They called him the Bison. Michael Essien mixed power, skill and a good football brain, and for years he ran Chelsea's engine room.
The Ghanaian played from 2000 to 2017, starting at Liberty Professionals before Bastia, Lyon, Chelsea, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Panathinaikos. At Chelsea he won two Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League, and he made a habit of scoring spectacular goals from long range. He also had a loan spell at Real Madrid under José Mourinho.
Essien's long-range goals
Tomorrow: number 14.
