Michael Essien his contract on 12 March 2007. It was feared Essien would miss the 2008–09 Premier League season after sustaining anterior cruciate ligament damage on 5 September while playing for Ghana. However, on 7 March 2009, he came on as a substitute in the second half of the FA Cup match against Coventry City. In his second match back from the knee injury, Essien scored just before half-time to give Chelsea a vital away goal against Juventus in the Champions League first knockout round. Chelsea went on the draw the match 2–2 and through to the quarter-finals 3–2 on aggregate. He
Emmanuel "Mannie" Essien South Africa. Broadcaster Olisa Adibua, at Cool FM later spoke to the manager about giving him a job as a producer. Essien went on to produce radio sweepers and station IDs for Cool FM, Wazobia FM, and Nigeria Info Fm. His manager, engineer Amin Moussalli, advised him to go into radio presenting. Essien is the host of the TV cooking competition, "Knorr Taste Quest", and is a co-host on "'Discovery 234" on DStv. On radio he hosts the "Good Morning Nigeria Show", and is a voiceover and audio jingle producer for brands including MTN, Coca-Cola, Chicken Republic, and FCMB. Essien