Ex-Chelsea pro John Mikel Obi announces retirement

taketonews

Most recently active at Kuwait SC

John Mikel Obi has announced the end of his active professional career via Instagram. The 35-year-old midfielder had been without a club for almost a year. The Nigerian played for Kuwait SC from July to November 2021, but only made two appearances. His contract, which ran until June 2022, was terminated prematurely. Obi played by far the most games for Chelsea (372), and in 2012 he won the Champions League with the London club.

“There’s a saying that ‘all good things must come to an end,’ and for my pro football career, that day is today,” Obi shared. “When I look back on the past 20 years of my career, I have to say that I am very satisfied with everything I have been able to achieve (…)”. The 88-time national player took part in the 2014 and 2018 World Cups with his nation. Obi recorded the highest market value of his career with 23 million euros at the beginning of 2013. On Instagram, the right-footed thanked his family, former coaches, clubs, teammates and his fans.

Badstuber, Tévez, Subotic & Co.: These players ended their careers in 2022

John Mikel Obi (Last club: Kuwait SC)

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See Obi’s performance data – most games for: Chelsea FC (372); highest market value: 23 million euros

Andrea Ranocchia (Last club: AC Monza)

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On Ranocchia’s performance data – most games for: Inter Milan (226); highest market value: 18 million euros

Holger Badstuber (last club: FC Luzern)

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Badstuber’s performance data – most games for: FC Bayern (177); highest market value: 22 million euros

Martin Hinteregger (Last club: Eintracht Frankfurt)

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On Hinteregger’s performance data – most games for: Red Bull Salzburg (211); highest market value: 18 million euros

Mevlut Erdinc (Last club: Racing Besançon)

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On Erdinc’s performance data – most games for: PSG (110); highest market value: 10.5 million euros

Guillaume Hoarau (Last club: FC Sion)

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On Hoarau’s performance data – most games for: BSC Young Boys (188); highest market value: 11.5 million euros

now plays on Reunion for JS Saint-Pierroise

Konstantin Rausch (last club: 1. FC Nürnberg)

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On Rausch’s performance data – most games for: Hannover 96 (180); highest market value: 5 million euros

now plays in the 3rd district class at Vorwerk Celle II

Nacho Monreal (Last club: Real Sociedad)

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On Monreal’s performance data – most games for: Arsenal FC (251); highest market value: 15 million euros

Mehmet Topal (Last club: Besiktas)

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On Topal’s performance data – most games for: Fenerbahce (298); highest market value: 12 million euros

Fred (Last club: Fluminense)

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On Fred’s performance data – most games for: Fluminense (271); highest market value: 15 million euros

Mark Noble (Last club: West Ham)

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On Noble’s performance data – most games for: West Ham (550); highest market value: 8 million euros

Jack Wilshere (Last club: Aarhus GF)

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On Wilshere’s performance data – most games for: Arsenal FC (197); highest market value: 33 million euros

Aleksandar Kolarov (Last club: Inter Milan)

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On Kolarov’s performance data – most games for: Man City (247); highest market value: 17 million euros

Zlatko Junuzovic (Last club: Red Bull Salzburg)

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On Junuzovic’s performance data – most games for: Werder (198); highest market value: 7 million euros

Neven Subotic (Last club: SCR Altach)

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On Subotic’s performance data – most games for: BVB (263); highest market value: 20 million euros

Carlos Tévez (Last club: Boca Juniors)

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On Tévez’s performance data – most games for: Boca Juniors (200); highest market value: 40 million euros

Marcel Schmelzer (last club: BVB)

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On Schmelzer’s performance data – most games for: BVB (367); highest market value: 10 million euros

Laurent Koscielny (Last club: Girondins Bordeaux)

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On Koscielny’s performance data – most games for: Arsenal (353); highest market value: 22 million euros

Martin Skrtel (Last club: Spartak Trnava)

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Go to Skrtel’s performance data – most games for: Liverpool FC (320); highest market value: 18 million euros

Lee Grant (Last club: Manchester United)

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See Grant’s performance data – most games for: Derby County (186); highest market value: one million euros

Valentin Stocker (last club: FC Basel)

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Stocker’s performance data – most games for: FC Basel (415); highest market value: 7 million euros

Andrés D’Alessandro (Last club: SC Internacional)

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On D’Alessandro’s performance data – most games for: SC Internacional (368); highest market value: 11 million euros

Hernanes (Last club: Sport Recife)

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On D’Alessandro’s performance data – most games for: FC Sao Paulo (230); highest market value: 25 million euros

Aaron Hunt (last club: Hamburger SV)

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Hunt’s performance data – most games for: SV Werder Bremen (286); highest market value: 7 million euros

Johannes Flum (last club: SC Freiburg II)

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On Flum’s performance data – most games for: SC Freiburg (130 + 54 in the second team); highest market value: 4 million euros

Almog Cohen (last club: Maccabi Netanya)

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On Cohen’s performance data – most games for: Maccabi Netanya (154); highest market value: 3 million euros

Jermain Defoe (last club: AFC Sunderland)

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On Defoe’s performance data – most games for: Tottenham Hotspur (362); highest market value: 18 million euros

Javi García (last club: Boavista Porto)

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On García’s performance data – most games for: Benfica Lisbon (131); highest market value: 20 million euros

Fabricio Coloccini (last club: Club Atlético Aldosivi)

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On Coloccini’s performance data – most games for: Newcastle United (275); highest market value: 10 million euros

Scott Brown (last club: Aberdeen FC)

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On Brown’s performance data – most games for: Celtic (611); highest market value: 6.6 million euros

Davy Proepper (last club: PSV Eindhoven)

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On Pröpper’s performance data – most games for: Vitesse Arnhem (162); highest market value: 17 million euros

Thomas Vermaelen (last club: Vissel Kobe)

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Zu Vermaelen’s performance data – most games for: Arsenal FC (150); highest market value: 18.5 million euros

Sebastian Prödl (last club: Udinese Calcio)

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On Prödl’s performance data – most games for: Werder Bremen (175); highest market value: 4 million euros

“I also want to encourage everyone I’ve inspired in one way or another throughout my career to never give up on your dreams, because every time you think about quitting, remember why you started,” Obi said . “This is not goodbye, it is the beginning of a new journey, a new chapter in my life. I look forward to what the future holds and I hope you will join me as I do so. I thank you.”

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