The Obi One Podcast

In his latest Taking the Mikel podcast, former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel weighs in on the future of Raheem Sterling after his shock omission from Chelsea’s squad for their Premier League opener. Is there more to the story? And what’s next?

John also gives his verdict on the overall performance in Chelsea’s the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, and questions the decision to appoint Enzo Fernandez as captain.

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Arsenal and France legend Robert Pires is the latest big-name to join the Obi One Podcast as he opens up on life with the Gunners.

From his relationship with Ashley Cole and Thierry Henry to the leadership of Patrick Vieira, Pires reminisces about the glory days at both Highbury and the Emirates.

Arsenal’s Invincibles versus Man Utd’s Treble winners? Pires delivers his verdict on that, plus he discusses his relationship with Arsene Wenger, his admiration for Dennis Bergkamp and the penalty miss that he’ll never live down.

And what of assessment of today’s Arsenal and what is missing in their quest to win a first Premier League title since 2004? He reveals all.

An absolute must-watch for football fans let alone Arsenal supporters.

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In this Taking the Mikel episode, John Obi Mikel looks ahead to the brand new English Premier League season. He gives his verdict on Chelsea’s pre-season form, makes an impassioned plea to Blues target Victor Osimhen and questions the club’s desire to get rid of two players who “bleed blue”: Trevor Chalobah and Conor Gallagher.

Mikel also calls on African Football Associations to up their game if players are to entice talent in the future to pledge their international allegiance to them. Hard-hitting stuff from the man who led Nigeria to African Cup of Nations glory back in 2013!

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In another exclusive for the Obi One Podcast, John and Chris are in the Spanish capital to speak to none other than Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Fresh from a record-extending fifth European Cup triumph as manager, Don Carlo was only too willing to open the doors to Real’s training ground for this wide-ranging and illuminating hour-long sit down.

In it, Ancelotti lifts the lid on his approach to management, has some sage advice to young coaches setting out and discusses how he’ll fit new summer signing Kylian Mbappé into his Real line-up next season.

The Italian also talks candidly about a raft of his former charges from Toni Kroos to Cristiano Ronaldo and from Eden Hazard to Gareth Bale.

It’s not one you’ll want to miss!

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In this latest episode of Taking the Mikel, John Obi and Chris find themselves in Madrid, Spain as they sit down with a familiar face. All will be revealed!

Also in this edition, John Obi gives his verdict on the controversy surrounding current Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez, makes an impassioned defence of African football AND endorses a former Blues boss as Gareth Southgate’s England successor. Any guesses?

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Olympic legend Usain Bolt joins the Obi One Podcast for an exclusive, in-depth look back on his illustrious career. How did he deal with pressure, who was his greatest rival and was his showmanship merely an act? The Jamaican icon reveals all in conversation with John Obi Mikel and Chris McHardy. He also discusses a human’s limitations, makes a startling admission about his run at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and delivers his verdict on his beloved Manchester United’s decision to stick with boss Erik Ten Hag.

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In the latest Taking the Mikel episode, John and Chris discuss new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca and his transfer priorities this summer. John also details the genius of Carlo Ancelotti, delivers a warning to José Mourinho and reveals why he might just be back on Sir Alex Ferguson’s Christmas card list. 

Download and subscribe to the Obi One Podcast now and follow us on social media: @obionepodcast

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Chelsea’s greatest ever goalkeeper, Petr Cech, joins John and Chris on Episode 12 of the Obi One Podcast.

The Czech man mountain details what made José Mourinho’s Chelsea so special, opens up on the full extent of the sickening head injury that changed his outlook on life and why Champions League glory as a boardroom executive is his favourite memory at Stamford Bridge.

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In the aftermath of Chelsea’s extra time defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup Final, John gives his verdict. Was Gary Neville right to call the Blues bottlejobs? And what now for Mauricio Pochettino? The big man has his say.

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In his first in-depth interview since his shock retirement last year, Eden Hazard opens up about his career like never before with John and Chris. From snubbing Sir Alex Ferguson to what life was REALLY like at Chelsea. The Belgian magician also explains why Zinedine Zidane - and not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo - is the greatest footballer of all time, why he has no regrets over his time at Real Madrid and calls out Cristiano Ronaldo on his bold Saudi Pro League claim. Oh, and then there’s his well-publicised love of rice pudding!

