The name of Michael Emenalo usually sparks a long debate among many Chelsea supporters. Yet while many of us hold an opinion on the man, few of us realise the extent of his role due to club’s lack of transparency behind the scenes.
Emenalo arrived at Chelsea in 2007 together with Avram Grant and initially was part of our scouting department. Thought to be a personal friend of Avram from their time in Israel, Emenalo managed to outlast his friend at the club. His meteoric rise up the ranks at Chelsea has been spectacular from a scout, to assistant first team coach during Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure and was finally announced as our sporting director when Andre Villas-Boas was appointed as the team’s manager in July 2011.
A statement on Chelsea’s website said the following:
“Michael takes on a vital role that will assist the overall long-term football strategy of the club.”
Whilst people on the British shores are not very used to the idea of a person working alongside a manager, mainland Europe is far more receptive. You will find that most teams from Barcelona to Udinese have a person in a supporting role, leaving the manager to concentrate on the coaching.
Michael Emenalo on his new role in 2011:
“I’m going to be supporting the manager and working with him in making sure that things run smoothly.”
“I have the responsibility to direct and manage our scouting structure internationally and domestically, and to keep an eye on and assist the academy.”
Indeed, much of Chelsea’s scouting department has seen a massive overhaul since, with the number of scouting staff being cut drastically by nearly 60%. Whilst since 2011, Chelsea have had 3 different managers in charge the strategy in place has remained largely the same, as we move away from the era of ‘Untouchables’ under Mourinho and focusing on the exciting bright talents of players like Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, Oscar and David Luiz.
When I asked for the fans’ opinion of Emenalo on twitter, the response was largely negative:
@dannydoes The fact that he signed a torres just coming back from an injury and then paying 50M speaks for itself.
— SW6 Talk (@SW6Talk) May 28, 2013
@dannydoes Failure. Had a key role in multiple decisions, especially in the hiring of Benitez which has ticked Roman and the fans off.
— Desert Fox (@ZlatanDF) May 28, 2013
@dannydoes what are his credentials that make him fit to run one of the biggest clubs on the planet?
— Nurshaun(@Nurshaun) May 28, 2013
@dannydoes What’s his role, I mean, does he pick the teams or does he do the scouting, or does he control the transfers overall or what?
— Jacob T. (@jacobtucker_CFC) May 28, 2013
And there lies the problem. None of us are entirely sure at what he does and what he is responsible for. Whilst clearly he wasn’t the man behind the Torres transfer, we can perhaps question some of his recent decisions. The most glaring errors this season have proved to be the loaning out of Michael Essien and sale of Raul Meireles without getting any replacements. Whether Emenalo was behind those or not, he certainly should’ve been the man to recognise the need for a midfield replacement.
However, if we look at his overall tenure very few mention his successes. The recruitment of young Belgian talents such as Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and Musonda brothers. Whereas Villas-Boas was ruthlessly sacked by Abramovich after failing to build a relationship with the dressing room, Emenalo is the man who has carried on moving us in the same direction in rebuilding our team.
Our youth teams’ recent successes have also impressed of late. Surely the coaching staff deserve most credit for this, but so does Emenalo. The loan system has improved, the kids are now going to teams and playing 30-40 games a season. It’s not perfect but we are heading in the right direction and it is certainly a major improvement on the work Frank Arnesen was doing during tenure.
Overall, perhaps Emenalo has been best summed up by the following tweet:
@dannydoes Certain decisions regarding transfers have been woeful but we’ve also signed some excellent players under him. Should be (1/2)
— Shayne (@CFCRants) May 28, 2013
@dannydoes asked to leave but I think the fact that he’s a scapegoat hides the inefficiency of the real men in charge i.e Buck, Ron. (2/2)
— Shayne (@CFCRants) May 28, 2013
The Nigerian was heavily criticised when reports suggested that he played a major part in recruiting the unpopular Rafael Benitez. But was Emenalo really the guy who was tasked by Abramovich and the board to find a replacement for Roberto Di Matteo or is he just a convenient stooge for Ron Gourlay and Bruce Buck?
Even if he was – he must be the same guy who realised his error and is attempting to make amends by bringing back fan favourite Jose Mourinho. There are too many questions and not enough answers. Can we really call Michael Emenalo a failure? I certainly wouldn’t.
