| Player Profile | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mikel John Obi |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Date of Birth | 22 April 1987 |
| Club | Kuwait SC |
| Position | Defensive Midfielder |
History of Mikel Obi
Mikel John Obi was born 22 April 1987 in Jos, a city in Nigeria. His full name is John Michael Nchekwube Obinna. At the age of 12, he was selected to play in Pepsi Football Academy. This is one of the most prestigious and prolific football academies in Nigeria. Mikel was picked from over 3,000 young boys and stood out to scouts thanks to his talents.
Mikel Obi Career In Nigeria
Mikel’s first professional football match saw him play for Plateau United, which is based in Jos. It was in 2005 that he started playing for the Nigeria national team. The country’s top team is known to many by its nickname Super Eagles. Mikel made a total of 91 appearances until his last match in 2019, and scored 6 goals in total. While he played for the Super Eagles, he racked up several notable achievements:
- Bronze medallist at the Summer Olympics in 2016
- Winner of Africa Cup of Nations, 2013; third-place in 2006, 2010 and 2019
He last played for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations 2019. Before this tournament started, Mikel announced that once it was over, he’d no longer be playing for Nigeria.
Mikel Obi International Career
As well as playing for Nigeria’s national team, Mikel has played for a number of international teams. He represented Sierra Leone at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship and ended up joining Lyn Fotball the following year. This is a Norwegian club based in the country’s capital city of Oslo.
After two years with Lyn Football, Mikel moved on to Chelsea, where he stayed for over a decade. In total, Mikel was with the team for 11 seasons. During this time, he made appearances in 372 matches and scored 6 goals. His first match with Chelsea was a UEFA Champions League match against the Bulgarian team Levski Sofia. His final appearance with Chelsea was also a Champions League match. The transfer to Chelsea was not without controversy. Mikel intended to play for Manchester United, though there were complications with contracts. After months of deliberation and confusion, he ended up signing with Chelsea without ever actually playing for Manchester United.
In 2017, the Chinese team Tianjin TEDA became Mikel Obi’s new club. He would spend two years there before returning to the UK and playing for Middlesborough. His stint was short-lived, as the following year he signed to Trabzonspor. He soon switched to Stoke City before announcing yet another move, this time to Kuwait SC. This is Mikel Obi’s current club.
| Mikel Obi Teams | |
|---|---|
| Team | Period |
| Lyn | 2004, 2005 |
| Chelsea | 2006 – 2017 |
| Tianjin TEDA | 2017, 2018 |
| Middlesborough | 2018 – 2019 |
| Trabzonspor | 2019 – 2020 |
| Stoke City | 2020 – 2021 |
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Frequently Asked Questions about Mikel Obi
Mikel Obi is from Jos, Nigeria.
In 2014, it was reported in the news that Mikel was officially a British citizen.
Mikel’s current club is Kuwait SC.
Mikel is a right footer.
John Shittu has represented Mikel in the past. It’s not certain if he’s still acting as the footballer’s agent.
Mikel won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and has won a bronze Olympic medal.
– 2005 – CAF Most Promising Talent of the Year
– 2006 – CAF Youth Player of the Year
– 2007, 2008 – Chelsea Young Player of the Year
– 2013 – African Footballer of the Year (runner-up)
– 2014 & 2016 – CAF Africa’s finest XI
