Michael Essien Joins FC Nordsjaelland Coaching Staff

Ghana and Chelsea legend, Michael Essien, has joined Danish Super Lig side FC Nordsjaelland’s coaching staff for the 2020/2021 season.

Since parting ways with Azerbaijani side Sabail FC in July 2020, Essien spent days with the club last month and understudied their coaching staff as part of his journey to becoming a coach.

Essien, who has already done his coaching badges, becomes the second Ghanaian to join Nordsjaelland’s coaching staff, with former Asante Kotoko head coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani currently serving as assistant first-team coach at the club.

Nordsjaelland Sporting Director Jan Laursen explained the club’s decision to hire Essien:

“Essien left a very positive impression here during his visit and we continued the dialogue with him after he had left,” he told the club’s website.

“We felt, he was excited by what he experienced here through our philosophy, the people he met at the club, and that our environment inspired him.

"At the same time, Michael’s visit gave us a clear impression of how much a coaching staff member on the pitch, as an active part of the training with the players, can contribute and add.

“That part we are really looking forward to further developing, and we are very happy that it can happen through and with such a football- and human capacity as Michael Essien is.”

Head Coach Flemming Pedersen also expressed his excitement with the appointment of Michael Essien.

“In the coaching staff we’ve experienced Michael Essien as both curious and hungry for knowledge before and after the training sessions, but at the same time also contributing and giving among the players during the trainings.

"His career and experience speak for themselves, but when you add his humble and giving personality, this is an exceptional opportunity for us to get a person added to the staff who can help make our environment, even more, developing for our players and also add valuable input to the coaching team and be our hand on the training pitch.

"We are very much looking forward to welcoming Michael to FCN.”

Essien will have his first day in Farum the 10th of September.

He becomes the third Ghanaian to land a technical role position at the Danish club after Mas-ud Didi Dramani and Laryea Kingston.

He has featured for several clubs in Europe including Real Madrid, AC Milan, Bastia, Olympique Lyon and Chelsea.

Essien has represented Ghana at two FIFA World Cup — 2006 and 2014 — making 58 appearances with nine goals to his credit.