea managerLuiz Felipe Scolari, and his importance to the team was underlined when he provided the free kick thatSalomon Kalou scored to equalise against Manchester United. He played so well in 2008–09 that he was nominated for the club player and young player of the season. On 24 January 2009, Mikel was charged withdrunk driving, just hours before anFA Cup game againstIpswich Town[29] – Mikel was not due to play in the game as he was serving a suspension. Although he had all that trouble on 22 July, Mikel signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea.[30]
2009–10 season
Mikel playing for Chelsea against Fulham on 28 December 2009
On 13 February 2010, Mikel provided the assist forDidier Drogba's goal as Chelsea beatCardiff City 4–1 in the fifth round of the2009–10 FA Cup.[31] Mikel provided another assist for a Drogba goal in a 5–0 win over FA Cup finalists and relegated sidePortsmouth on 24 March, as Chelsea cut United's lead at the top of the table to one point.[32] Mikel played the full ninety minutes in Chelsea's 7–1 smashing ofAston Villa three days later as Chelsea kept pace in the title race with Manchester United.[33] In their next Premier League game against United, Mikel played excellent as a marshall in midfield as Chelsea climbed above United in the table with a 2–1 win atOld Trafford, thanks to goals fromJoe Cole and Drogba.[34]
Under new managerCarlo Ancelotti, Mikel continued to perform with efficiency in his defensive midfield role, notching 35 appearances for the Blues. In May 2010, he receivedPremier League[35] andFA Cup[36] winner's medals as part of Chelsea's first ever league-cup double winning team.[37]
2010–11 season
Mikel and Chelsea started the new2010–11 Premier League campaign where they left off from the 2009–10 season, playing strong defense and adding deadly finishing. Mikel played the full 90 and helped keep three clean-sheets in the first three games as Chelsea eased pastWest Bromwich Albion 6–0 on 14 August,[38] crushedWigan Athletic 6–0 at theDW Stadium seven days later[39] and edged pastStoke City 2–0 on 28 August.[40]
Mikel was the preferred option in defensive midfield as teammate Michael Essien spent most of the season on the sideline with knee injuries.[41] The injury to the versatile Essien forced the club to play new signingRamires more often in the second half of the season. Mikel featured in 28 Premier League campaigns for Chelsea as the London side finished in second place, nine points behind champions Manchester United.[42] Following the disappointment of not winning a title, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti was sacked by the club.[43][44]
2011–12 season
Before the start of their league campaign, Mikel's father was abducted in his native Nigeria on 10 August; despite this, Mikel started in the club's opening fixture against Stoke City atBritannia Stadium.[45] Mikel came close to claiming his first Premier League goal for Chelsea in an inspired game as the sides played out a 0–0 draw in new coachAndré Villas-Boas' first game in charge.[46]
Due to Essien's long-term knee injury, Mikel found more playing time, but around Christmas time lost his place to new signingOriol Romeu.[47] Following a run of disappointing fixtures, including a catastrophic 3–1 loss toNapoli in theChampions League round of 16 first leg[48] and a 1–0 defeat to West Brom,[49] Villas-Boas was sacked by Chelsea ownerRoman Abramovich.[50] In both of these matches, Mikel was an unused substitute for the Blues.[51] Following the appointment of former Chelsea midfielderRoberto Di Matteo as interim head coach, Mikel appeared in 16 of the club's last 20 games and started in 14 of them, and began to play some of his best football for the club.[52]
In the final inMunich on 19 May, Mikel played the full 120 minutes as the sides played out a 1–1 draw.[53] Chelsea played a tough defensive battle and Mikel was hailed bySky Sports punditJamie Redknapp as playing an excellent game, putting in "a performance that I didn't think he had in him; he was putting out fires everywhere," as Chelsea claimed a 4–3 victory in the penalty shootout.[53] Following his performance, Mikel told reporters that it was "best night of our lives."[54] Mikel's strong performances in the final stages of the season and his impressive display in Munich helped Chelsea secureChampions League football next season despite finishing in sixth place, knocking London rivals Tottenham into theUEFA Europa League.[55]
Mikel was charged with misconduct by theFootball Association (FA) on 22 November 2012.[58] He was given a three-match ban and fined £60,000 for threatening refereeMark Clattenburg during a 3–2 defeat to Manchester United.[59][60]
On 5 December 2012, Mikel signed a contract extension with Chelsea, keeping him at the club until 2017.[61]
2013–14 season
Mikel playing for Chelsea in 2013
On 21 September 2013, Mikel scored his first-ever Premier League goal in a 2–0 win againstFulham.[62] He scored his second goal of the season in Chelsea's third round tie withDerby County on 5 January 2014, heading in the opening goal in an eventual 2–0 victory.[63] He made his 200th Premier League appearance for Chelsea on 3 February, coming on as a late substitute in a 1–0 away victory at Manchester City.
