John Obi Mikel
Mikel playing for Chelsea in 2016
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Michael Nchekwube Obinna | ||
| Date of birth | 22 April 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Jos, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
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Current team
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Tianjin TEDA | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2004 | Plateau United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2006 | Lyn | 6 | (1) |
| 2006–2017 | Chelsea | 249 | (1) |
| 2017– | Tianjin TEDA | 0 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2006– | Nigeria | 78 | (5) |
| 2016 | Nigeria Olympic | 6 | (1) |
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Honours
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* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 02:34, 18 August 2016 (UTC). |
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* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 02:34, 18 August 2016 (UTC).
John Michael Nchekwube Obinna (born 22 April 1987), variously known as John Obi Mikel, John Mikel Obi or Mikel John Obi, is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Chinese club Tianjin TEDA in the Chinese Super League and the Nigeria national team.
Mikel was born in Jos, Nigeria, as John Michael Nchekwube Obinna, the son of Michael Obi, who runs an inter-state transport company in Jos, the capital of Plateau State. As his father was a member of the Igbo ethnic group, "Nchekwube" means "hope" and "Obi" is a nickname for the Igbo name "Obinna" (meaning "Father's heart").
Mikel started his official football career at the age of 12 when picked as a talented footballer from over 3,000 young talents to play in Pepsi Football Academy, a team that at the time was well known for travelling across Nigeria scouting young footballers with the potential to play professionally. Obi stood out to scouts and was later picked to play for top-flight club Plateau United, a side that had previously developed stars Celestine Babayaro, Victor Obinna and Chris Obodo, among others, that went on to success in European leagues. Later known as John Obi Mikel, he made headlines for his country at the FIFA Under-17 World Championships held in Finland. Following the tournament, he went on to a trial at South Africa club Ajax Cape Town, ultimately joining Oslo-based club Lyn Fotball in Norway.
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