Mikel Obi announces retirement

“There is a saying that “all good things must come to an end”, and for my professional football career, that day is today,” Obi said in a statement.

He further said, “I look back at the past 20 years of my career, and I must say that I am very satisfied with all that I was able to achieve and more importantly the human it has helped shape.

“All of this would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my family, managers, clubs, coaches, teammates and most importantly my ever-loyal fans. You supported me through my highs and lows, even on days that I did not live up to your expectations. I say a big thank you.

“I will also like to encourage everyone who I may have inspired one way or the other in the course of my career to never give up on their dreams, for every time you think about quitting, remind yourself why you started.

“This is not goodbye, it’s the start of another journey, another chapter of my life. I look forward to what the future holds and I hope you will walk with me. Thank you.”

The Nigerian great enjoyed enormous success during his 11-year stint at west London as he amassed a total of six goals and 13 assists in 372 appearances.

The 35-year-old won two Premier League titles, three FA Cup trophies, the 2007 League Cup and the 2013 Europa League.

He was also part of the Chelsea team that won the Champions League trophy for the first time in 2012.

(Punch)