Ghana legend Michael Essien reveals managerial lessons from Jose Mourinho

Michael Essien with Jose Mourinho

Former Ghana international, Michael Essien has revealed how Jose Mourinho taught him lasting managerial lessons that he will apply when he becomes a manager.

Mourinho was the man who lured Essien to Chelsea from Lyon back in 2005, and the pair went on to enjoy great success together at Stamford Bridge before also linking up at Real Madrid.

The 38-year-old spent nearly a decade in the Premier League with Chelsea winning laurels with the Premier League side.

Essien also played under the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Avram Grant and Andre Villas-Boas during his time in England, when he won seven major honours.

But the former midfielder, now a coach at Danish side FC Nordsjælland, has detailed what made Mourinho so special.

Essien says he learned a great deal about management while playing under Mourinho, and is hoping to transmit the same winning mentality to the Nordsjaelland squad after taking up his first coaching role with the Danish club.

"I have played under so many coaches and everyone is different. I would take Mourinho as an example - I was very much connected with him,' he told The Football Ramble.

"He's a winner, he gives you tactical details and makes sure it's very clear so when you're on the pitch you know what to do. It's one of the things I am going to carry with me and hopefully, I can transmit to the boys if one day I become a manager."

Essien adds: "I didn't think I would make the transition. When I was playing I always said: "no I don't want to be a coach" but when you love the game so much you always try to be in the game. So two or three years ago I said I am coming toward the end of my career and I want to learn about the coaching side of the game and it will give me the opportunity to be on the pitch and to be around the players.

"Actually, when I started doing it, it was something I wanted to do. The whole project here is very good for my transition into the coaching side of the game," he added.

Essien spent nine years on Chelsea’s books in total, and won six more trophies on top of the three he won under Mourinho, including another Premier League title and the Champions League, while establishing himself as a club legend.

The former Ghana international made 256 appearances across all competitions for the Blues, scoring 25 goals and laying on 18 assists.