Newcastle United star Christian Atsu was on Tuesday full of praise for Ghana international Michael Essien on his birthday.

As tributes and praises poured in from current and former footballers for the ex-Chelsea midfielder, Atsu could not help but heap praises on the man regarded as one of the very best from Africa and Ghana to have played the beautiful game.

Atsu took to social media site Twitter and wrote, “Happy birthday legend @MichaelEssien. Ghana is proud of you ????????????.”

Atsu was not the only person gushing over the greatness of Essien on his birthday.

English Premier League side, Chelsea paid glowing tribute to their former midfield enforcer.

Essien played for Chelsea between 2005 and 2014 and he made 117 appearances in all and scored 20 goals. He was signed from French giants, Olympique Lyonnais, for a record fee of 24.4 million pounds.

In a tweet posted on their official handle on Tuesday, the West London club shared some of Essien’s best moments at the club.

The post contained some goals scored by Essien including those against Barcelona in the Champions League and Arsenal in the Premier League.

In Spain, the official English Twitter account of La Liga has wished former Black Stars and Real Madrid player a happy 37th birthday in Twi and pidgin English.

The Twitter account tweeted: “We dey wish former @realmadriden and Black Stars midfielder @MichaelEssien afihyia pa as he turns 37 today”.

Which means: “We are wishing former Real Madrid and Black Stars midfielder Michael Essien a happy birthday as he turns 37 today”

The former Chelsea player reunited with the manager, Jose Mourinho as he signed a season-long loan with the Spanish giants, Real Madrid on transfer deadline day in 2012.
On 3rd November 2012, Essien scored his first goal for Real Madrid as they beat Real Zaragoza 4-0.

During the last match of the season he scored his second goal for Madrid against Osasuna, which he dedicated to Mourinho.

The Ghanaian is still active in football and now plays for Sabail FK in Azerbaijan where he is a player-coach.