Dissecting Mikel John Obi's style of play

There is nostalgia in the air as two members of the Atlanta '96 Olympic gold-winning team, Sunday Oliseh and Emmanuel Babayaro reunite on the debut episode of Special Delivery Podcast. Matthew Edafe (Mr. Elegbete) finally gets to meet his hero - and together they don't disappoint.
From the early days of his professional career to playing in some of Europe's top clubs, Juventus, Dortmund, Ajax, Oliseh shares his amazing journey of perseverance, discipline, controversy, and love for the game. This one is for the history books. Enjoy!
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Special Delivery by ATHLST™ is the home of unfiltered conversations about African sports' past, present, and future. Join ex-Football professionals and hosts of this show, Emmanuel Babayaro and Edafe Eseoghene, as they transport us from our seats into a world of African sports stories, royalty, and the intersection of business, culture, and politics.
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►Link to Full Episode: • Sunday Oliseh drops by...
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[@LearnWithJay-Reis]

Chelsea had several top coaches , chelsea had several prolific players like mereles , essien , lassana diarra . They all had to leave chelsea bcos all the top coaches prefered to use mikel . Mikel played pivotal role in making chelsea play 2 chanpions league final . Instrumental in all the cup finals and league titles chelsea won even finished 2nd african footballer of the year to Yaya toure . Pls Oliseh cannot just be sentimental in his judgement of mikel . Mikel is the one with the most beautiful career in Nigerian football . He deserves alot of respect .

[@kasherimilkong1036]

Dead in the nail sir. I posted my own rebuke to Oliseh. I respect him as an accomplished player, but not his disrespect of one of Nigeria's greatest players who is more accomplished than him(Oliseh).

[@elishaoluwafemi1982]

I still maintain my stance: both Oliseh and Okocha combined in their prime were not as proficient in the midfield as Mikel. In AFCON 2013 it was Mikel that stopped the star-studded squad of Côte d’Ivoire. In fact, he even betted with Kalou that Nigeria would beat them. If only Mikel had played with the present players in the Super Eagles, Nigeria would have won all trophies without constraints. We struggled to beat Côte d’Ivoire in 1994 semifinals. It was easy for us to do so because of Mikel in 2013, despite playing against Yaya Toure, Drogba, Kalou, and Gervinho, to name a few. Oliseh only played 10 minutes in a season at Juventus. That wasn’t Mikel’s statistics. As far as national team is concerned, Mikel is only second to Kanu in importance. If Mikel had been fit in 2010., Nigeria would definitely be in the last four at the South African World Cup. He’s that good! I didn’t know Oliseh would be this irrelevant after retirement. They rumored that he was part of the Mafia in 1994 squad. His dispositions to national football is highly contemptible and divisive. He should be content for what he had achieved and did for the national team. He is very educated for a footballer. But he should appeal to reason, and not sentiments, in expressing opinions about national sports

[@Helena_01541]

I agree with everything you said but what did Kanu really achieve for the SE? He didn't score for Nigeria at any senior team tournament or probably any competitive match for the SE if I'm not mistaken as a player who plays offensively. Mikel is very underated everywhere both for club & country, now the SE can't even make two accurate passes in the middle yet this was a player with high football IQ but was constantly abused and disrespected by Nigerians smh.

[@SlekkyP]

I totally disagree, Mikel is on his own game, Ndidi has his as well, we shouldn’t e discussing this, Mikel in his prime did a dirty job, yes Ndidi cover grounds, but intelligent wise, Mikel bosses that area anytime.

[@johnsonmadukaejiaka7641]

I now understand why Mikel has to say what really transpired between this guy and Enyeama in his podcast

[@Helena_01541]

In which episode of his podcast exactly did he talk about Oliseh?

[@dwightakinpelu5206]

Mikel was an offensive player when he started his career before joining chelsea

[@edijalaufuoma5014]

Intersting take by Sunday

[@gilbertaustin5502]

Mokel is never an offensive player. Mikel is a natural CM

[@ugemconsultdesign4926]

Can I get the link to the full interview

[@preciousigiebor4639]

With opinions like this, Sunday Oliseh can never succeed as a coach. So all those coaches that played him in that position are clueless?

