AFCON 2025
Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has hilariously revealed how José Mourinho ended his hopes of playing as Chelsea’s No. 10, jokingly blaming former teammate Joe Cole for the positional switch.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast alongside Gary Lineker and Joe Cole, Mikel recounted how Mourinho informed him shortly after arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2006 that he would no longer play as an attacking midfielder.
“I know you’re a number ten, but you’re not playing there. This guy right here is playing that position,” Mikel recalled Mourinho telling him while pointing at Joe Cole.
The former Nigerian international jokingly added, “Mourinho changed it because of this f*er,” prompting laughter from everyone in the studio.
Mikel also shared one of Mourinho’s memorable halftime team talks, revealing how the Portuguese coach would regularly scold Cole, nicknamed “Zizou” by his teammates, for trying to dribble past too many opponents instead of releasing the ball.
According to Mikel, Mourinho would shout: “Pass the f***ing ball. Stop trying to dribble everybody. You’re not a Zizou here. Just pass the ball!”
The conversation became even more entertaining when Mikel mimicked Cole’s distinctive running style and high-pulled shorts, leaving Lineker and Cole in fits of laughter.
Although he arrived at Chelsea as one of Africa’s brightest attacking midfield prospects, Mikel embraced Mourinho’s decision to convert him into a defensive midfielder. The tactical change proved to be a masterstroke, as he went on to make more than 370 appearances for the Blues, winning two Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League during an illustrious 11-year spell at Stamford Bridge.
