Chelsea’s 2-0 FA Cup victory over Derby County earlier this month marked a special occasion for Nigerian midfielder John Mikel Obi as he made his 300th appearance for the club.
“Coming into a big club like Chelsea, as a young 18-year-old from Africa, it was a dream come true,” he reflects.
“I remember coming into the dressing room and I was shaking all through the first week. The players in there really helped me settle in – John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and the other African players that were there at the time.”
The Nigerian’s 300th outing for the Londoners saw him join the likes of Petr Cech, Didier Drogba and Gianfranco Zola as a select few of Chelsea’s foreign players to reach the milestone.
“It's been an amazing journey. I've enjoyed every bit of it,” says Mikel. “I've worked with some great people, great players from when I came to the ones that are here now. They've all been brilliant.”
Mikel’s performances at Chelsea saw him receive the runner-up position for the 2013 African Footballer of the Year, and the midfielder is looking forward to many more successes with his Premier League employers.
“I've won a lot of trophies with this team, but I'm still hungry to keep winning more. I'm very happy, I enjoy what I do, coming to the training ground every day, spending time with my team-mates. I hope there are many more years to come.”
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