[@chinwenerondu8192]

Exactly.

[@Helena_01541]

Very sentimental take 😏

[@theconvo1208]

Na why I nor dey like am when Nigerian coaches coach super eagles

[@chinwenerondu8192]

From 1994 to 2008 when he stopped playing, this noise maker never played more than 2 seasons for a club. Juve, one season, Dortmund, 2 seasons loaned out to Bochum, even Bochum wouldnt keep him for more than a season. So he was more of a journey man and here he is running mouth.

[@Helena_01541]

You're very correct about him👍 and he is very jealous and hateful too. As a coach, he is known for fighting players verbally, physically, and in the court as well.

[@MichaelO91-y6p]

Absolutely, compared to Mikel that had 10 solid years in one of the biggest teams in the world. Afcon winner. After hearing this disgraceful interview, my opinion on Oliseh is confirmed.

[@onyedikauzodufa2409]

na because mikel follow for people way fire am na why he dey talk like this . Mikel is a great player both offensively and defensively and there are evidence to it not what olisa is saying

[@Footballfrenzy93]

Mikel was a much better player than Oliseh

[@Helena_01541]

By a large margin 🤗

[@MichaelO91-y6p]

Wow! I absolutely find zero logic and 100% pure sentiment in this interview, this is an interview Oliseh should not be proud of, very demeaning of his personality. Sentiment was obvious. This man invaded the question and started talking about how he invited the player and he refused to come…pure sentiment! Oliseh was a fantastic player, no doubt. Captained his country. But his career is child’s play compared to the career Obi had. He would king if his has half the career Obi had. Even Kanu cannot match some of his Stats in the premier league. His longevity with Chelsea. His undeniable relevance in all trophies be won in the team. Second best player in the Champion League final, bested by Drogba. This man has a banner in Stamford bridge. An absolute cult hero. His MVP performance in 2013 Afcon that he won for his country. Bossing the field against the star studded Ivorian team. No fluke in all that this man achieved. Oliseh probably cannot handle the fact that when naming relevant players in Nigeria football history, he is far behind Mikel. He can only attain what Mikel managed in his illusions or fantasies. By his standards as brilliant mind and good coach, i definitely don’t expect this statements from him about a player that proudly represented his country in the diaspora for years in football l. Internationally celebrated. One of Nigeria’s best product. To make such myopic statements about Mikel, is a testament to Oliseh’s character as a person. Yea, very outspoken and known as a voice for team mates, a good captain too. Yet controversial and has had issues with lots of people in Nigeria football, including fights with his players as a coach, even the media. All the time playing the victim. He should think deep. He’ll discover that the whole time he has been the enemy of himself. He is his own problem. Disgraceful interview!

[@dolapoogunsanlu6865]

I can see there is a personal issue btw Oliseh and Mikel

[@kasherimilkong1036]

Rating Ndidi above Mikel ....? Alleging that Mikel is not creative? Why would Mourinho sign and use him if he s not creative? 24 teams at 2005 u 20 and he was second only to Messi? Look at the Spain game at confederations Cup 2013 with Mikel's dribbling runs and defence splitting passes and yet Mikel is not good creatively or defensively? All these just because he snubbed your invite? With the way you handled Enyeama, could it be that smart cool headed Mikel is a good judge of character and feels you have a problem handling big players due to inferiority complex? I respect your accomplishments Oliseh but sentiment and not sound judgment is the undertone in your assessment of Mikel. Just look at the first Ethiopian 2014 wcq in oct 2013 at Addis Ababa and see Mikel defending against goal kicks with headers and you are claiming Mikel does not use his head? You didn't see that?Guus Hiddink asserts Mikel's qualities as a neat tackler and you don't see it that way? You really need to re evaluate your opinion about Mikel bcos you are in the minority on that, and others who think otherwise , including your senior in the legendary 1994 team, Steven Keshi, are much more accomplished coaches than you.

[@samgini2414]

now it's easy to see his personal grudge with Mikel, top coaches in world who managed mikel attested to his quality, and oliseh didn't see that, now you understand why he's a failed coach,

[@ianwilliams6705]

Sunday must be high on something. He's always been controversial that's why he's not a good coach.

