Influential Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien has announced his retirement from the Black Stars.
The former Chelsea midfielder who has been with the Black Stars for 12 years says it’s time to leave for the younger generation.
“If I am called to play for the Black Stars again I won’t honour it. No, it’s not possible”, he stated.
“This is because I’ve retired from international duty. I even retired before we went to the World Cup in Brazil but I was called back [by coach Kwesi Appiah] to come and help. “And then in Brazil they treated me like [something] so I’m not playing for the country again. It’s time for the new generation,” he added.
Essien made his Ghana debut in 2002 and boasts of 58 caps as well as nine goals. He was a key member of the country’s golden generation that played their first-ever Fifa World Cup in 2006.
The midfielder, who is popularly known as the ‘Bison’ is currently without a club after parting ways with Indonesian outfit Persib Bandung, last featured for the Black Stars in 2014 at the Fifa World Cup in Brazil.