Mikel Obi is a Nigerian professional footballer best known for his participation in the English Premier League with Chelsea Football Club.
The charitable Super Eagles captain, who was once voted the second best player behind the great Lionel Messi in a FIFA youth tournament, is currently turning his trade for Chinese Super League club Tianjin TEDA.
biography
Mikel Obi was born John Michael Nchekwube Obinna to Irosu and Michael Obi on April 22, 1987 in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. His father is a retired civil servant who now runs an interstate transportation company, while his mother is a businesswoman.
A young Mikel attended Jo’s Metropolis Township elementary school, which says he was first spotted playing on a dusty pitch. However, his official football career began when he entered the Pepsi Football Academy when he was just 12 years old. He then played for Plateau United before joining the Nigeria U17 national team that competed in the FIFA U17 World Cup.
The tournament, which took place in Finland, turned out for the footballer, which not only gave the name that he bears today, but also gave the opportunity to show his talents to the world. The Nigeria Football Association had mistakenly submitted his name as Mikel instead of Michael for the tournament. Mikel embraced this flaw, adding that the name had a special ring to it.
Nigeria were runners-up to a Lionel Messi-led team from Argentina in the tournament, with Mikel Obi himself being voted the second best player of the tournament. He was also named African Young Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006.
After the tournament, Mikel Obi became embroiled in a transfer saga in which he first revealed he had joined Premier League giants Manchester United before later reciting his statement that Lyn Oslo forced him to do so without the advice of his agents. His preferred destination is Chelsea, with whom he reportedly trained in the summer of 2004, much to the delight of his then coach Jose Mourinho.
The saga was later resolved by the three clubs, who had reached an out-of-court settlement, with Chelsea reportedly paying £12million and Lyn paying £4million. In June 2006 Mikel was granted a work permit allowing him to join the site permanently. On 12 September 2006, he made his first start for the London club in a UEFA Champions League match against Bulgarian club Levski Sofia.
Mikel Obi spielte 11 Jahre lang für ChelseaSaisonen, insgesamt 374 Einsätze und erzielte 6 Tore. Er gewann mit dem Verein insgesamt neun Trophäen, darunter einen UEFA Champions League-Titel in der Saison 2011/12 und einen UEFA Europa League-Titel im folgenden Jahr in der Saison 2012/2013. Zu seinen weiteren Auszeichnungen für Chelsea zählen zwei Premier League-Titel (2009–10 und 2014–15), drei FA Cups (2006–07, 2008–09 und 2011–12) sowie der Football League Cup in der Saison 2006–07 und danach der FA Community Shield im Jahr 2009.
Im Januar 2017 schloss Mikel einen kostenlosen Transfer zum chinesischen Klub Tianjin TEDA ab, nachdem einige Monate zuvor angekündigt worden war, dass Chelsea seinen Vertrag nach dessen Ablauf nicht verlängern werde.
Nationalmannschaftskarriere
Mikel Obi started his senior international career in 2005 in a friendly against Libya. The next few years were marked by suspensions and allegations of improper conduct, including his failure to honor invitations from the team.
After an apology and back with the team, Mikel was part of the squad eliminated by Ghana in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals. He was injured at the 2010 FIFA World Cup but later returned to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
In 2016, he captained the squad that won bronze at the Summer Olympics in Brazil, having also partially funded travel, accommodation and meals after the government abandoned the squad.
salary and wealth
Mikel Obi is said to have a net worth in excess of £30million. He is reportedly earning around £140,000 a week with Tianjin TEDA FC in China. This is far more than he took home at Chelsea. It’s reportedly around £82,000 a week plus other mark-ups and bonuses.
Mikel Obi wife, children
It is unclear if Mikel Obi is married, however he is currently engaged to Russian businesswoman Olga Diyachenko. The couple met in London in 2013, where they first became friends before turning into lovers. Two years later, Mikel and Olga welcomed twin daughters, who they named Ava and Mia.
According to unconfirmed reports, Mikel has fathered two other children with different women in the past. However, the identities and names of these women have been kept secret.
Height, weight, measurements and other facts
- Birth name: John Michael Nchekwube Obinna
- Date of Birth: April 22, 1987
- Place of Birth: Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
- Height: 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm)
- Weight: 86kg
- Shoe size: Not available
- Bust: Not available
- Playing position: midfielder