From a defender to midfielder: The evolution of Michael Essien's significant switch
Former Ghana international, Michael Essien
Former Ghana international, Michael Essien has told an intriguing story of his transition from playing as a defender to becoming a midfield maestro.
Read full articleEssien initially started his career as a centre back, representing the national team in that position until he ventured into European football, where his trajectory took a significant turn.
Despite starting as a centre back and even undergoing a trial at Manchester United in that role, Essien found himself making an unexpected shift.
The pivotal moment occurred during his time with his former club, Bastia.
A midfield injury prompted the team's coach to deploy Essien as a makeshift midfielder, a decision that would alter the course of his playing style.
Recalling the incident, Essien explained, "I started off as a centre back from 14, 15 years and the national under 17s. When I came to Europe I came to Bastia, and I even went to Manchester United; Sir Alex Ferguson remembers that very well."
The Ghanaian footballer continued, "When I went to Bastia, one of our midfielders got injured, and the coach asked me if I could play there, and I said yeah I can."
"I stuck there after that game. When you start from the back, you can read the game very well, so when I moved into the middle it's nothing new for me," Essien concluded.
Essien's versatility and adaptability allowed him to seamlessly transition from defence to midfield, ultimately establishing himself as a formidable force in the heart of the pitch as a midfield maestro.
The former Chelsea player won the UEFA Champions League, two Premier League titles as well as two Ligue Un titles with Lyon.
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