Source: ChelseaFC.com
For me obviously Mike Emenalo has done a great job for discovering and bringing promising, young and enterprising talents to Chelsea. Most of the players signed by him are averagely 23years who are the future of the club but if the coaches feel they (the players singed by Emenalo) cannot break into first team, the best Emenalo can do is to send them on loan to ensure they are consistent and proper shape and that deos not make him a failure.
All guy on loan did great job in their respective clubs and is a plus for him and as well showed the class the player are made off.
if we hired better lad for this role, we would be better club with all the money Roman has spent for us.
Though, he has signed some good talents, it can’t deny a fact he hasn’t enough experience for this role
I’d rather we use an ex footballer with experience to scout talents for this job
For example, Real Madrid have Zina?dine Zidane. We can have Michael Ballack or Shevchenko
Emenalo is an ex-footballer who came in as a scout with Grant. Scouting and development is the bulk of the role and he has years of experience here.
I would love to have someone like Ballack back at Chelsea in an ambassadorial or coaching role.
All of you talking bad against Michael Emenalo are failures in life,I’m sure non of you can even manage a small shop talk of big organization,this Emenalo of a guy is doing wonderful job believe me Roman Abramovich is pleased,since he took over as Sporting director Chelsea have won European trophies,Marquee signings: Torres,Mata, Ramires, Hazard, Luiz, Oscar,Lukaku,Azplicutta,Moses,he hired Benitez because he knew what Benitez can do,after all the move paid off,some of Chelsea fans are disgrace and glory hunters,the reason why England will never win any trophies are,1,they don’t appreciate people,2,Media and so much hype of players,3,FA are clueless
PERFECT.. i agree 1000%
the man has done a good job .. we won 2 European cups…we have a good squad… we sign young players.. talented!! we dont over spend as much!!
we just nee to use those young guys now… simple
An unqualified success for me. Hazard, Luiz, Lukaku, Moses, Mata, Oscar, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Courtois, De Bruyn. . .what more does anyone really want? I think of all the Premier League teams, Chelsea have gotten the most “bang for thier buck” (no pun intended Bruce) if you exclude the Torres transfer. The only question marks hang over Ba (Not enough game time, low cost anyway) and Marin (a risky purchase that I think constituted a punt more than a sure a fire signing.) People are still bitter because Emanelo’s appointement reeked of jobs for the boys. But boy has he done the job.
Even the tough decision to sack get Benitez in is proving a master stroke. It really was a win-win. Benitez needed the platform to get his name back in the hat and Chelsea needed an experienced hand to guide us through the rest of a campaign that was spiraling out of control. He came in to steady the ship until we could get a suitable candidate in. And boy are we on the verge of doing that. Emanelo has overseen a trophy laden changing of the guard. He deserves full praise for this however bitter your feelings towards the circumstances surrounding his appointment.
His success/failure is extremely difficult to measure but seeing as we have signed some of the most promising young players around then he’s doing his job.
However, the balance in the squad is lacking. He has time to work on this with the next manager.
Emenalo was a defender during his playing days, confirming he has played the game before. He did not jump to where he us now.
He was once a scout for sometimes as pointed above, does Ballack has the experience?
Emenalo has done beautifully well, let’s encourage him.
Success in terms of bring future you can see his very much a man trying to keep Chelsea at the top for years to come and not short term success eg Leeds. I also agree with the points his made to be a scape goat for people like Ron or Buck. His biggest aspect is that you can see his scouting background with players his brought to the club with likes of Mata Hazard Luiz all great players also invested in youth brought players like Ake and Piazon even though does get some wrong like Marin.People talk about his managerial employment of Benitez but suppose he picked the right man as you say trying to make it up to the loyal fans by bring Jose back It should be good to see him and Mourinho together. My verdict is that Michael Emenalo been a success
if he will plead with Roma to make the next Chelsea coach parmanent I will be his fan
Kudos! To Michael Emenalo. All he need is fans support to do more great job in Chelsea FC. And for a shrewed business of Roman Abrahamovic to hire and trust him in that post. It shows that Emenalo is a big plus Chelsea Organisations. Fellow Fans let’s give him all the support he needs – @slawth_94644
Take it or leave it, he is a success. Kudos! To Michael Emenalo. All he need is fans support to do more great job in Chelsea FC. And for a shrewed businessman of Roman Abrahamovic calibre to hire and trust him in that post. It shows that Emenalo is a big plus Chelsea Organisations. Fellow Fans let’s give him all the support he needs – @slawth_94644