Ghanaian midfielder Derek Boateng considers his former Black Stars teammate Michael Essien as one of the greatest footballers to come out of the African continent.

Boateng, who featured alongside Essien from youth level (U-17 and U-20) to the senior national team for Ghana, insists the Chelsea legend deserved more credit than he gets from fans and pundits.

The 37-year-old is a serial winner. Essien won Ligue 1 twice during his time with French giants Lyon.

After moving to Chelsea in 2005, he helped the Blues win the league in 2005-06 and 2009-10, lifted the FA Cup four times, the League Cup once, the Community Shield once and the Uefa Champions League in 2011-12.

“I would rate him among the greatest African players of all-time. When I’m putting down my [African] XI, Essien will be in the squad. He’s a great player. He’s done so much for Ghana, himself at the club side and he’s a good man. I’m happy for him. I respect him and we stay friends,” Boateng told Goal.com.

Essien currently plays his football in Azerbaijan side Sabail FK.