Michael Essien: From Midfield Maestro to Rising Coaching Talent

During an illustrious 20-year playing career, Michael Essien graced some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Chelsea, Real Madrid, and AC Milan, working under some of the game’s most revered managers. Yet, his move into coaching wasn’t inspired by emulating those figures but rather by a simple desire to stay involved in football.

“I just woke up one day and thought, ‘Let me start doing something,’” Essien says. “I started coaching to learn how it is to be a coach. I had some great, great managers, and I picked up things from them, but now I understand more about why they made certain decisions, especially when they got angry.”

Since 2020, Essien has been an assistant coach at FC Nordsjaelland, a Danish top-flight side with a unique approach to football. The club’s background and philosophy particularly appealed to the former Ghanaian international.

A Unique Environment

Unlike many professional clubs, Nordsjaelland is owned and operated by a youth academy, Right to Dream, which was founded in Ghana in 1999. The academy focuses on developing young talent both on and off the pitch, with a holistic approach that values character and education alongside footballing ability. It has produced notable players such as Mohammed Kudus, Kamaldeen Sulemana, and Mikkel Damsgaard, who have gone on to excel in top European leagues.

In 2019, Right to Dream purchased Nordsjaelland to create a pathway to European football for its brightest prospects. Essien’s long-standing connection with the academy’s founder, Tom Vernon, led him to join the project.

“I’ve known Tom since I was 17 or 18,” Essien recalls. “When I stopped playing, he reached out and asked what I was doing. He told me about the whole project, and when I visited, I found it to be a very nice environment. I love how they develop young boys here, giving them an opportunity to experience professional football.”

Essien was also drawn to the supportive and calm atmosphere at Nordsjaelland, which he believes is ideal for nurturing young talent. “It’s a healthy environment where everyone is ready to help whenever you need,” he adds.