MICHAEL EMENALO: THE UNASSUMING FOOTBALL ADMINISTRATOR WHO HAS TURNED THE SAUDI FOOTBALL LEAGUE AROUND!

 

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

·         UEFA Europa League: 2012–13

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!

 

Football as a Strategy for National Prosperity: The Saudi PIF Example

It is common knowledge that if the people are happy, the nation will be at peace. Such is the capacity which sports possess.’’

Gen. Yakubu Gowon, (1934-)Nigerian Head of State, 1966-75

 The Saudi Arabian Football League, now known as #RoshnSaudiLeague as a result of some huge capital investments it recently attracted, has risen to probably compete with the World’s 5(England, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain) major football leagues in terms of capital investments and content capabilities. It’s an outcome of the investment 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.

THE SAUDI ARABIAN PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND

This institution is a deliberate creation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to pursue its national development through the diversification of its economy into diverse sectors. It was founded in 1971 as its Sovereign Wealth Fund Initiative and re-modeled in 2015. The fund is managed by a Board but under the direct guidance of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, the facto ruler of Saudi Arabia.

The PIF has an ultimate goal to become a global investment leader through the delivery of large-scale investment and infrastructure projects that would shape the global economy.

AN ABRIDGED PROFILE OF THE SAUDI PIF

92 Portfolio companies created

13 Strategic sectors

560,000 + Jobs created

$700BN + Assets Under Management

THE SAUDI ARABIAN ROSHAN LEAGUE

In June 2022, the Saudi PIF bought 75% investment rights over four of its major football clubs as earlier highlighted, and thus prompted the drive to attract the best quality of world footballers to strengthen her local league.

The major bang in their investment was the coming of Portuguese captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the world’s most decorated active footballers, in January 2023. Thereafter, others followed and by the end of the summer 2023 transfer window, about $900m had been spent on players transfer by the 14 teams in the SaudiRoshanLeague! According to Transfermarket, one of the world’s most authoritative football websites on players’ activities, the RoshanLeague, ranked second, apart from the English Premier League, in player transfers.

In terms of individual spending by football clubs, three out of the ten biggest spenders in the August 2023 transfer window, are from within the SaudiRoshanLeague. Hitherto, it was not so!

Other consequences of this strategic plan include,

·        Signed broadcast deals globally with leading media houses like DAZN, Canal+, etc. to make the league available in 130+ countries

 

·        Brought a boost to local manufacturers and businesses by signing 116+ sponsorship deals across the 18 teams

·        Same for the kits, 18 teams have partnered with 12 kit manufacturers including #Nike #Puma #Adidas and many local manufacturers like Offside

Whilst justifying this move, His Excellency, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the Governor of the PIF, highlighted the need to meet the interest in sports for the 63% of Saudis who are under the age of 30.

"You will have a lot of young people who are interested in sports and entertainment and that's basically part of the offering."

He further reiterated the huge expenditure as a deliberate investment targeted towards sustainability for the enterprise

"It makes financial sense to us, and that's the only way going forward. We don't like to subsidize things … we would like to have it sustainable."

Whilst most pessimists would doubt the sustainability of this project, seeing the income generated, it is expected that its drivers would have studied the factors that caused the demise of the Chinese League (it was a similar initiative) and the teething problems faced by the English Premier League before its stability. Overall, using sports as a basis to strengthen national prosperity and peace would also remain a success, as highlighted in the introductory statement of this article.

 

Has Ronaldo's Move To Saudi Arabia Diminished His Football Legacy?

Cristiano Ronaldo left his country Portugal for England when he was just eighteen. His extraordinary football talent attracted the Manchester United FC hierarchy and in 2003, they signed him from Sporting Lisbon FC. He played for them, winning several football laurels, including the UEFA Champions League and English Premier League before he was snapped by Real Madrid FC of Spain. At Madrid, he surpassed his achievements with Manchester United. He currently is the 2nd highest winner of the Balloon D’or, apart from Lionel Messi. He has won five UEFA Champions League titles and five Balloon D’or. Ronaldo is the highest goal scorer in Real Madrid's history but like always, he moved. His next destination was Italy where he joined the old lady, Juventus FC and he also excelled with them. In 2020, Ronaldo returned to England and re-joined Manchester United FC. He did excellently in the first season, emerging as the club’s highest goal scorer for the season and amongst the highest goal scorers in the English Premier League. He did not complete his second season and had his contract terminated just before after the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup after some disagreements with Coach Erik Ten Hag. 

Cristiano Ronaldo's Move To Saudi Arabia

Whilst tongues were wagging on what his next destination would be, it was announced that Ronaldo had joined al Nasser of Saudi Arabia. It was a very lucrative financial offer from the Saudi club and possibly to further convince him, several other world football icons were lured with fat cash to join Ronaldo. It marked the beginning of the Saudi Arabian football Revolution and Cristiano Ronaldo became the star boy! Lionel Messi rejected the offer to move to Saudi Arabia, but Neymar, Karim Benzema, and several others obliged. Some critics believe his move was just about money and that it would not enhance his football legacies. A critical analysis implies the opposite. Cristian Ronaldo has won everything in football except the FIFA World Cup. 

The Rationale of Cristiano Ronaldo's Move

Making the move to Saudi Arabia at the twilight of his career appears the best thing to have happened to his football career! Had he remained in Europe and with his huge financial demands, very few clubs would have been able to afford him. Rather, they would prefer a younger player with less risk of injury and no worries about managing the ego that most players of Ronaldo’s profile carry. Even with his fitness and positive work ethic, it remains contentious if he'd have been able to match the tactical demands and constant competition for positions synonymous with the volatile European leagues compared to the freedom he enjoys in Saudi Arabia. The quality of the Saudi Arabian league puts him under lesser pressure whilst enjoying the benefits of dazzling the less technically gifted players with his exquisite skills and experience. Apart from building another positive football profile for himself in Saudi Arabia, by hopefully winning laurels, the annals of football history would immensely credit his contributions to the Saudi Arabian Football Revolution.