English and Chelsea legend, John Terry has heaped praise on his former teammate John Obi Mikel, insisting that the retired Nigerian midfielder could still fit into any Premier League team despite hanging up his boots three years ago.
Terry, who played alongside some of the world’s best midfielders, including Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, and Juan Mata, singled out Mikel for his immense contributions during their time together at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking in an interview with talkSPORT on Wednesday, the former Chelsea captain lauded Mikel’s qualities and work rate.
“He was brilliant,” Terry said. “Having him in front of me was a joy. He covered so much ground. “I still play in ex-legends games with him, and honestly, he can still play. He could still do a job in the Premier League today. He had it all, didn’t he?”
Terry also noted that while players like Claude Makelele are often recognized for their defensive midfield roles, Mikel did not always get the credit he deserved. “There are certain players in that role who don’t get the recognition they deserve, and Obi was one of them,” Terry added.
The pair played together at Chelsea between 2006 and 2017, featuring in 266 matches together and spending over 17,000 minutes on the pitch as teammates.
Mikel played a key role in Chelsea’s success during his 11-year spell at the club. He was instrumental in the Blues’ triumphs, winning multiple major trophies, including the Premier League titles in 2010 and 2015, as well as the UEFA Champions League in 2012.
The former Nigeria international played the entire 120 minutes in the iconic Champions League final against Bayern Munich, a match forever cherished by Chelsea fans.
Mikel joined Chelsea from Norwegian club Lyn FK in July 2006 and became a key figure in the club’s golden era under Roman Abramovich. In total, he made 372 appearances for the club, scoring six goals and providing 12 assists before departing in 2017.
