AC Milan star Michael Essien has paid glowing tributes to legendary Ghanaian coach Jones Attuquayefio who passed on to glory on Tuesday morning.
The enigmatic trainer in his prime finally lost his battle with a protracted cancer ailment at age 70.
Attuquayefio is best remembered for leading Hearts of Oak to three continental titles, the CAF Champions League, the Super Cup and the Confederation Cup.
He was however the main architect in shaping the young careers of eventual big name Ghanaian players.
His Ghana U17 squad that won bronze at the 1999 FIFA World Cup in New Zealand had the likes of Ishmael Addo, Michael Essien and Derek Boateng.
The list of trainers to have come through the hands of Attuquayefio is endless at club level with the likes of John Mensah and Asamoah Gyan also featuring prominently.
Essien in particular went on to be regarded as one of the finest midfielders to hail from Ghana having excelled at French club Olympique Lyon before earning the tag of a Bison at Chelsea.
With his best years past him now at AC Milan, Essien recognizes the immense contribution made by Attuquayefio in teaching him the basics of football in his tribute to the departed trainer.
“Sad to hear the death of my U17 coach Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio. He taught me a lot about the basics of football and he will always be in my heart,†the 32-year-old posted on Instagram.
“My thoughts and prayers are with his family. 'Yes Sir' as we use to call him is gone but will always be with us. Till we meet again.#RIP????????????.â€
Essien joins a long list of distinguished personalities who have sent in tributes following the passing of Jones Attuquayefio.