After a glittering 20-year playing career at clubs like Chelsea, Real Madrid, and AC Milan, Michael Essien has transitioned to coaching, a move that has given him new insights into the world of management. Despite being one of the best midfielders of his generation, it wasn’t a desire to follow in the footsteps of renowned managers like Jose Mourinho or Carlo Ancelotti that prompted Essien to enter coaching. Instead, it was a simple realization: “I woke up one day and thought, ‘Let me start doing something.'”
Essien’s coaching career began in 2020 when he joined Danish side FC Nordsjaelland as an assistant coach. A club known for its strong ties to the Right to Dream academy in Ghana, Nordsjaelland’s focus on developing young talent attracted the former Ghana international. “I love how they develop their boys here,” Essien says, speaking of the academy’s holistic approach to nurturing both footballing talent and academic success. “The environment is very nice and very healthy, and everyone is ready to help whenever you need.”
Nordsjaelland’s unique structure, where an academy drives the club’s operations, appealed to Essien, especially given his longstanding relationship with academy founder Tom Vernon. The academy, founded in 1999, has produced top talents like Mohammed Kudus and Kamaldeen Sulemana, and Essien is excited to be part of this system that provides a pathway for young players to professional football.
Though Essien is far from considering a head coaching position, his current role has allowed him to learn from seasoned coaches like Mourinho and Ancelotti. “I understand a bit more why Jose would get angry,” Essien reflects, acknowledging the challenges of coaching that he never truly grasped as a player. His experiences under some of the game’s best managers have influenced his own approach, and he now applies those lessons as he works with young players.
Despite Essien’s success as a player, coaching has its challenges, particularly with the current generation of players. “Sometimes they think they know the world, but actually they don’t know anything,” Essien says, noting the importance of offering advice and guidance to young players. His mentorship helps them navigate their careers and the pressures that come with the modern game.
Essien has also been developing his managerial skills, recently completing a football management course that has broadened his understanding of club operations. While he’s not actively seeking a head coach role, Essien is clearly laying the groundwork for a future in management. “Football goes beyond the pitch,” he says. “I’m collecting knowledge about the game because I want to do my best for these young boys coming up.”
For now, Essien is focused on helping Nordsjaelland and its academy system continue to grow, but his journey in coaching has only just begun. As he gains more experience and refines his understanding of the game’s inner workings, a future in management seems likely for the former midfield powerhouse.
As he continues to learn and grow in his new role, Essien remains passionate about football and determined to shape the next generation of players, just as his own career was shaped by the guidance of his coaches.