Former Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo has been appointed as the sporting director of AS Monaco three weeks after leaving the Blues.
The 52-year old reportedly left Chelsea’s top technical position to attend to his family but his quick return to football will raise eyebrows in and around Stamford Bridge.
Emenalo had been at Chelsea for ten years and was responsible for a number of high profile signings at the club since he became technical director in 2011.
At Chelsea, he was replaced by Marina Granovskaia, who will now take up the many responsibilities Emenalo had at the club.
The Daily Telegraph quotes Emenalo as saying he is happy for his return to football and the choice of Monaco was a natural one.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for me in a high quality project. AS Monaco has shown great progress for several seasons and I am convinced that the future will be just as ambitious.
Vadim Vasilyev’s willingness to see me join AS Monaco was decisive and for me, the choice was natural after my decision to leave Chelsea.
I will work here with humility and try my best to bring my experience in this club which is a reference of French and European football.”
– Michael Emenalo, Telegraph
Chelsea are yet to substantially replace the former Nigeria international at the club with Granovskaia an interim replacement. Antonio Conte is rumored to have loathed Emenalo’s departure as the two were getting on very well in London.
