A biography for Michael Essienhasn’t been written yet.
“I had a fantastic career at Chelsea. I was here for almost nine years, and it was great. I have nothing negative to say at all. It was all positive.”
“I loved playing at Anfield, but it could be quite intimidating because you come out of the tunnel and see their fans singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone', and it gives you goosebumps.”
“It's a big surprise for me because if somebody asked me when I was playing if Frank Lampard would be a manager, I would say no because he's very quiet.”
“When I was growing up, I always liked playing football, and my mum always took me to football games. I owe her a lot. She was my pillar. She was the biggest influence on me.”
“Ghanaians and English people enjoy football the same.”
“The African greats who were playing when I was growing up inspired me - players like George Weah, Abedi Pele, Tony Yeboah, Kalusha Bwalya, and all the others who made Africa proud.”
“I'm just a normal person out there enjoying his football. If there's anything I can do to make a better life for the kids in Ghana, I will do it.”
“Highs have to be all the trophies I won with Chelsea over the 8-9 years I was with them there. We had a good group, and we were winners from the goal keeper right throughout the team. These are the highs you never forget as a player.”
“I've been following some of the coaches, trying to get a little bit more experience, because coaching is very different from being a player.”
“Everything is good at Cobham. I really enjoy it here. I always have a bit of treatment in the morning, and then I go training. It's good.”
“I'm a man of few words. I don't really like talking.”
“I've always enjoyed getting forward, pushing up-field to help us in our attacks, but I think you can still do that from a central position, too. You don't have to sit deep all the time.”
“I like watching tennis and basketball, but it's not every day you can watch it on TV. I don't play them, though.”
“As a kid, I always wanted to play in Europe.”
“Why haven't I retired? I love this game too much.”
“I had an amazing time at Chelsea. I can't pinpoint to a specific event, but the best moment was the honour of signing for Chelsea because I was proud to be at such a club.”
“I sleep 14 hours a day. That helps me get the energy you see on the pitch.”
“I'm the kind of person who likes to be lonely. I got my head down and focused on getting fit.”
“As a child, I always wanted to come to the Premier League, so when I made the move, I was very happy. Chelsea were on the up - they were doing really good - so I was very excited, and in the end, everything went well here for me.”
“I still feel Ghanaian, but my mentality is more European.”