The football trajectory of Mike Emenalo remains an example of some veritable strategies about management as encapsulated by Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States Of America: 2009-2017, in this video: https://youtu.be/YNY4UFaHbP4?si=JmzNZ21QCwfv-B_d.
Mike Emenalo ventured into football management about two decades ago and has mastered the strategy of getting the job done whilst working silently! His work profile speaks for itself. His foray into the Saudi Football League shows his global value, considering the nature and magnitude of the project; his presence remains a sweet incense to the mega-rich sovereign investment fund managers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia!
It's intriguing to understand how this unassuming and humble Nigerian, has
perfectly ticked every aspect of football administration. Mike Emenalo
started off as a footballer with Rangers International Football Club, of Enugu,
in South-Eastern Nigeria, played for the Nigerian national team, the Green
Eagles, and moved into football administration. In a nation where sports
administrators are accused of diverse corrupt practices, such as converting
allowances of players, favoritism in selecting players, etc Emenalo continues to
enjoy high-profile jobs that have made him a veritable model in the world
football industry!
Mike Emenalo
started as a footballer in Rangers of Enugu, and left after about three years
to the United States of America, to further his education. He got a degree in international relations with political
sciences at Boston University, in 1989, and took some time to
continue his career in the USA. Despite not being an integral member of the team
that qualified, Nigeria for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, he was invited by the
legendary Coach Clemence Westerhof and played every match except Nigeria’s
first game against Bulgaria. He played for RC Molenbeek, in Belgium, and moved to Germany,
England, the USA, and Israel. It is possible, that his two-year stay in Israel, with
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC, changed the course of his entire life.
Emenalo’s Journey
into Football Administration
He
started off in the USA, with the Tucson Soccer Academy in 2006, but switched to
Chelsea FC, England in 2007, as opposition scout, then assistant first-team coach, when Israeli-born Avram Grant, became the coach. He
stayed for ten years with Chelsea, occupying different important positions.
Mike Emenalo became a close confidant of the then owner Roman Abramovich and in
his role as technical director, from 2010, supervised their flourishing player transfer policies. Under him, players such as Juan Mata, Thibaut
Courtois, Kevin De
Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, N'Golo Kanté, Eden Hazard, and Cesc
Fàbregas, joined the club.
He was involved during the coming of Jose Mourinho, the special one! As
technical director, Chelsea did not just buy players, but won several trophies,
LIST OF TROPHIES
·
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
In November
2017, Mike Emenalo left Chelsea FC and moved to Monaco FC, France to
supervise the project of another Russian Billionaire; Dmitry Rybolovlev He
occupied the same role of sporting director but left two years later. In July
2023, Emenalo was given the responsibility to become the first sporting
director of the reinvigorated Saudi Roshan League. This project is hugely backed
by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund which in June 2022
took equity control over four of the country's top football teams - Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ahli – as part of the country’s Vision2030 plan. Under
it, football plays an integral part in the kingdom’s aim to diversify
its economy, boost tourism, and create an atmosphere of investments to
strengthen national prosperity and enhance global appeal. Under his
guidance, the Saudi League has within a year become the most congested haven
for some of the world’s best footballers.
Emenalo, a Lesson
for Football Administrators in Developing Economies
For
example, the Nigerian Football industry ranks far above Saudi Arabia in its
achievements in world football. It has won several world football tournaments
and ranks amongst the top 10 countries for football exports across the world,
with its players achieving several titles, in Europe, Asia, and the rest of the
world, unlike Saudi Arabia. Football administrators, especially in developing
economies, like Emenalo’s home country, can seek wise counsel through direct
and virtual interactions from this erudite football administrator, and knowing
his unassuming nature, everyone stands to benefit. Such wise action would help
rid them of unscrupulous practices and enable them to rank alongside the likes of
Emenalo et al.
Michael
Emenalo remains a veritable example for football administrators in developing
economies. Getting the job done whilst keeping your integrity attracts greater
recognition than soiling your hands with some filthy lucre!
