In the world of football, things can change in the blink of an eye. Case in point: Michael Essien's whirwind loan move from Chelsea to Real Madrid in 2012, which was wrapped up within just a few hours.
The Ghanaian powerhouse, who racked up over 250 appearances for the Blues, was an integral part of the dominant Chelsea side of the early Roman Abramovich years. Dubbed 'The Bison' by fans, Essien blended power and dynamism to form a central piece of one of the Premier League's most feared midfields alongside team-mates Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele, and Michael Ballack, among others.
However, as injuries mounted, his role at Chelsea gradually diminished. So when the chance to join Madrid and reunite with his former manager Jose Mourinho came up, Essien jumped at it. In fact, he almost had to jump off the team bass after receiving a phone call from 'The Special One' on transfer deadline day.
Recounting the story to GhanaWeb in 2020, the Blues icon, who celebrated his 42nd birthday on Tuesday (December 3), said: "A strange number called me but I didn't want to answer it. But my cousin, who was in the room with me that day, told me to pick it up.
"The number kept calling so I picked and, as soon as I said hello and another hello came from the other end, I realised who was on the phone. I told my cousin it's Jose Mourinho."
The Portuguese coach, who brought Essien to Chelsea from Lyon in 2005, explained that Los Blancos were negotiating a season-long loan deal for him, forcing the Ghanaian into a drastic change of plans. At the time, Chelsea were gearing up for their UEFA Super Cup clash with Atletico Madrid, and the bus was pulling out of the hotel car park when Essien's agent phoned him to confirm that the move was happening and that he needed to get off and return to his hotel room to sort the minor details out.
"I had to shout at the bus driver to stop like some mad man," he remembered. "All my team-mates were looking at me like: 'Michael what's going on?' The bus stopped and I went back to the hotel to wait for my agent. My agent came and sent the fax and thankfully everything got finalised on time."
Essien had scant time to collect his belongings before rushing to the airport, departing with little more than the bare essentials. "I went to Madrid with just my boots, shin pads, one [pair of] jeans, one shirt and my Chelsea tracksuit," he said.
Essien celebrating a goal for Real Madrid
Essien spent the 2012/13 season on loan from Chelsea at Real Madrid (Image: Getty Images)
"I got to the airport [and] Jose was there waiting for me. He greeted me and I went to the hospital to undergo my medical. The next day, I started training."
During his single-season spell at the Bernabeu, Essien enjoyed something of a mini career revival. He played 35 times in all competitions, having managed only 10 league starts for Chelsea the season before.
At the end of the campaign he returned to Stamford Bridge, as did Mourinho, who had agreed to take the reins for a second time following interim head coach Rafael Benitez's departure, having left Madrid by mutual consent a couple of weeks prior.
Mourinho and Essien in a press conference
Mourinho affectionately referred to Essien as his "son", having managed the midfielder on three separate occasions (Image: GETTY)
It marked the third time that Essien had played under Mourinho - who has affectionately referred to the midfielder as his "son" in the past - though their reunion didn't last long. Essien struggled for minutes in Chelsea's increasingly-youthful squad, and left to join AC Milan in January 2014, ending his nine-year association with the Blues.
While in west London, Essien made 256 appearances and netted 25 goals - including unforgettable strikes against Arsenal and Barcelona. He also clinched eight major trophies, most notably the Premier League title in 2006 and 2010 and the Champions League in 2012.
To Chelsea fans, he ranks among the finest midfielders ever to don the blue shirt - a remarkable feat given the truck-load of legendary names that have graced the hallowed turf of Stamford Bridge.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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