Michael Emenalo
Michael Emenalo and Petr Čech with the Premier League trophy
Personal information
Full name Michael Emenalo
Date of birth (1965-07-14) 14 July 1965
Place of birth Aba, Abia, Nigeria
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Left-back
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1988 Boston Terriers (36)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985 Enugu Rangers
1989–1993 Racing White Daring Molenbeek 47 (5)
1993–1994 Eintracht Trier
1994–1995 Notts County 7 (0)
1996–1997 San Jose Clash 56 (1)
1997–1998 Lleida 22 (1)
1998–2000 Maccabi Tel Aviv 43 (0)
Total 175 (7)
International career
1985–1995 Nigeria 14 (0)
Managerial career
2010–2011 Chelsea (assistant)
2011–2017 Chelsea (Technical Director)
2017–2019 AS Monaco (Technical Director)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Michael Emenalo (born 14 July 1965) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a left-back. He is the former director of football of Chelsea F.C and AS Monaco FC.[1]

Playing career

Emenalo began his career in his native Nigeria before moving to the United States, where he attended college at and played for Boston University, from 1985 to 1988.[2] He played for Molenbeek in Belgium, Eintracht Trier in Germany, and Notts County F.C in England before going back to the US. Emenalo was part of the original allocated players for Major League Soccer and spent two seasons (1996–97) with the San Jose Clash. After that, he played with UE Lleida in Spain and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel.[3]

Emenalo won 14 caps for Nigeria and played in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, missing the first game through injury but then, played against Argentina and Greece before Nigeria was knocked out by Italy.

Technical director

Emenalo became director of player development at the Tucson Soccer Academy in the US in 2006,[4] before joining the coaching staff at Chelsea when former manager Avram Grant was in charge in 2007.[5] After the departure of Ray Wilkins, Emenalo was promoted from his position as chief scout to assistant first team coach on 18 November 2010.[6] On 8 July 2011, Chelsea appointed Emenalo as Technical Director of the club.[7][8] He completely restructured the club's academy, scouting, loan and women's team setups, and is credited as a key figure behind the club's success having overseen the scouting and transfers of key players including Juan Mata, Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, N'Golo Kanté, Eden Hazard, and Cesc Fàbregas.[9] He has been credited by numerous sources as being the driving force behind Chelsea's most influential signings. He has also been credited for the development of the Chelsea Football Club Academy (CFC Academy) as well as the recent resurgence of the Chelsea Football Club Women's Team.

On 10 June 2013, Emenalo requested that his contract be terminated "to facilitate the return of José Mourinho".[10] but his request was denied.[11][12]

On 6 November 2017, he resigned as technical director of the club,[13][14] and at the end of that month joined Monaco as its sporting director.[15][16] On 12 August 2019, Emenalo left Monaco by mutual consent.[17]

On 12 July 2023, The Athletic reported that Emenalo would become the first director of football of the Saudi Pro League.[18]

Honours

Michael Emenalo celebrates winning the Premier League with his children

Chelsea

References

  1. ↑ "Michael Emenalo: 'An exceptional player and great person. He is the full package'". The Independent. 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  2. ↑ "Mike Emenalo". goterriers.com. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  3. ↑ "Michael Emenalo". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  4. ↑ Kazeem, Yomi (23 December 2015). "How an obscure Nigerian ex-player became one of English soccer's most powerful men at Chelsea football club". Quartz Africa. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  5. ↑ "Michael Emenalo: 'The narrative that white is good has to change'". The Guardian. 19 July 2020.
  6. ↑ "Chelsea appoint Michael Emenalo to replace Ray Wilkins". BBC Sport. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
  7. ↑ "Emenalo is new technical director". chelseafc.com. 8 July 2011. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  8. ↑ "Chelsea to name Michael Emenalo as sporting director". BBC Sport. 6 July 2011.
  9. ↑ "MICHAEL EMENALO". Eyewitness News. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  10. ↑ Akpodonor, Gowon (11 March 2016). "Mike Emenalo may be sacrificed in 'operation revive' Chelsea". The Guardian Nigeria. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  11. ↑ Smith, Rory (30 May 2013). "Exclusive: Michael Emenalo's offer to resign turned down by Chelsea". The Times. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "Mourinho's second coming: Abramovich turns down Emenalo's resignation". Daily Post. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  13. ↑ Law, Matt (6 November 2017). "Exclusive: Michael Emenalo quits Chelsea in major blow to Roman Abramovich". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  14. ↑ "Michael Emenalo: Chelsea technical director leaves post after 10 years". BBC Sport. 6 November 2017.
  15. ↑ "Michael Emenalo takes Monaco sporting director job weeks after Chelsea exit". The Guardian. 27 November 2017.
  16. ↑ "Michael Emenalo: Former Chelsea technical director takes up similar role at Monaco". BBC Sport. 27 November 2017.
  17. ↑ "Michael Emenalo: Nigerian leaves French side Monaco by mutual consent". BBC Sport. 12 August 2019.
  18. ↑ Ornstein, David (12 July 2023). "Michael Emenalo set to become Saudi Pro League's first director of football". The Athletic.
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