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Mikel

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Latest Player News

  • A QUESTION OF SPORT: JOHN MIKEL OBI A QUESTION OF SPORT: JOHN MIKEL OBI - 24.06.2013
    Professional footballers have spent the majority of their lives focused on mastering their art but, away from the beautiful game, which other sports do they take an interest in?
  • INTERNATIONALS: MIKEL STRIKE NOT ENOUGH FOR NIGERIA INTERNATIONALS: MIKEL STRIKE NOT ENOUGH FOR NIGERIA - 21.06.2013
    The odds are against Nigeria making the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup after they were beaten by Uruguay in their second group game...
  • CONFEDERATIONS CUP PREVIEW: MIKEL RELISHES TESTING GROUND CONFEDERATIONS CUP PREVIEW: MIKEL RELISHES TESTING GROUND - 14.06.2013
    John Mikel Obi is looking forward to his first visit to Brazil and hopes his Nigeria side can pull off some surprises in this month's Confederations Cup...
  • INTERNATIONAL ROUNDUP INTERNATIONAL ROUNDUP - 29.05.2013
    The club campaign may have reached its conclusion, but for a number of our players, holidays will need to be put on hold as they head off to represent their respective nations in the upcoming international matches.
  • MIKEL: WELCOMING GAMES MIKEL: WELCOMING GAMES - 14.04.2013
    The Blues face a second domestic semi-final of the season when we face Manchester City at Wembley later today, with John Mikel Obi relishing another big test...
  • INTERNATIONALS: HOME SIDES HELD IN AFRICA INTERNATIONALS: HOME SIDES HELD IN AFRICA - 23.03.2013
    John Mikel Obi was the only Chelsea man to complete a full game in African World Cup qualifiers on Saturday, as the three Blues to feature suffered disappointment on home soil.
  • MIKEL: AIMING TO PLEASE MIKEL: AIMING TO PLEASE - 12.03.2013
    Chelsea's games against Manchester United rarely fail to entertain and speaking further about Sunday's drawn cup-tie, John Mikel Obi highlighted a willingness to attack from both sides whenever we meet...
  • MIKEL: NOT DONE YET MIKEL: NOT DONE YET - 11.03.2013
    John Mikel Obi paid tribute to the team effort that ensured Chelsea recovered from a perilous position against Manchester United, to keep the defence of the FA Cup alive...
  • MIKEL: REAL STATEMENT MIKEL: REAL STATEMENT - 24.02.2013
    The Blues head to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City later today, with John Mikel Obi urging his team-mates to approach the game in a positive manner...
  • BENITEZ: ON THE UP BENITEZ: ON THE UP - 15.02.2013
    Rafael Benitez will welcome back four players into his squad for Sunday's game against Brentford at Stamford Bridge, and promises a strong line-up as we pursue a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup.
  • NIGERIA CROWNED KINGS OF AFRICA NIGERIA CROWNED KINGS OF AFRICA - 10.02.2013
    John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Kenneth Omeruo are tonight (Sunday) celebrating their first major international championship after a single goal was enough to win Nigeria the Africa Cup of Nations...
  • NIGERIAN TRIO INTO AFRICAN FINAL NIGERIAN TRIO INTO AFRICAN FINAL - 06.02.2013
    John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and Kenneth Omeruo have helped Nigeria through to their first African Cup of Nations final since 2000, with a 4-1 win over Mali in the semis in Durban on Wednesday.
  • MIKEL'S MALI FOCUS MIKEL'S MALI FOCUS - 06.02.2013
    John Mikel Obi says Nigeria must not get carried away with thoughts of winning the African Cup of Nations prior to Wednesday's semi-final against Mali.
  • SUPER EAGLES MARCH ON SUPER EAGLES MARCH ON - 03.02.2013
    Chelsea's trio of Nigerians is through to the semi-final of the African Cup of Nations after a surprise victory over Ivory Coast in Rustenburg on Sunday.
  • NIGERIA PROGRESS NIGERIA PROGRESS - 29.01.2013
    Two Victor Moses penalties ensured Nigeria's Chelsea trio are likely to face Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations.
  • LATE BLOW FOR BLUES AT AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS LATE BLOW FOR BLUES AT AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS - 21.01.2013
    Nigeria were denied a winning start to their Africa Cup of Nations campaign when Burkina Faso scored in the 90th minute to secure a 1-1 draw in Group C...
  • NIGERIANS SET FOR AFRICAN CAMPAIGN NIGERIANS SET FOR AFRICAN CAMPAIGN - 19.01.2013
    The African Cup of Nations gets underway in South Africa today, with three Chelsea men involved in the colours of Nigeria and another watching closely from Stamford Bridge.
  • MIKEL: BRIEF RETURN MIKEL: BRIEF RETURN - 26.12.2012
    John Mikel Obi returns to action at Norwich this afternoon determined to make an impact before he departs once more on international duty...
  • MIKEL SUSPENDED MIKEL SUSPENDED - 06.12.2012
    The Football Association has today (Thursday) issued a statement regarding a three-match suspension for John Mikel Obi...
  • FIVE MORE YEARS FOR MIKEL FIVE MORE YEARS FOR MIKEL - 05.12.2012
    Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce John Mikel Obi has signed a new five-year contract which will keep him at the club until 2017...
  • MIKEL MAKES AFRICAN SHORTLIST MIKEL MAKES AFRICAN SHORTLIST - 05.11.2012
