The name ‘Mikel Obi’ is familiar to most football lovers across the world. He is one of Nigeria’s most decorated players and is regarded as one of the country’s best ever midfielders.
Mikel Obi began his professional career at Norwegian club Lynn before moving to Premier League side Chelsea where he achieved most of his successes. At Chelsea, he won the UEFA Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Europa League and FA Community Shield.
After leaving Chelsea in 2017, he has played for Tianjin TEDA, Middlesbrough, Trabzonspor, Stoke City and Kuwait SC- and is currently a free agent.
Mikel John Obi was born John Michael Nchekwube Obinna. The name ‘Mikel’ came about after the Nigerian FA incorrectly spelt Michael as Mikel while submitting his name for the 2003 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, as revealed by the former Chelsea midfielder in an interview. Nevertheless, he decided to stick with the name and later officially changed his name to ‘Mikel John Obi.’