2014–15 season
On 30 August 2014, Mikel, who substitutedWillian on the 75-minute mark, set upDiego Costa's second goal after intercepting upMuhamed Bešić's backheel pass. Chelsea went on to win 6–3 against Everton atGoodison Park.[64] Mikel scored a rare goal againstSporting CP on 10 December in a 3–1 victory at Stamford Bridge in the2014–15 Champions League.
2015–16 season
AgainstWatford on Boxing Day 2015, in the first game ofGuus Hiddink's second spell in charge, Mikel came on to become the 21st player to make 350 appearances for Chelsea. Chelsea then facedParis Saint-Germain in the first leg of theUEFA Champions League round of 16. Mikel conceded a foul just outside the18-yard box. PSG forwardZlatan Ibrahimović'sfree kick deflected off Mikel, who was part ofthe wall, and past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Just a few minutes later, however, Mikel equalised from a stoppage time corner kick. Due to the injuries of John Terry and Gary Cahill, Mikel had to play as a centre-back in multiple games.
2016–17 season
On 4 November 2016, it was announced that the club would not be renewing Mikel's contract when it expired at the end of the season.[65]
Tianjin TEDA
On 6 January 2017, Chinese clubTianjin TEDA signed Mikel on a free transfer.[66] On 14 April 2018, he scored his second league goal for Tianjin, and first goal of the season againstGuangzhou R&F.[67] He left Tianjin TEDA at the end of the 2018 Chinese Super League season in November 2018.
Middlesbrough
After two years in China, Mikel joined EnglishChampionship teamMiddlesbrough on a short-term deal in the 2019 winter transfer window. The 31-year-old was a free agent after leaving Chinese sideTianjin TEDA.[68][69] Mikel made 19 appearances for Boro, scoring once againstRotherham United on 5 May 2019 as the team narrowly missed out on a play-off spot finishing seventh.[70] He was released by Middlesbrough at the end of the2018–19 season.[71]
Trabzonspor
In the summer of 2019, Mikel joinedTrabzonspor on a two-year contract with the option of a further year.[72]
It was announced on 17 March 2020, that Mikel had left Trabzonspor by mutual consent, days after expressing his concerns about the Turkish Super Lig continuing amid the global coronavirus pandemic.[73]
Stoke City
Mikel signed a one-year contract withEFL Championship sideStoke City on 17 August 2020.[74][75] He made his Stoke debut on 13 September 2020 in a 0–0 draw away atMillwall.[76] UnderMichael O'Neill, Mikel was a key member of the team in2020–21, making 41 appearances as Stoke finished in a mid-table position of 14th.[77][78] At the end of the season O'Neill stated that he wanted Mikel to stay at Stoke for another year.[79]
Kuwait SC and retirement
On 1 July 2021, Mikel cancelled his contract agreement with Stoke and moved toKuwait SC.[80][81][82]
On 4 November 2021, the contract with Kuwait SC was terminated after only four months of joining the team.[83][84] On 27 September 2022, Mikel announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35.[85]
International career
Mikel played 91 times for Nigeria; at the time of his retirement, only three players had done so more often.