    John Mikel Obi has been nominated for the 2012 African Footballer of the Year award...
  • TOO EASY OUT EAST TOO EASY OUT EAST - 24.10.2012
    The common consensus among Chelsea's playing staff was that it was a below-par performance in eastern Europe on Tuesday, and both John Mikel Obi and David Luiz spoke afterwards to support the view...
  • MIKEL AND MOSES NET FOR NIGERIA MIKEL AND MOSES NET FOR NIGERIA - 13.10.2012
    John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses helped Nigeria cruise into the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 6-1 win over Liberia on Saturday afternoon...
  • CHELSEA TV EXCLUSIVE: MIKEL GOING WELL CHELSEA TV EXCLUSIVE: MIKEL GOING WELL - 05.10.2012
    With the team looking for three points this weekend to guarantee a lead at the top of the table going into the international break, John Mikel Obi is buoyed by their ability to clear the biggest hurdles in their way so far...
  • MIKEL THE MAN MIKEL THE MAN - 02.10.2012
    His manager and a long-term team-mate have both praised the work of John Mikel Obi in Chelsea's midfield.
  • MIKEL: CHEAP GOAL MIKEL: CHEAP GOAL - 20.09.2012
    John Mikel Obi admitted that the players had temporarily switched off for the goal which allowed Juventus to rescue a point at Stamford Bridge last night...
  • MIKEL: MORE, MORE, MORE MIKEL: MORE, MORE, MORE - 18.09.2012
    At some stage in tomorrow evening's encounter at Stamford Bridge, it is certain John Mikel Obi will be in direct contest with Juventus's mobile playmaker Andrea Pirlo...
  • THE TWEET SPOT: JOHN MIKEL OBI THE TWEET SPOT: JOHN MIKEL OBI - 07.09.2012
    Second in the series of our new social media feature, the midfielder discusses his goal drought and the new signings with Chelsea fans...
  • MIKEL: REST AND DEVELOPMENT MIKEL: REST AND DEVELOPMENT - 02.09.2012
    John Mikel Obi believes a fortnight's break from competitive action will help the team recover from Friday night's defeat to Atletico Madrid.
  • MIKEL: TIME ON OUR SIDE MIKEL: TIME ON OUR SIDE - 29.07.2012
    John Mikel Obi completed his first 90 minutes of pre-season on Saturday night in Miami and despite tasting defeat for the second game running, insists we are moving in the right direction.
  • HOLLYWOOD AT THE HOTEL HOLLYWOOD AT THE HOTEL - 20.07.2012
    It was a busy day at the team hotel in Seattle on Thursday, as Hollywood stars Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis dropped by to meet the Chelsea players...
  • MIKEL: STEPPING IT UP MIKEL: STEPPING IT UP - 16.07.2012
    It was a day of two halves as far as training was concerned according to John Mikel Obi after the first double session in the United States...
  • LOOKING BACK: NO 12 LOOKING BACK: NO 12 - 26.06.2012
    The 2011/12 campaign was a mixed one for John Mikel Obi, but after losing his way in the middle of the season, he finished strongly...
  • CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL DAY INTERVIEW: JOHN MIKEL OBI CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL DAY INTERVIEW: JOHN MIKEL OBI - 19.05.2012
    He was there in Moscow four years ago, but Munich offers so much more possibility for the Nigerian midfielder…
  • WORDS WITH: JOHN MIKEL OBI WORDS WITH: JOHN MIKEL OBI - 04.04.2012
    Back as a regular starter in the side, John Mikel Obi is in fine form. He is hoping it can help us into the Champions League last four...
  • WORDS WITH: JOHN MIKEL OBI WORDS WITH: JOHN MIKEL OBI - 04.04.2012
    Back as a regular starter in the side, John Mikel Obi is in fine form. He is hoping it can help us into the Champions League last four...
  • MIKEL: NEEDING TO ADAPT MIKEL: NEEDING TO ADAPT - 25.02.2012
    John Mikel Obi made his first start of 2012 in last weekend's FA Cup tie against Birmingham City, and he has been speaking to the official Chelsea website...
  • CHELSEA 2012: JOHN MIKEL OBI CHELSEA 2012: JOHN MIKEL OBI - 28.12.2011
    With 2012 just around the corner, we turned to another of our Olympic hopefuls to find out what he is looking forward to seeing at the London Games...
  • AFRICA EXIT FOR MIKEL AFRICA EXIT FOR MIKEL - 09.10.2011
    John Mikel Obi will not be required for duty at the Africa Cup on Nations early in 2012 after Nigeria failed to qualify for the tournament...
  • MIKEL: EARLY DAYS MIKEL: EARLY DAYS - 02.10.2011
    John Mikel Obi is hoping we can keep the pressure on at the top of the table this afternoon with an improved defensive display.
  • MIKEL: I CAN'T WAIT FOR FINAL CHANCE MIKEL: I CAN'T WAIT FOR FINAL CHANCE - 22.01.2007
    John Mikel Obi is a rarity in the current Chelsea squad - a player who has yet to appear in a domestic cup final. Tuesday night's game against Wycombe stands between our 19-year-old midfielder and the chance to do so.
  • MIKEL: MY CONDITION IS GOOD - 04.08.2006
    Mikel Jon Obi has impressed many, including his manager during his first week training at Chelsea. That is good work considering he has been out of competitive action since November. He's been talking about staying fit.
  • NUMBERS UP FOR MIKEL, KALOU AND HILARIO - 03.08.2006
    Jose Mourinho has formally introduced three more summer signings ? Mikel John Obi, Salomon Kalou and Hilario.
  • Name: Mikel
  • Nationality: Nigerian
  • Date of Birth: 22/04/1987
  • Height: 188 cm
  • Weight: 86.0 kg
  • Previous Clubs: Lyn Oslo
  • Position: Midfielder