[@joshuadaniel1823]

Ask this dude any question about anything and he'd just go an spew grudges.

[@arsbpa9545]

Just say you can deal with his honesty

[@Helena_01541]

​@@arsbpa9545there is nothing honest about what he said just plain resentment as already pointed out.

[@arsbpa9545]

@@Helena_01541 Resent that he try's to clip their egocentric behavior

[@Helena_01541]

@@arsbpa9545 what you've written here is an aberration.

[@arsbpa9545]

@@Helena_01541 looooool. please go have a lovely day. You can just handle the truth

[@olabodeogunyemi1259]

Judging by the comments here, it is evident we Nigerian football fans are even more sentimental and worse than oliseh. We are largely judgemental and only respond to react and not to comprehend. Oliseh only referred to the time he coached the player and not the player in his prime.To begin to compare oliseh and okocha to mikel is the genesis of even more underlying problems with Nigerian fans which shows how ungrateful and short our memories could be. Oliseh alone had more iconic moments for Nigeria than mikel. Okocha is our messi of midfielder

[@samgini2414]

if mikel had no qualities of offensive midfielder, why was Manchester United under fergie and Chelsea under maurinho had a public competition for his signature?can oliseh answer this question, two of the best coaches in the world rated mikel,but oliseh saw no offensive midfielder qualities in him, Again mikel played 13 seasons in premier league, 11,with Chelsea, and was their anchor in Munich champions league finals, as defensive midfielder yet oliseh is tacitly diminishing the man, he was among Nigeria finest players in the 2013 Afcon wining team, yet oliseh told us that he is just useful,,it's getting personal and mikel aint going to lie low and watch anyone discredit him,

[@Helena_01541]

Oliseh was talking here purely on hate, bais, resentment, and jealousy. He is definitely not a good coach, he can't manage players. There is no reasonable person that can say what he said about Mikel. He is/was never a good coach, a very proud and empty person. The funny thing is that he doesn't know that he is not as intelligent as he thinks he is 🤭

[@excellence418]

You dont play consistently for 11 years in Chelsea first team under various world class managers, and competing against various world class players, if you are not very good. Sunday is a clown

[@kasherimilkong1036]

11 years with grade A performance in so many big games and the most decorated baller in Nigerian history . A resume Oliseh's pale into insignificance against club wise. World Cup 2nd round with Eagles?. AFCON triumph? Mikel as well....playing in front of a home based defence line, Mikel marshalled the midfield to victory. Mikel is a much more accomplished baller than Oliseh.

[@Helena_01541]

​@@kasherimilkong1036Oliseh is merely hateful and has had a worse coaching career, he is known for fighting players with litigation battles against players. Not a good coach imo 😏

[@kasherimilkong1036]

No wonder. Players normally bond in esprit de corp... So when a coach has avoidable issues of bad blood with one or two whom they respect, he loses their respect and cannot get the best out of them.

[@Helena_01541]

@@kasherimilkong1036 he was taken to court in one minor club he was managing that time in one of the lowest divisions in either Belgium or Germany. He has bad temperament/anger & pride issues. He claims to be intelligent but he isn't as intelligent as thinks he is.

[@kasherimilkong1036]

What he did to Vincent Enyeama and the timing , including the threat of having Enyeama arrested by the police if he does not leave the meeting room with validates what you just said. I respect Oliseh as an accomplished player , but he needs more people management skills.

[@elishaoluwafemi1982]

When Oliseh played for Juventus he was only featured for 10 minutes in a season. It is only in Nigeria that a person like Oliseh would downgrade a prolific player who featured regularly for Chelsea, regarded as legend both by fans and the club, in the space of 11 years. Only in Nigeria does that happen. Mikel is Oliseh and Okocha combined in their prime. Even late coach Keshi revered Mikel

[@Helena_01541]

You're very apt 👍 he is a very hateful person and can't & couldn't make a good coach.

[@bhouckie]

He’s actually correct, Mikel doesn’t come as a DM he passes more as a CM

[@Helena_01541]

Naturally he was an attacking midfielder before he was converted to a DM, and as a DM he did excellently well under different managers. There is no other Nigerian player who has played those two positions simultaneously.

