Ghanaian great Michael Essien has bagged his first coaching job after being appointed as part of Danish club FC Nordsjælland’s coaching staff for the 2020/21 season.
The Ex-Chelsea star has been undertaking his coaching badges while spending time around the team and its academy.
Essien, 37, has now agreed to become a player/coach under the guidance of head coach Flemming Pedersen.
The Danish side confirmed his appointment in a statement, explaining what his role will be in more detail.
The statement said: “He 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.”
Essien also expressed his delight at his new role via his social media account.
He said: “I am delighted to have joined FC Nordsjaelland coaching staff as part of my development towards my full coaching licence.”
His first official day at the club will start from September 10, 2020.
Essien had an illustrious career as a player, and won trophies in both France with Lyon and in England with Chelsea and also turned out for Spanish giants Real Madrid.
He joined Lyon in 2003 where he won back-to-back Ligue 1 titles, in the 2003/04 and 2004/05 season consecutively.
He was also named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year in 2005, capping a very impressive two years with the French giants.
His excellent performances at Lyon caught the attention of Chelsea, who he joined for a then club record £24.4million, also in 2005, becoming one of the first players to become a-part of Roman Abramovich’s revolution at Stamford Bridge.
The price tag also made him the most expensive African player in history at the time.
His career went from strength to strength at the Bridge, and he helped the club win the Premier League in 2005/06 and in 2009/10, as well as four FA Cups (2007,2009,2010,2012), one League Cup (2007), a Community Shield (2009) and the Champions League in 2012.