Chelsea career
Following quickly on from the purchase of Salomon Kalou in the summer of 2006, the arrival of John Mikel Obi confirmed Chelsea's determination to add exciting young talent as well as established stars to a squad that had just won back-to-back league titles.

Having smoothed out some rough edges both on and off the pitch, manager Jose Mourinho increasingly used Mikel's talent in the holding midfield role, especially when requiring a longer range of passing than other options including the feted Claude Makelele. As a junior Mikel had played more as an attacking midfielder.

Named Chelsea Young Player of the Year, he survived an injury scare the week before the 2007 FA Cup Final to play the whole game. Chelsea beat Manchester United in the first final at the new Wembley.

The 2007/08 campaign saw Mikel continue to grow in the 'Makelele' role, and by the end of it he had played more games than the old master of the position.

There were hitches. An unfortunate sending off at Old Trafford in Avram Grant's first game was followed by another red card in a Carling Cup semi-final against Everton, his fourth since joining Chelsea.

He started the 2008 Carling Cup Final defeat by Spurs shortly after his return from the Africa Cup of Nations but then spent a spell out of the side before ending his second season with responsibility in some important games, including a home win over Manchester United when he was outstanding, although he remained on the bench for the Champions League Final against the same opposition.

Top displays became more commonplace in the 2008/09 season when, with Michael Essien injured for much of the campaign, Mikel became the permanent anchor man - his calm touch a major contribution to the 2009 FA Cup win over Everton.

One item that has remained lacking from the midfielder's game is goals, much like his former mentor Makelele.

Two in his first season, both FA Cup goals in the January of 2007 against lower league opposition, have not been added to since, though as he says, there are plenty of others in the midfield who can contribute goals, allowing him to concentrate on stopping them.

Further injury to Essien in 2009/10 ensured that for the second season running Mikel was the primary choice as deep-lying midfielder. On his return from the Africa Cup of Nations in February he started every game until his own knee and ankle problems in mid-April ruled him out of the season's two-trophy climax, and the first African World Cup Finals. He did however have his first league championship winners' medal.

Mikel's own on-pitch discipline problems are long behind him. He was only booked four times in a Double-winning campaign spent in a highly-competitive area of the pitch.

