One-time interim manager at Chelsea, the Israeli Avram Grant has explained his role in getting Michael Emenalo, the new technical director of the Saudi Arabia Pro League, a role as a scout at Chelsea in 2007.
Grant, who now coaches the Zambia national team, spoke glowingly about Emenalo in a conversation with former BBC sports journalist Osasu Obayiuwana: “Mike has made the most of the opportunities he has got. And I’m not surprised, as he’s a very intelligent man.
“He was my player at Maccabi [Tel Aviv in the Israeli League] for two years and I actually wanted him to be my assistant coach there, before he had a personal tragedy.
“When I was later at Chelsea and I recommended that the club take him on as a scout, there was so much opposition to it. Some people wanted to kill me. Not because of his colour, as many people think, but because of his lack of experience.
“But [Roman] Abramovich asked me whether I truly believed in him and I said that I did. He then said that if I believe in him he will be brought to the club. And Mike did a fantastic job.
“You can give a man a chance but he has to make the most of his opportunities.”
