Nigeria Super Eagles legend Mikel Obi has shared footage of before and after his successful surgery in a hospital in the United Kingdom.
The Chelsea legend took to his Instagram story to share footage of himself on the hospital bed at the Princess Grace Hospital in the United Kingdom. He wrote in the post, “All good, #PostOp.”
Earlier, he shared a picture of himself before the operation and wrote, “Pre-op, let’s go.”
The former footballer did not reveal the reason for the surgery but it is the second time he has gone under the knife after his first surgery in 2017.
Who is Mikel Obi?
Mikel Obi is a former Nigerian professional footballer. The Super Eagles legend played as a defensive midfielder during his playing career and was regarded as one of the best, if not the best, midfielder the Super Eagles ever produced.
He started his career in 2002, playing for the Plateau United youth team before his breakout year in 2004 when he was poached by Norwegian side Lyn.
At Lyn, it was a disappointing start for the ex-Nigeria international. Throughout his two years with the Norwegian outfit, Mikel Obi made only 6 league appearances for the club, scoring one goal.
The prolific midfielder would then register a big breakthrough in his career when Premier League Club Chelsea came calling for his services in 2006.
Mikel Obi’s move to Chelsea came on the hills of controversies. Manchester United were also interested in a move for the then-Nigerian young sensation. United claimed they had reached an agreement with Mikel Obi and his agent to sign the youngster but Lyn debunked the claim. Chelsea would later move to ‘kidnap’ Mikel, as claimed by Manchester United, and broker a deal with the player.
Mikel later addressed the press, saying it was Chelsea that he wanted to join not Manchester United. Manchester United blamed Lyn, Chelsea, and Mikel’s agent for the hijack and lodged a complaint with FIFA which was dismissed on grounds of insufficient evidence.
Mikel Obi’s career
Mikel Obi would later go on to establish himself as one of Chelsea’s legends. He made 249 Premier League appearances for the club, scoring one goal in a career which spanned 11 years from 2006 to 2017. He won two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two EFL Cups, one Champions League and one Europa League with the Blues.
After his heroic 11-year stint with the Blues, Obi went on to have spells with Tianjin, Middlesbrough, Trabzonspur, Stoke City, and then Kuwait SC where he rounded up his career.
Mikel Obi career stats
Mikel Obi made a total of 362 league appearances, playing for seven different clubs throughout his career. In all competitions, he made 495 appearances, scoring 11 goals. On the international scene, he won 96 caps with the Nigeria national team, scoring 6 goals before calling time on his career in 2019.
Mikel Obi’s net worth
In 2024, Mikel Obi’s estimated net worth is pecked at €50million. The Super Eagles legend raked in a fortune from his heroic playing career.
Mikel Obi’s wife
Mikel Obi is married to a Russian blonde Olga Allegra Diyachenko. The pair reportedly met in 2014 and got married in 2015. They have two children – twin daughters – Ava and Mia, who were born in 2015.
