Legendary Black Stars midfielder, Michael Essien, has shared insights into his injury struggles during his football career, which significantly impacted him.

Essien disclosed that the majority of his severe injuries occurred while playing for the Black Stars of Ghana, affecting his career trajectory.

Despite these challenges, the former Chelsea star is not worried and does not regret representing the national team.

In an interview with Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo of JoyNews, Essien mentioned that he was not fortunate with injuries that hindered his career.

“Most of my bad injuries happened when I was playing for the Black Stars, but I don’t hold any grudges. I was just unlucky,” he said, as reported by JoySports on X.

Essien completed his UEFA License A course in 2023 and is currently serving as an assistant manager for Nordsjaelland FC in Denmark.

The 42-year-old has been with Nordsjaelland since 2020, gaining experience while completing his coaching course.

In March 2024, Essien was considered for the Black Stars coaching position, but the Ghana Football Association ultimately chose Otto Addo.

He officially retired from football in 2020, two years after ending his international career, enjoying a distinguished career with top European clubs such as Lyon, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and AC Milan.

His tenure at Chelsea was particularly memorable, where he spent nine years and left as a club legend.

View the tweet below:

Most of my bad injuries happened when I was playing for the Black Stars - Michael Essien#JoySports pic.twitter.com/Pp5ws0CbJr

— #JoySports (@JoySportsGH) September 20, 2024