Chelsea great Michael Essien has joined the coaching staff at FC Nordsjaellands.

The 37 year-old former Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder will be part of the first team coaching staff and be working daily with the players.

FCN sports manager Jan Laursen declared: "Michael was really an exciting and good acquaintance during his visit with us, and therefore we continued the dialogue with him afterwards. We could feel in him that he was also enthusiastic about the philosophy and the people he met here at FCN, and that the environment inspired him.

"At the same time, we experienced through Michael up close how much it can contribute to having a member of the coaching team as an active part of the training environment among the players. We would very much like to develop more on that part, and we are very happy that someone of a football and human capacity like Michael Essien will be part of the continued development of FC Nordsjaelland."