The Obi One Podcast

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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