He made his debut for theNigeria senior team on 17 August 2005, when he came on as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 friendly win overLibya. He did not play for the national team again prior to being named in the squad for the2006 Africa Cup of Nations. In Nigeria's first group game, againstGhana, Mikel was an unused substitute. However, he was introduced into the second game againstZimbabwe early in the second half. Within ten minutes of coming on, he had supplied both the corner that resulted inChristian Obodo heading the game's opening goal, and scored Nigeria's second goal. He made his first international start in Nigeria's final group game, a 2–1 victory overSenegal.[87]
In 2007, Mikel was suspended from all Nigerian national teams after managerBerti Vogts dropped him from the squad for theAfrica Cup of Nations qualifier againstNiger for failing to attend their previous match againstUganda.[88] Mikel cited an injury, but because he did not attend an independent check by Nigerian officials, he was dropped. This, and his refusal to play for theNigerian under-23 side, resulted in his suspension by theNigeria Football Federation. After apologising, he was called up to the national squad for the2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.[89] At the tournament, he scored one goal and registered one assist in a match againstBenin to help Nigeria qualify for the quarter-finals against hostsGhana, where they lost 2–1 to theirWest African rivals.[90]
Mikel appeared at two FIFA World Cups: in 2014 and 2018 (pictured against Iceland in 2018).
Mikel had been called up for the under-23 side in preparation of the team's lastOlympic qualifier on 26 March 2008, needing a win to qualify.[91] His failure to show up for any of the qualifiers again setting off some controversy with the U23 team coachSamson Siasia, who dropped him from the Olympic squad amidst significant furor from the media.
On 5 June 2010, Mikel was ruled out of the2010 FIFA World Cup inSouth Africa due to injury. He had been struggling to recover from a knee problem after undergoing surgery in May, though there were also reports that an ankle injury was to blame for Mikel's withdrawal.[92]
He was selected by Nigeria for their 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics[96] and was later named captain of theOlympics squad.[97] On 13 August 2016, Mikel scored his first ever Olympic goal in a 2–0 win againstDenmark to advance to the semi-final.[98] After the 2–0 defeat toGermany, Nigeria went on to the bronze medal match againstHonduras. On 20 August, Mikel helped Nigeria to the bronze medal in a 3–2 victory over Honduras.Nigeria became the first ever country to win all three medals at theOlympic Games with the1996 squad winning the gold and2008 squad winning the silver.[99]
In July 2019, Mikel said that the2019 Africa Cup of Nations would be his last tournament for Nigeria.[102] He retired at the end of the competition, in which Nigeria came third.[103]
Personal life
During preparations for the2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship, theNigerian Football Association (NFA) mistakenly submitted "Michael" as "Mikel" for the tournament in Finland. He decided to keep the new name, saying that it had a "special ring to it". He was most commonly referred to as "John Obi Mikel" upon his arrival atChelsea, but on 31 July 2006, he stated that he prefers to be called Mikel John Obi instead,[104] and he officially changed his name to Mikel John Obi in 2016.[105]
On 18 June 2021, the Nigerian Minister of Youth Sports Development,Sunday Akin Dare, announced the appointment of Obi as the country's Youth Ambassador.[106]
On 12 August 2011, Mikel's father, Michael Obi, was the victim of a suspected kidnapping in Nigeria. Mikel was informed before Chelsea's match againstStoke City two days later but opted to play despite his concerns for his father's well-being. On 15 August 2011, Mikel made an impassioned plea for his father's safe return. He told Sky Sports News, "I've always tried to help the country, this is the time for the country to help me, whoever knows where my dad is should please contact me."[6][107] Michael Obi was found alive on 22 August 2011, in the Nigerian city ofKano. His abductors were reported to be in police custody.[108][109] On 26 June 2018, a few hours before a World Cup match, Mikel was informed of another kidnapping of Michael Obi, but did not tell any of his team members. The Enugu State Police stated that they rescued Michael Obi on 2 July after a gunfight.[110][111]
Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[112]
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