Mikel Obi Announces Retirement From Football At 35
Former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35.
Mikel had been without a club since leaving Kuwait SC in November 2021.
One of the best defensive midfielders in his time, Mikel also starred for Trabzonspor, Middlesbrough, Stoke City and Tianjin TEDA in China but it was at Chelsea where he truly made his name.
Mikel spent more than a decade with the Blues, making 372 appearances and winning two Premier League titles, the Champions League, Europa League, three FA Cups and one League Cup.
He also won 91 caps for Nigeria and was part of the Super Eagles side that triumphed at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
“There is a saying that ‘all good things must come to an end’, and for my professional football career, that day is today," Mikel wrote on his official Instagram account.
“I look back at the past 20 years of my career, and I must say that I am very satisfied with all that I was able to achieve and more importantly the human it has helped shape.
“All of this would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my family, managers, clubs, coaches, teammates and most importantly my ever-loyal fans. You supported me through my highs and lows, even on days that I did not live up to your expectations. I say a big thank you.
“I will also like to encourage everyone who I may have inspired one way or the other in the course of my career to never give up on their dreams, for every time you think about quitting, remind yourself why you started.
“This is not goodbye, it’s the start of another journey, another chapter of my life. I look forward to what the future holds and I hope you will walk with me. Thank you.”
