As I Made Wirawan played his final game for Persib Bandung, he received a tribute from a former teammate – none other than Chelsea and Real Madrid legend Michael Essien. The Ghanaian international, who shared the pitch with Wirawan during the 2017/18 season, sent a personal video message wishing the goalkeeper a happy retirement.
In the video, Essien expressed his best wishes for Wirawan, saying,
“I wish you a happy retirement, just got the news that you’d be playing your last game for Persib. I just wanna wish you a happy retirement, and I hope everything goes well for you, my man. Take care, buddy, and have a good one.”
Essien, a two-time Premier League champion, four-time FA Cup winner, and UEFA Champions League winner during his time at Chelsea, joined Persib in a high-profile signing that attracted global attention.
During his stint with the club, the Ghanaian midfielder made 29 appearances, scoring five goals. Despite playing only one season together, it’s clear that Essien and Wirawan forged a strong bond that remains to this day.
I Made Wirawan’s impressive career, spanning over a decade, came to an end with a disappointing 1-4 defeat to Persikabo at GBLA Stadium on Saturday. Nonetheless, his contributions to Persib Bandung, including their 2014 Indonesian Super League triumph and the 2015 President’s Cup, will be remembered by fans and teammates alike.
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