Michael Essien pursued coaching to avoid post-retirement depression

Former Ghanaian international Michael Essien has revealed that he chose to pursue a coaching career to avoid the depression that often affects footballers after retirement.

The Chelsea legend, who retired from professional football in 2020, explained that working toward his coaching license became a necessary step for his well-being.

In an interview with JoyNews, Essien shared his reasoning, stating, "I acquired my coaching licenses because I didn’t want to fall into depression after retirement." He added that staying active in football has helped him transition smoothly from his playing days to life off the pitch.

Essien wasted no time after retiring, joining the coaching staff at Danish club FC Nordsjaelland, where he currently serves as an assistant coach.

He had been working on his coaching qualifications during the latter stages of his playing career, which included stints at top clubs like Lyon, Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Chelsea.

Widely regarded as one of Africa's greatest footballers, Essien’s versatility allowed him to excel in multiple positions, including midfield and defense.

He made over 500 appearances and scored 58 goals across his club career, many of which came during his nine years at Chelsea.

During his illustrious career, Essien won numerous titles, including the UEFA Champions League, three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and two Ligue 1 titles.

He also played for Panathinaikos, Persib Bandung, and Sabail before hanging up his boots.

Now firmly rooted in Denmark, Essien continues to build his coaching career, using his experience to guide young players while avoiding the mental struggles that often come with retirement from professional sports.