John Mikel Obi, former captain of the Super Eagles of Nigeria and a legend at Chelsea, has declared his retirement from the game. Obi, who had a very successful career at both the club and international levels, announced his retirement on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, via his official Instagram account.
“There is a saying that “all good things must come to an end”, and for my professional football career, that day is today,” Obi said in a statement.
He further said, “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.”
During his 11-year stay in west London, Mikel Obi achieved incredible success, amassing a total of six goals and 13 assists in 372 games. The 35-year-old won the 2007 League Cup, two Premier League championships, three FA Cup medals, and the 2013 Europa League.
He also played for Chelsea in 2012, when they captured the Champions League trophy for the first time.
Obi has had great success on the international scene as well, helping Nigeria win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.