Chelsea Set To Promote Michael Emenalo To Sporting Director Role

Although the job title has not been decided, Emenalo will take on a new position that will be similar in scope and power to that of a continental sporting director. An announcement is expected within 48 hours that will confirm Emenalo’s extraordinary rise to one of the most influential technical positions in European football.

A former Nigeria international, he was recruited to Chelsea by Avram Grant in 2007 from the Tucson Soccer Academy in Arizona, where he had been in charge of the under-12s girls’ team for little more than a year.

Emenalo’s first job at Chelsea was as head opposition scout but he was promoted to the first-team coaching staff last year and has since made an extremely positive impression on key figures at the club, including owner Roman Abramovich.

Villas-Boas has already appointed his core coaching team, which includes former Chelsea midfielder Roberto di Matteo, and has said that he has no issue with working alongside the right technical director or director of football. However, his relationship with Emenalo is certain to come under scrutiny.

“The main thing is to build on the future and put competent people in the right places,” said Villas-Boas, who expects to have control over transfer policy.


Source: The Telegraph

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Posted: at 7-07-2011 02:28 AM (13 years ago) | Addicted Hero

Good for him

Posted: at 7-07-2011 11:43 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Congratulations my man.

Posted: at 7-07-2011 02:36 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

At least a good news about a Nigerian.

Posted: at 7-07-2011 03:53 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming

i m praying for him

Posted: at 7-07-2011 05:01 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming

Congats to out own MIC E.

Posted: at 7-07-2011 05:39 PM (13 years ago) | Newbie

Good News

Posted: at 7-07-2011 08:17 PM (13 years ago) | Newbie

While it's understandable that you guys are patriotic and happy for a fellow Nigerian. Lets delve into some of the reported facts.

The people that matter, the fans at Chelsea and the greater football region of England don't respect him for his football mind/achievements*. He has NO track record. He got to Chelsea via **Avram Grant whom he played for at Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Whatever qualities Avram hired him for is probably the same Abramovich values him. Word is Emenalo's job is primarily to be the ear for an owner who's been criticized for being too hands on.

So while we are all happy for him we should know the facts and put things in perspective that he was in all indications not hired for his mind but rather his personal relationship. Emenalo might very well come out of the shadow of looking like Abramovich's lap dog and prove himself as a football man. He has almost everything in his favor to succeed.

*At the time of my post, there were 7 comments on the Telegraph article which nametalkam sourced. Not ONE positive comment.
**Great coach in Israel, unfortunately things haven't gone his way in England.

Posted: at 7-07-2011 08:50 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming

make i read finish

Posted: at 8-07-2011 12:29 AM (13 years ago) | Hero

 

Posted: at 8-07-2011 03:11 AM (13 years ago) | Upcoming