In the last 20 years, there has been a push towards having a midfielder that can play with physicality. They need good defense and technique, but they also need to be a guy that can have an eye for goal while letting everyone on the field know that the midfield was theirs. Michael Essien is a player who helped define that type of role during the first decade or so of the 21st century.
Born in Ghana, Essien grew up on the capital streets of Accra, beginning his soccer career after graduating from Catholic school. He started with a local club in the Ghana Premier League, Liberty Professionals, playing well enough to get called up to Ghana’s U-17 World Cup team.