Pulse Ghana is the most followed news and entertainment platform, informing and engaging young Ghanaians round the clock, providing updates by the hour.

Pulse Ghana

Former Ghana and Chelsea star, Michael Essien, has shared insights into his decision to pursue a coaching career following his retirement from professional football.

I decided to be a coach to avoid slipping into depression - Michael Essien | Pulse Ghana

Evans Annang

Essien, who holds a UEFA License A coaching certificate, has been working as an Individual Player Coach at Danish club FC Nordsjaelland since 2020.

"When I was playing, if you asked me if I wanted to go into coaching, I would say no," Essien revealed during an interview with Joy Sports.

He added, "I didn’t want to be one of these ex-players who finish their careers, go home, and start thinking about what they want to do, only to get into depression."

The former Chelsea star explained that staying in football and working with players was a natural progression for him. Essien’s playing career began in 2000 with Bastia before he moved to top clubs, including Lyon and Chelsea, where he won the UEFA Champions League in 2012.

<h3>Essien rejected a move to Burnley as a teenager</h3>

Essien was on trial with Burnley, then in the third division, after shining for Ghana at the 1999 U-17 FIFA World Cup, where the Black Starlets reached the semi-finals.

Michael Essien: Five of the best Ghanian footballers of all time

While the Ghanaian impressed the Clarets, the club couldn’t sign him due to a policy that did not allow them to pay any player on trial more than £60 per week.

Essien eventually ended up at Bastia and would later establish himself at Lyon, where he won two Ligue 1 titles before securing a move to Chelsea.

“I discovered Michael Essien had been on trial here for a few days. One of the best players in the World Cup – and we hadn’t signed him,”&nbsp;former Burnley chairman Brendan Flood revealed some years ago, as quoted by talkSPORT.

“The club policy meant we wouldn’t pay an apprentice more than 60 quid a week. It smacked me in the face that the problem was a lack of communication within the club that stopped our youth guys making an exception to the rule.”

Essien became Chelsea’s record signing&nbsp;when the club forked out £24.4 million to price him away from Lyon in 2005.

Michael Essien completes UEFA A coaching license

I decided to be a coach to avoid slipping into depression - Michael Essien

Business

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Politics

Local

Filla

World

Football

Ghana Premier League

Black Stars

Celebrities

Music

Movies

Fashion

Beauty & Health

Relationships & Weddings

Food & Travel

Domestic

International 

Explore categories

The Pulse Influencer Awards has been set up to recognize and highlight bright lights in the influencer space in Africa who are building active engaged communities around their niche or craft.

Influencer Awards

Company Pages

Breaking News & Top Stories | Pulse Ghana

Video

Checkout our authors for the latest content across entertainment, sports, business and more. Be first to receive exclusive updates with your free subscription straight to your phone | Pulse Ghana

Authors | Pulse Ghana

| Pulse Ghana

Read the latest news across entertainment, sports, business and more. Be first to receive exclusive updates with your free subscription straight to your phone | Pulse Ghana

Search for the latest content across entertainment, sports, business and more. Be first to receive exclusive updates with your free subscription straight to your phone | Pulse Ghana

Search Results | Pulse Ghana

Watch the latest videos across entertainment, sports, business and more. Be first to receive exclusive updates with your free subscription straight to your phone | Pulse Ghana