[@arnc9084]

I completely disagree with Oliseh's stance on Mikel. We saw Mikel did as an attacking midfielder in 2005 and as a defensive midfielder in Chelsea. He won almost everything in football. What else do you want him to achieve? This is the difference between Siasia and Oliseh. Inasmuch as I respected Oliseh, our best ever midfielder, I dislike how he allowed his sentiments to becloud his reality. The latter has really limited his shining as a coach. Without this, Oliseh is better than Guardiola by light years. I kid not.

[@chikeagbo3531]

Smh….Please, don’t disrespect Pep Guardiola…That’s one thing with Nigerians, we always run our mouth…Sunday Oliseh will never reach Guardiola’s level…Yes, I said it.. I don’t like Guardiola for the way he treated black players when he was at Barcelona, but I respect him as the best coach of his generation…

[@ugemconsultdesign4926]

Sunday Oliseh and Mikel are very far apart when it comes to footballing IQ. Sunday Oliseh is a very Top elite deepline player maker with accurate ball vision. Mikel is another hybrid player maker Midfielder that was why Jose M played him deep to shield the CBs, it was only in Nigeria we used him as No 10. Mikel can play 8, 10 & make shift double pivot or hybrid DM. I agree with Sunday Oliseh. He is a top coach to know.

[@samgini2414]

if oliseh is top coach, then football world has gone mad,,if fergie in Manchester then wanted mikel and maurinho had to fight to get him, oliseh assertion about mikel becomes laughable, its grudge and personal vendetta, mikel had a great successful career better than oliseh, check the trophy cabinets,

[@Helena_01541]

Sunday Oliseh is/was never a top coach, not by any football standard on earth. Which top team has he managed? Which trophy has he won as a coach? As a below average coach that he is, he is known for fighting players and fighting litigation battles with clubs and players go and check his records. When he was a player, he only featured frequently for Nigeria what about the clubside? No success stride associated to him at clubside level. A plain hateful person who succeeded in destroying the team Keshi suffered to build and won a major tournament with 😏

[@onyemaezeji6861]

Many of these ex Nigerian footballers are like their country filled with animosity,anger,bitterness for themselves and those who had disagreed with them in the past,especially Siasia and Oliseh sound too vindictive. Taribo,Amokachi sound okay,but the other two are very awful.

[@Helena_01541]

You know well, Oliseh and Siasia two bitter and entitled people 😏 filled with nothingness and hatred for people who are not willing to succumb to their egos and pride 🤭

[@babaaaron]

He thinks he's Mourinho. Too blunt for his own good Takes everything personal A vindictive persona

[@ambroseayodele9869]

Head dry pain Oliseh. Was Oliseh ever good? Check his stats on his wikipedia page. How matches did he play in a season for Juventus, Borussia Dortmund.... Oliseh was below average player and a terrible coach. Apart from the goal against Spain, What else.

[@Helena_01541]

Disregard him, a plain hater. All he knows is to spew grudge against top players and destroy teams others suffered to build 😏

[@chikeagbo3531]

Oliseh is driven by envy and jealousy over Mike’s accomplishments as a player…

[@chikeagbo3531]

That’s one thing with black people, we are full of jealousy…Look how a former player tries to rubbish the achievements of another ex player…European and South American players would never do such…I used to respect Sunday Oliseh, but after this clip, I just lost respect for him…Mourinho is a million times better than Oliseh when it comes down to football tactics and he trusted Mikel Obi in every position he played him…Mikel won more trophies than Oliseh, and that’s where the jealousy is coming from …Mikel played for one of the best teams in the world and won numerous trophies…To be honest, Oliseh was not better than Mikel Obi as a player…Oliseh played with the best players that Nigeria has ever assembled, and players like Okocha, Amokachi, Finidi, Rashidi, Amunilke etc made his job easier..This is just sad coming from someone I respect so much…

[@tonyejiro7641]

Oliseh talks too much

[@Ben2bwild]

He's being interviewed. You don't want him to respond?

[@anthonyemeka8033]

Noo Mikel is defensive creative milfeider,two in one but ndidi is just a df.😅

[@oladmejiakogun1263]

Nonsense that’s why u never succeed