England Legend, Wright, Urges Newcastle to Appoint Emenalo as Sporting Director

England Legend, Wright,  Urges Newcastle to Appoint Emenalo as Sporting Director

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Former England and Arsenal legend, Ian Wright, has urged Newcastle United not to hesitate in appointing former Super Eagles defence ace, Michael Emenalo for the Sporting Director at St James’ Park.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle quoted Wright to have said that a ‘massive problem’ would ensue in the event Emenalo is not considered for the role.

Emenalo, 56, who represented Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup in USA is credited with transforming recruitment and development at Chelsea behind the scenes under Jose Mourinho and is currently looking for a job having left his role as Sporting Director with Monaco.

The former Enugu Rangers player joined Chelsea in 2007 as chief scout, then became an assistant first-team coach before becoming technical director in 2011.

In that job, he developed the academy and loan system as well as bringing in talents.

While at Chelsea, he was part of a set-up that won the Champions League and three Premier League titles as well as other domestic and European trophies. After leaving Chelsea in 2017 he went to work at Monaco, but left in 2019.

“If they’ve got a list, and he’s not very high up on that list, then you know they have a massive problem.

“For that man to still not be in some form of football employment, at the level of football management, is still, for me, incredible. It really is.

“Only because it’s what they need. He’s the calibre of person of what they need,” Wright who spoke on the Kelly and Wrighty show, was quoted by HITC.

Newcastle, which on October 7 became the wealthiest club in the world following its £305million acquisition by a Saudi-led consortium is looking for both a manager and a sporting director to galvanise its transformation as one of the leading clubs in the world.

Already, former Dutch star, Marc Overmars is one of the candidates speculated to have been sounded out for the sporting director role by Newcastle’s new owners.

In an interview with the Observer last year, Emenalo was asked about his contribution at Chelsea and whether it would encourage more clubs to appoint black directors to which he answered in the affirmative.

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