by Dom Agbakpe

Michael Essien has joined coach Flemming Pedersen coaching staff at FC Nordsjaelland for the upcoming Danish football season.

The 37-year-old will assist the coaches and participate in the training sessions alongside the players.

The Ghanaian midfielder brings wealth of experience having played for Olympique Lyon – Chelsea, Real Madrid and AC Milan.

Capped 58 times for Ghana, scoring 11 goals between 2002 to 2014.

A statement on the club’s official website reads:

“FC Nordsjælland has signed the former Black Star, Lyon, Real Madrid, and Chelsea player as part of the club’s coaching staff for the season 2020/2021.”

“A few weeks ago, 37-year-old Michael Essien visited FC Nordsjælland as an inspirational trip in relation to him doing his coaching badges. Here he had the opportunity to be part of the work around both the Superligateam, several of the club’s academy squads, and got to understand teaching and development of young players outside the pitch in FCN. Now Essien himself will be able to contribute to this since he has accepted to become part of the club’s coaching staff in the upcoming season, with the title of Player Coach, under the guidance of Head Coach Flemming Pedersen. 

“Essien 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.”

Head Coach Flemming Pedersen’s words after Michael Essien joined his coaching staff:

“In the coaching staff we’ve experienced Michael Essien as both curious and hungry for knowledge before and after the training sessions, but at the same time also contributing and giving among the players during the trainings.”

“His career and experience speak for themselves, but when you add his humble and giving personality, this is an exceptional opportunity for us to get a person added to the staff who can help make our environment even more developing for our players and also add valuable input to the coaching team and be our hand on the training pitch. We are very much looking forward to welcoming Michael to FCN,” he added