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In this episode of Taking the Mikel, John and Chris react to Nigeria’s run to the AFCON semi-finals and pick their best African XI of players who’ve plied their trade in the Premier League. John also makes a hilarious admission about ex-Chelsea star Celestine Babayaro. 👀

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In a break from the norm, Episode 10 features our first non-Chelsea or Nigeria star: it’s Rio Ferdinand. Hear from the Manchester United legend as he discusses his battles with Chelsea, his run-ins with Sir Alex, the brilliance of Paul Scholes and Erik ten Hag’s immediate future. 👀

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Episode 9 features a player former Chelsea team-mates affectionately nicknamed “Zizou”. It’s the one and only, Joe Cole. A boyhood Blues fan, Cole is in superb form in as he opens on a variety of topics in studio with John Obi Mikel. From turning down Sir Alex Ferguson to Claudio Ranieri’s hilarious sales pitch to take him to the Bridge. There’s the fall outs with Jose Mourinho (and there are many), why he’d never join Tottenham and the real reason Eden Hazard joined Chelsea. And, yes, Joe is taking some of the credit!

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Taking the Mikel: Sunday Oliseh, look away now! - Ep.3

Ahead of the upcoming 2024 African Cup of Nations, John Obi Mikel reminisces about leading Nigeria to continental success back in 2013. He then takes aim at a compatriot who he labels the worst manager he’s ever come across! 👀 Hold onto your hats, folks.

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From the Special One to a special one. Victor Boniface is one of the most exciting young strikers in world football, and he’s our special guest on Episode 8. With 10 goals and 7 assists in 16 Bundesliga games this season, the Nigerian is spearheading Bayer Leverkusen’s bid to end Bayern Munich’s dominance. Here, he talks candidly about the heartbreak that almost saw him quit the game, the genius of boss Xabi Alonso and reveal the club he’s supported since he was a boy. Oh, and would a move to the Premier League ever interest him? We put that question to him too!

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He is the Special One, and over the course of an hour-long chat on the Obi One Podcast, José Mourinho reminds us why. Hear from the Portuguese as he reminisces about his days at Chelsea, what ACTUALLY happened with Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah and the player that gave him more grey hairs than any other. 

José also opens up on why beating Liverpool at Anfield in 2014 was so special, identifies the man he REALLY wanted to work under at Manchester United and gives his verdict on Arsenal’s title chances.

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John Obi Mikel turns the air blue as he gives a DAMNING assessment of this current Chelsea side after their defeat at Everton. Where are the leaders and Is Mauricio Pochettino still the right man for the job?

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Voted Chelsea’s greatest ever player in a 2003 fan poll, Gianfranco Zola is our latest guest on the pod, and what an episode it is!

Hear Franco as you’ve never heard him before as he makes an extraordinary Roman Abramovich claim, regales a hilarious Eden Hazard story and tells us why Sir Alex Ferguson was wrong to say he’s “always smiling”.

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Episode 5 sees the man who guided Chelsea to their first ever European Cup success join the guys on the pod. It’s Roberto Di Matteo. 

Another insightful chat as as ‘Bobby’ opens up about THAT win over Bayern, his duels with Pep Guardiola and the OCD habits of his close friend: the late, great Gianluca Vialli.

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In a first for the podcast, ex-Chelsea winger Florent Malouda joins John and Chris live in studio. Here, he reveals EXACTLY what happened after Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt shame at the 2006 World Cup. He also opens up on his training group fight with John and the unlikely defender who frightened Didier Drogba!

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Episode 3 features one of the world’s best strikers: Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian superstar opens up on a raft of subjects: his tough upbringing, his Ballon d’Or dream, winning the Scudetto with Napoli and why he spurned crazy money from Saudi Arabia. Oh, and who did he support as a boy: Man Utd or Chelsea? He puts that to bed too.

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On Episode 2 of the brand new Obi One Podcast, John Obi Mikel and Chris McHardy are joined by a man John Terry labelled on last week’s installment as “the greatest player in Chelsea’s history”. Step forward, ‘Super’ Frank Lampard.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Frank talks tears, tantrums and transfers. He opens up on his second stint as Chelsea boss, reveals the big-name he failed to bring to the Bridge and the one manager he didn’t see eye to eye with.

Download and subscribe to the Obi One Podcast NOW. Available on all your usual platforms and in full on YouTube - @obionepodcast

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In this bonus edition of The Obi One Podcast, “Taking the Mikel” sees John Obi and Chris McHardy discuss the game’s biggest talking points, sparking no shortage of opinion, debate and conversations.

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The Obi One Podcast is now LIVE, with John Obi Mikel and Chris McHardy joined on Episode 1 by former Chelsea and England captain John Terry. 

In this intriguing and wide-ranging interview with one of the Premier League’s all-time greats, JT discusses his monumental career, and playing under some of the world’s best managers. 

The former central defender also talks about the one phone call he wanted which never came. 

A must-listen for any Chelsea fan!

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