Chelsea Promotes Michael Emenalo as Assistant Coach to Replace Ray Wilkins

Premier League soccer champion Chelsea named Michael Emenalo assistant first-team coach to succeed Ray Wilkins, who left last week after his contract wasn’t renewed. Emenalo was previously the club’s head opposition scout.

“Michael has been an important part of the first-team management structure since his arrival in October 2007, and his promotion to assistant first-team coach is recognition of his efforts to date,” the Blues said on their website.

Chelsea said Emenalo will continue to oversee first-team scouting as he makes the transition to coaching. Initially, he’ll split his time between helping coach Carlo Ancelotti and updating his coaching qualifications.

A former Nigerian international defender, Emenalo joined Chelsea when it was managed by Avram Grant, with whom he’d worked during his time as a player at Maccabi Tel Aviv. His playing career also included spells in the U.S., Belgium, Spain, Germany and England.

He has a degree in international relations with political sciences from Boston University, having also played college soccer in the U.S., Chelsea said.

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