Michael Essien and other forgotten former Premier League players still active
29th March 2020
Former Chelsea and Ghana Stars is still actively playing and nowadays stars for little known Azerbaijani side Sabail Fc which was formed four years ago.
The Bison as he was called during his glory days is one of the most decorated African players who graced the Premier League with his power, tackling and eye for scoring spectacular and important goals.
Essien joined Chelsea in 2005 making 256 appearances in all competitions scoring 25 goals and lasting nearly nine years at Chelsea despite going on loan at the tail end of his Chelsea spell.
At 37 years the Ghanaian midfielder has played 10 matches for his club Sabail Fc in Azerbaijan and is yet to score a goal.
Before moving to Azerbaijan he had stints with Panathinaikos and Indonesian side Persib Banding.
Robinho (Istanbul Basaksehir)
Once dubbed the next Brazilian superstar, former Real Madrid and Manchester City striker Robinho left Atletico Mineiro in 2017 for Turkish Super Lig side Sivasspor.
After a successful season there, he is now having less success at Istanbul Basaksehir, where he has managed just four goals in 30 matches.
Roque Santa Cruz (Olimpia)
The ex-Manchester City and Blackburn frontman returned to his boyhood club Olimpia in 2016 and steered them to the the Paraguayan title.
The 38-year-old, who broke onto the scene as a youngster at Bayern Munich, has over 200 goals in a career lasting more than two decades.
Eric Djemba-Djemba (Vallorbe-Ballaigues)
The Cameroon midfielder played 31 Premier League matches for Man United and Aston Villa from 2003-2007 before he was shipped off to Burnley on loan.
Nine clubs later, yes NINE, Djemba-Djemba is currently plying his trade for Swiss side Vallorbe-Ballaigues.
Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart)
The German striker was once considered one of the very best on the planet during his time with Bayern Munich.
And he returned to his boyhood side Stuttgart after leaving Wolfsburg in 2018 and has been a success in the 2.Bundesliga..
Jo (Nagoya Grampus)
The Brazilian, who moved to Man City in 2008 and scored just one league goal for the club, has somehow only just turned 33.
He is enjoying perhaps the most successful form of his career right now, with 30 goals in 65 appearances for Japanese side Nagoya Grampus.
Nani (Orlando City)
Undoubtedly a Premier League legend after winning everything with Man United, Nani enjoyed a successful time with Sporting after returning to his boyhood club in 2018.
He left for Orlando City last February where he has scored 12 goals in 30 MLS appearances, and he is now their captain.
Maynor Figueroa (Houston Dynamo)
The Honduran legend, who scored one of the greatest goals in Premier League history at Wigan, has become a Major League Soccer favourite in recent years.
He is now starring for Houston Dynamo after successful stints at Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas.
Emre Belözoğlu (Fenerbahce)
The 39-year-old playmaker is still plying his trade in the Turkish top flight and returned for a third stint with Fenerbahce last year.
Remarkably, he is still a regular for the Turkey national team, too, with over 100 caps to his name.
Milan Baros (Banik Ostrava)
The former Liverpool ace, who scooped the Golden Boot at Euro 2004, is back in his native Czech Republic playing for Baník Ostrava.
The 38-year-old has a commendable record of 15 goals in 44 appearances since signing for the club in 2017.
Salomon Kalou (Hertha Berlin)
The Champions League-winning forward joined Hertha in 2014 and he’s gone on to make over 150 appearances for the German side.
A reliable servant for Chelsea, Kalou has netted more than 50 goals for Hertha but played only seven times this season.
Former manager Jurgen Klinsmann banished him from the first-team earlier this term and Kalou may fare better under new boss Alexander Nouri when football resumes.
Maxi Rodriguez (Newell’s Old Boys)
The Argentine winger netted 15 goals in 57 games for Liverpool and he is now plying his trade with boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys for the third time in his career.
He is having a decent season too, with nine goals so far this campaign before he surely hangs up is boots.
Keisuke Honda (Botafogo)
The Japanese icon is on the books at Brazilian side Botafogo while also managing the Cambodia national team.
Despite having a reasonably successful stint with Milan, the playmaker never really lived up to the hype surrounding him.
Claudio Pizarro (Werder Bremen)
Incredibly, the Peruvian striker is still playing for Werder Bremen – aged 41!.
It’s not often you see strikers continue at such an age, but respect to the former Chelsea and Bayern frontman who has already announced he will retire at the end of the season.
Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria)
The veteran forward is still performing at the highest level at the age of 37, with nine goals and two assists for Sampdoria this campaign.
The Italian marksman was always linked with a move to the Premier League during his peak but never made the move – what a career he has had regardless.