Essien announces his retirement from Int'l football

Former Chelsea and Ghana star Michael Essien has retired from international football after playing at two World Cups for the West African nation.

He began playing for the Black Stars in 2006 and last featured at the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

Essien, 35, is without a club after leaving Indonesian team Persib Bandung.

“If I am called to play for the Black Stars again I won’t honor it. No, it’s not possible,” Essien told GHOne TV.

“This is because I’ve retired from international duty. I even retired before we went to the World Cup in Brazil but I was called back [by coach Kwesi Appiah] to come and help.

“And then in Brazil, they treated me like [something] so I’m not playing for the country again. It’s time for the new generation.”