Michael Emenalo
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Michael Emenalo | ||
Date of birth | 14 July 1965 | ||
Place of birth | Aba, Abia, Nigeria | ||
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Position(s) | Left-back | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1985 | Enugu Rangers | ||
1986–1989 | Boston University | ||
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 |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Emenalo_%C4%8Cech_and_Premier_League_Trophy.jpg/220px-Emenalo_%C4%8Cech_and_Premier_League_Trophy.jpg)
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 1986 to 1989. 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.[2]
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.[citation needed]
Technical director
Emenalo became director of player development at the Tucson Soccer Academy in the US in 2006,[3] before joining the coaching staff at Chelsea when former manager Avram Grant was in charge in 2007. After the departure of Ray Wilkins, Emenalo was promoted from his position as chief scout to assistant first team coach on 18 November 2010.[4] On 8 July 2011, Chelsea appointed Emenalo as Technical Director of the club.[5][6] 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.[7] 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".[8] but his request was denied.[9][10]
On 6 November 2017, he resigned as technical director of the club,[11][12] and at the end of that month joined Monaco as its sporting director.[13][14] On 12 August 2019, Emenalo left Monaco by mutual consent.[15]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Michael_Emenalo_celebrates_winning_the_Premier_League_with_his_Children.jpg/220px-Michael_Emenalo_celebrates_winning_the_Premier_League_with_his_Children.jpg)
Honours
Chelsea
- Premier League: 2009–10, 2014–15, 2016–17
- FA Cup: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2017–18
- Football League Cup / EFL Cup: 2014–15
- UEFA Champions League: 2011–12
- UEFA Europa League: 2012–13
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Michael Emenalo". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Chelsea appoint Michael Emenalo to replace Ray Wilkins". BBC Sport. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
- ^ "Emenalo is new technical director". chelseafc.com. 8 July 2011. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
- ^ "Chelsea to name Michael Emenalo as sporting director". BBC Sport. 6 July 2011.
- ^ "MICHAEL EMENALO". Eyewitness News. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ Akpodonor, Gowon (11 March 2016). "Mike Emenalo may be sacrificed in 'operation revive' Chelsea". The Guardian Nigeria. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ Smith, Rory (30 May 2013). "Exclusive: Michael Emenalo's offer to resign turned down by Chelsea". The Times. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ^ "Mourinho's second coming: Abramovich turns down Emenalo's resignation". Daily Post. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Michael Emenalo: Chelsea technical director leaves post after 10 years". BBC Sport. 6 November 2017.
- ^ "Michael Emenalo takes Monaco sporting director job weeks after Chelsea exit". The Guardian. 27 November 2017.
- ^ "Michael Emenalo: Former Chelsea technical director takes up similar role at Monaco". BBC Sport. 27 November 2017.
- ^ "Michael Emenalo: Nigerian leaves French side Monaco by mutual consent". BBC Sport. 12 August 2019.
External links
- Profile at NigerianPlayers.com at the Wayback Machine (archived 20 December 2007)
- Michael Emenalo – FIFA competition record (archived)
- https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jul/19/michael-emenalo-the-narrative-that-white-is-good-has-to-change
- 1965 births
- Living people
- Nigerian footballers
- People from Aba, Abia
- Boston University alumni
- Rangers International F.C. players
- R.W.D.M. Brussels F.C. players
- R.W.D. Molenbeek players
- Boston University Terriers men's soccer players
- Notts County F.C. players
- San Jose Earthquakes players
- Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. players
- UE Lleida players
- La Liga players
- Major League Soccer players
- Israeli Premier League players
- 1994 FIFA World Cup players
- 1995 King Fahd Cup players
- Nigeria international footballers
- Expatriate footballers in Belgium
- Expatriate soccer players in the United States
- Expatriate footballers in Germany
- Expatriate footballers in England
- Expatriate footballers in Spain
- Expatriate footballers in Israel
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in England
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Spain
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Israel
- Chelsea F.C. non-playing staff
- Association football defenders
- AS Monaco FC non-playing staff