Michael Essien And Loyalty In Football

Reports from multiple media outlets suggest that former Chelsea FC midfielder Michael Essien has decided to make the move to Major League Soccer when his contract ends with AC Milan this summer. Essien was also linked with a few moves in January but he and his agent refused those moves and would prefer to see out the end of his Milan contract. What makes this different than your usual transfer story is that loyalty was the reason Essien turned down those moves.

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Last summer, Chelsea FC made the decision to cut loose two of its most senior players in Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole. Cole did not make much of a fuss about the whole thing and thanked the fans for their support. It was a straightforward decision as he was making entirely too much money to sit on the bench behind Cesar Azpilicueta. He was limited to only 26 appearances total and 17 in the Premier League compared to the usual 50 total he was averaging the three years before that.

The veteran defender packed his bags and signed with Serie A giants AS Roma despite reported interest from Liverpool. Things have not been peachy for Cole at Roma as he has been limited to only 11 appearances but his legacy with Chelsea FC is intact.

Contrast that with the way the Frank Lampard saga has played out. When it was announced that he would be leaving Chelsea, Lampard made a show of saying that he would never play for another Premier League club. He supposedly had offers from 16 clubs around the world and was linked with a move to the LA Galaxy of MLS. Instead he signed with NYC FC, another MLS club that is owned by City Financial Group, the same folks that own Melbourne City in Australia and of course, Manchester City. Chelsea fans were happy to see Lamps moving on to his next adventure and fans in America were excited at the chance to see their hero play in competitive matches in the United States.

Aug 10, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien (5) before the game at RFK Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Frederiksen-USA TODAY Sports

Then he goes on loan to Manchester City, but supposedly only to stay fit and train with the team. The fans were hurt seeing him in a City shirt but it was nothing compared to the pain they felt when he scored the equalizer against Chelsea on that fateful day.

To add insult to injury, months later it is revealed that Lampard actually signed a contract with Manchester City and never had a deal in place with NYC FC. Now Chelsea fans face the prospect of seeing Lampard line up against the Blues at Stamford Bridge in week’s time. So much for not playing for another Premier League club, huh Frank?

So when it came time for Michael Essien and his agent to sit down this week and review the offers on the table, he decided his future lied outside of the Premier League. His agent Fabien Piveteau said “Essien will not play in the Premier League for any club other than Chelsea. We had offers from West Bromwich Albion and Queens Park Rangers but we refused”. Add Burnley and Leicester City to that list of interested candidates and Michael Essien is spoiled for choice.

He could walk right in to any of these squads and enjoy the financial and professional rewards of playing in the Premier League once again. What made that decision easy for the midfielder is the loyalty he feels for Chelsea. Essien has a tremendous love for the club that signed him in 2004 for £24.4 million, making him at the time the Blues’ most expensive signing ever.

Jose Mourinho and Essien also share a tremendous connection as he is the manager that signed him in and chose to bring him on loan to Real Madrid when he would have been fighting for a place at Chelsea. The connection and bond is so strong that he even refers to Mourinho as “daddy” and it is clear that he sees him as more of a father than a manager. With all of that in mind it is no surprise that he would choose not to face Mourinho or put on another Premier League’s team kit.