Ex-Nigeria and Chelsea star John Obi Mikel retires
Former Nigeria and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel
announced his retirement after a long and decorated career on Tuesday, saying
"all good things must come to an end".
"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," the 35-year-old posted on his
Instagram account.
Among his many achievements was helping Chelsea to their
first Champions League title in 2012.
And his former club were quick to pay tribute to the player
who joined them "as a fresh-faced 19-year-old".
In a decade of service, he clocked up 372 appearances in a
Chelsea shirt, winning the Champions League, two Premier League titles, four FA
Cups, the Europa League and two League Cups.
"Enjoy your retirement, John!" said the Chelsea
statement.
In his retirement post Mikel wrote: "There is a saying
that 'all good things must come to an end', and for my professional football
career, that day is today."
He paid particular tribute to his "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,"
he told them.
The Nigeria captain called time on his international career
after helping the Super Eagles to third place in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
in Egypt.
Mikel won 89 caps and scored six goals between 2005 and 2019
for his country, winning the AFCON in South Africa in 2013.
He also led Nigeria to a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio
Olympics in Brazil as one of the over-aged players.
After leaving Chelsea in 2017 he had a couple of seasons in
China with Tianjin, returning to England with Championship side Middlesbrough
in 2019.
He signed for Trabzonspor as a free agent at the end of that
season, only to terminate his contract early with the Turkish outfit in March
2020, as the coronavirus pandemic erupted.
He returned for the 2020-21 season with Stoke, another
Championship side, with his last port of call a stint at Kuwait SC.
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