Ex-Super Eagles Captain Mikel Obi has retired from professional football, after 20 years and at the age of 35, with laurels won for both clubs and country.
Taking to his official social media handle on Tuesday 27th September 2022, the Ex-Super Eagles Captain Mikel Obi writes:
“There is a saying that “all good things must come to an end” and for my professional football career, that day is today.
I look back at the past 20 years of my career, and i must say that i am very satisfied with all that i was able to achieve and more importantly the human it has helped shape.
All of this would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my family, managers, clubs, coaches, teammates and most importantly my ever loyal fans. You supported me through my highs and lows, even on days that i did not live up to your expectations. I say a big thank you.
I will also like to encourage everyone who i may have inspired one way or the other in the course of my career to never give up on their dreams, for every time you think about quitting, remind yourself why you started.
This is not goodbye, it’s the start of another journey, and other chapters of my life. I look forward to what the future holds and i hope you will walk with me. Thank you,” he added.
Ex-Super Eagles Captain Mikel Obi Career:
The Nigerian broke into stardom following a sterling performance for the West Africans at the 2005 World Youth Championship where the country lost to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentine team. The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star clinched the tournament’s Golden Ball while Mikel won the silver boot.
Around that time, Mikel was the subject of a three-way transfer saga involving Manchester United, Chelsea, and Norwegian side Lyn Oslo. He eventually signed for the London club where he won several laurels including two league titles, three FA Cups, one Champions League, a League Cup, Community Shield, and a Europa League trophy.
He was also a one-time winner of the Turkish Cup and on the international scene scored six times.
Apart from winning the 2013 AFCON, Mikel had 91 caps for Nigeria and won a bronze medal for the country at the 2016 Olympics. In the 2006, 2010, and 2019 editions of the AFCON, Mikel also helped Nigeria claim bronze.
He also played at the 2014 and 2018 World Cup, captaining the team in the latter.