Carlo Ancelotti revealed he was a similar player in a similar position in his youth but was able to use Essien more in 2010/11 and Mikel spent a period out the side, due to injury and when a 4-4-2 formation was adopted for a period.

Mikel did however pass the 200-game milestone for Chelsea during the season and started all but 10 league games.

The Nigerian began the 2011/12 campaign in Andre Villas-Boas's new-look midfield, starting four of the opening five games, and remained a regular before a thigh injury - sustained against Tottenham Hotspur shortly before Christmas - meant he didn't feature for the Blues for almost two months.

In the second half of the season, however, he re-emerged as a regular in midfield, starting six of our nine games in a busy March and impressing under Roberto Di Matteo with a more attacking outlook, playing more forward passes and dominating from his deep position.

Arguably one of Mikel's finest games in a Chelsea shirt was the Champions League Final against Bayern Munich.

Mikel began the current campaign in a similar vein to the way he finished the previous one, and was rewarded with the offer of a five-year contract, which he signed early in December, tying him to the club until 2017.

With only two deep-lying midfield roles available, he alternated with Frank Lampard and Ramires for much of the campaign, before sustaining a hip injury as the season drew to a close.

He was an unused substitute in the Europa League final against Benfica.

Pre-Chelsea
Mikel became a squad addition the summer after Chelsea had secured a second straight league title. An agreement had been reached with Manchester United and Norwegian club Lyn Oslo that allowed Chelsea to sign the then 19-year-old Nigerian midfielder for a combined £16 million.

A powerfully-built young man with exceptional ball skills, his standing as one of the brightest young talents in the game had been confirmed at the African Cup of Nations earlier that year, his senior international debut having come in August 2005.

Previously Mikel had starred in the 2005 Fifa Under 20 World Youth Championships where he was voted the tournament's second best player as Nigeria made the final. The player trained with Chelsea for one week in the winter of 2004 and José Mourinho had seen enough to wish to sign him.

The then manager said: 'Everybody was in love, not just me. The players were amazed at a young boy coming and training with us with such quality.

'Later we saw him in the African Cup of Nations playing like a giant. He was at an unbelievable level and we know what a player he can be.'

International
Mikel made his debut for Nigeria in 2005, the then 18 year-old coming on as a second half substitute in a 1-0 friendly win over Libya.

His next appearance for the Nigerian side came against Zimbabwe in the second group game of the 2006 African Nations Cup. Having started the match as a substitute, he made an immediate impression upon coming on, grabbing a goal and assist within 10 minutes. This earned him a first competitive start against Senegal in the final group game, a match which was won 2-1.

His fortunes took a turn for the worse over the next two years, getting suspended for not turning up to an international but then securing a place in Nigeria's 2008 African Nations Cup squad after bridges were rebuilt.

Nigeria were a surprise package, eventually losing to an Essien-less Ghana in the semi-finals. For Mikel there was an unfamiliar role of playmaker just behind the Nigeria strikers and he was their outstanding performer, scoring a goal and making an assist in one game. Injury ruled him out of the 2010 World Cup.

After a lengthy absence, Mikel was recalled to the Nigeria squad for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia in October 2012.

At the tournament in South Africa at the start of 2013, he was one of the senior members of the team at just 25 years of age and was commanding in a more advanced midfield role than his usual club position. Nigeria won the Cup of Nations with Mikel ever-present, beating Burkina Faso in the final.

 

Select Season

Defensive Stats

  • Goals Conceded/Game0.88
  • Shots on Target/Goals Conceded5.92
  • Clean Sheets/Game0.18

Attacking Stats

  • Goals0
  • Shots/Goals Ratio0
  • Shots on Target Ratio0.38

How Goals Scored

  • Left Foot0
  • Right Foot0
  • Headers0
  • Other0

Discipline

  • Red Cards2
  • Yellow Cards29
  • Fouls229
  • Fouls/Cards Ration0.14

Goals Times

How Goals Scored

Chelsea Kit

Chelsea Appearances

Season Played Goals YC RC
2012 - 13 38 (6) 0 6 0
2011 - 12 37 (10) 0 9 0
2010 - 11 37 (2) 0 5 0
2009 - 10 35 (4) 0 4 0
2008 - 09 49 (2) 0 10 0
2007 - 08 39 (11) 0 7 2
2006 - 07 41 (18) 2 9 2
Total 276 (53) 2 50 4

Chelsea Squad