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
