The Saudi Pro League (SPL) is set to appoint former Super Eagles defender Michael Emenalo as its first director of football.
According to The Athletic, amid a massive drive to sign big-name players and managers, this move provides yet another indication of the competition’s ambition — plus a commitment not only to secure elite on-pitch talent but leading off-field personnel too.
Emenalo occupied a similar role at Chelsea between 2011-2017, overseeing a hugely successful period across the men’s, women’s and academy sides at the west London club.
The former Nigeria international left-back was also heavily involved in transfer activity, with the likes of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah and N’Golo Kante recruited during his Stamford Bridge tenure.
Emenalo went on to spend two years as sporting director for AS Monaco and has since remained active in consultancy capacities.
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He is regarded among the best in his field and will be responsible for helping the SPL develop frameworks and applying the kind of principles that are seen in the world’s biggest divisions.
Emenalo is expected to bring a staff with him — tapping into the expertise, experience and connections of people he has worked with before — and add others to bolster the set-up.
It is anticipated the 57-year-old will also keep a close eye on the future by giving opportunities for young Saudis to join his team, learn the industry and enhance their own careers.
Emenalo was a member of the Super Eagles squad that reached the round of 16 at the USA 1994 World Cup.
14 Comments
OGA come be our FA CHAIRMAN na abeg…
Ndi 100 caps……continue parading your 100 caps all over the place ehn.
To think Mike started as a scout and then as a youth coach and then an assistant coach….and now the Director of Football of the fastest growing league in the world at the moment.
They will not give us jobs because we are black……LMAOoo.
Bunch of lazy ass liars….!
They should continue to wait for verbal contracts from NFF before they can have a career after retirement.
They should keep on becoming coaches without signing contracts. They should keep on hating against better coaches.
Those Ex-internationals need to see what someone like Emenalo is doing. They just want the NFF to give them job. It doesn’t work.
“It is anticipated the 57-year-old will also keep a close eye on the future by giving opportunities for young Saudis to join his team, learn the industry and enhance their own careers”.
That’s what serious football nations do. Emenalo likely did not come cheap. By hiring him, they are investing in their future.
Right again.
The best companies/organizations are always looking to hire the best people their money can buy.
Go cheap, go home.
You are so right. We do things the wrong way in Nigeria.
The Saudis also have their own “94 Squad” that won the Gulf cup in 94, got to R16 of the World cup in same 94, won the Asian cup in 96 and the Arab cup in 98, some who even had up to 150 caps or more, yet they deemed it fit to hire a “foreign technical director” to midwife their league into a world-class league.
When results are paramount, proven competence comes first, before nationality, race or creed.
A BLACK….NIGERIAN…..MICHEAL…..is the 1st Director of Football of the Saudi Arabian Football League……Incredible.!!!
Some people have forgotten that this man doesn’t want anything to do with Nigeria that is why he is not even doing anything to save his country from the shame we’re seeing in our todays football industry. On the other hand I will not blame anyone who’s chasing more and more money but what’s the reason why Successful Nigerian Sportsmen don’t want to help the plight of the country??? The day we’ll win a World Cup by miracle don’t be surprised to see this so called men tagging themselves as Nigerians and dolling out cash and experience when food is ready.
Mumu talk….as usual.
We should condemn the man for not coming to beg NFF and Sunay Dare (your lord and saviour) for jobs like your lazy ex this and that tingods
Or he should go and force himself on the NFF and use a whip to chase the corrupt leadership of your FA away because he wants to “…help the plight of the country…”. Your same NFF officials who went to interview Seyi Olofinja for the TD job without a clear direction of what they want for our football.
Mumu hopes to win the world cup by miracle….LMAOOoo… he thinks its one of those U-tournaments where we use players 15 years older….LMAOoo. He thinks the WC is a tournament you stumble into winning…LMAOoo
Joseph the dreamer….!
This is what we tell those entitled bunch and their bootlickers. When you develop yourself to become a global talent, you become a global citizen and will be headhunted by those who need you to “help their plight”
Your Father Mumu!!!
Hahahaha…useless fool. Common sense isnt really common…LMAOoo. You felt cool referring to someone else’s intelligent write-up only a few days ago as Mumu lineup ey….LMAOoo
So this crap is all you are made of…”…The day we’ll win a World Cup by miracle…..” LMAOoo.
Joseph the dreamer.
I disagree with you Chima, the Mike from Rangers will not do that.
The problem is the crooks at the nff, the will never give a free hand. These criminals don’t care if our football is going up or down as long as they steal/divert funds into their pockets.