Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has announced his retirement from football.
The Nigerian has hung up his boots after an 18-year career, 11 of which he served at Stamford Bridge where he made 372 appearances. During his time with the Blues, Mikel won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup, a Champions League and a Europa League.
Revealing the news on Instagram, Mikel wrote: “There is a saying that "all good things must come to an end.
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“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.”
Following his exit from Chelsea, he moved to the Chinese Super League to play for Tianjin Jinmen Tiger FC, before coming back to England with Middlesbrough in the Championship. He then moved on to Turkish side Trabzonspor, before another English second tier spell with Stoke City. His most recent club was Kuwait FC.
The 35-year-old also represented the Nigerian national team on 88 occasions, helping the Super Eagles to claim the 2013 African Cup of Nations title. He also represented Nigeria at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as they claimed the bronze medal.