How My Name Was Changed From ‘Michael’ To ‘Mikel’ — Mikel Obi

The veteran former Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel shared that his renowned football moniker originated from an error during his days with Nigeria’s Under-17 squad.

Speaking on an episode of his podcast, ObiOne, Mikel noted that he originally wanted the name Michael printed for the squad, but the documentation returned with “Mikel.”

The ex-Chelsea standout stated that he ultimately accepted the designation, which transformed into one of the most celebrated names in Nigerian sports history.

“I changed my name. In the U17s, when they went to print the name, I gave them Michael, they came back with Mikel,” he said.

He subsequently built a stellar professional journey around the name, spending over ten years at Chelsea where he secured prestigious trophies such as the UEFA Champions League, the Europa League, and a pair of Premier League titles.

On the international stage, Mikel also had a remarkable career representing the Super Eagles, accumulating upward of 90 appearances for his country and playing a vital role in capturing the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Regardless of how the name originally came to be, “Mikel” remained permanently attached to the Nigerian football star throughout his playing days.