Where does Mikel rank in Chelsea's top 20 appearance makers in European competitions?

Ahead of their Conference League round of 16 tie against Danish powerhouse FC Copenhagen, Chelsea, via the official website, has compiled a list of the top 20 appearance makers in European competitions, comprising Champions League, Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Cup/Europa League, Conference League, Super Cup, and Fairs Cup.

Among Nigerian players to feature for the Blues in European competitions — including Obi Mikel, Celestine Babayaro, Victor Moses, Faustino Anjorin, Tyrique George, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Eddie Newton — only the former Super Eagles captain made the list.

Mikel ranks eighth on the list behind Ashley Cole, Branislav Ivanovic, Didier Drogba, Petr Cech, Cesar Azpilicueta, Frank Lampard and the top man John Terry.

The defensive midfielder turned out for the Blues on sixty-five occasions in European competition, consisting of fifty-nine games in the Champions League, four in the Europa League and two in the UEFA Super Cup.

He scored twice in European competition, against Sporting CP in December 2014, and then against Paris Saint-Germain in March 2016, while producing an assist in a 3-1 win at Levski Sofia in his first season as a Chelsea player. 

Mikel's understanding of the game and positional discipline perfectly suited the demands of European football, making him arguably Chelsea's best player in the 2012 Champions League final against Bayern Munich.

Having contributed to Chelsea's historic Champions League win in 2012, he was part of the squad that claimed the Europa League title the next season.

Chelsea's top 20 appearance makers in European competitions

1) John Terry – 124 games, 13 goals
2) Frank Lampard – 119 games, 25 goals
3) Cesar Azpilicueta – 82 appearances, 4 goals
4) Petr Cech – 105 appearances, 41 clean sheets
5) Didier Drogba - 74 appearances, 36 goals
6) Branislav Ivanovic – 66 appearances, 8 goals
7) Ashley Cole – 65 appearances, zero goals
8) John Mikel Obi - 65 appearances, 2 goals
9) Willian - 56 games, 13 goals
10) Eden Hazard – 55 games, 12 goals
11) Ramires – 55 games, 7 goals
12) Joe Cole – 53 games, 6 goals
13) Michael Essien – 49 games, 6 goals
14) Salomon Kalou - 49 games, 7 goals
15) Claude Makelele – 49 games, zero goals
16) Gary Cahill – 48 games, 5 goals
17) Ricardo Carvalho – 47 games, 2 goals
18) Florent Malouda - 47 games, 3 goals
19) Jorginho – 46 games, 7 goals
20) Mateo Kovacic - 46 games, 2 goals

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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