Chelsea have promoted head opposition scout Michael Emenalo to the position of assistant first team coach, filling the void left by Ray Wilkins’ departure, but who exactly is Emenalo and is his appointment something of an anti-climax considering the other names linked to the job?
Wilkins, affectionately known as ‘Butch’, is a man revered by Chelsea fans, but left under a cloud last Thursday after an alleged disagreement with club owner Roman Abramovich and Chelsea’s chief executive Ron Gourlay at a meeting. John Terry expressed his dismay at Wilkins’ dismissal, and Chelsea fans flooded networking sites Twitter and Facebook with anger and discontent, going as far as to blame Sunday’s 0-3 home defeat to Sunderland on his exit.
Rumours of possible replacements started instantly. It could be a big name – perhaps Gianfanco Zola or Paolo Maldini – but, more likely was a promotion from within. If that was the case, it was surely to be Paul Clement, whose 16 year rise through the coaching ranks at Cobham and relationships with the first-team and youth team players put him in pole position.
However, on Thursday it was announced that Michael Emenalo was to become assistant to Carlo Ancelotti. Emenalo, a former Nigerian international defender whose career took him to the USA, Belgium, Germany, England (with Notts County), Spain and Israel, has up to this point been providing Ancelotti with tactical analysis and information about future opposition, but his role will now entail all aspects of the first-team.
A statement read:
“Michael has been an important part of the first team management structure since his arrival, and his promotion is recognition of his efforts to date.
“Michael will continue to oversee the first team scouting operation as he makes the transition to coaching and takes on this bigger and more influential role.”
(CNN.com)
His first task is to deal with the high expectations that will come his way from the Chelsea fans and players, many of whom remain fiercely loyal to Ray Wilkins. Whatever the outcome, it seems to be an ‘Abramovich appointment’, with the Chelsea board showing customary efficiency, swiftness and organisation in order to release Wilkins and then to find and appoint a successor.
Many fans will be unhappy with the decision (myself included) as a much loved figure at the club has been treated quite poorly and replaced by a relative unknown.
What do the fans think about the appointment of Michael Emenalo’s appointment?
You have clearly shown a lack of understanding of the workings of the beautiful game. Paul Clement was just a youth coach but without good tactical knowhow as opposed to Emenalo who has for 3years been supplying carlo with loads of technical imput.
The chelsea hierachy has perhaps seen the difference between teaching youths to play football and having sound technical abilities on how to win games and this is why they appointed Mike ahead of Clement. It is not so difficult to see, is it?