Michael Emenalo has stepped down as technical director of Chelsea.
The Nigerian former footballer joined the club in 2007 with Avram Grant as an opposition scout and assistant first-team coach under Carlo Ancelotti.
Since 2011, he has held the role of technical director, which has handed him the responsibility of signing players and control of the Blues' vast youth network. The 52-year-old was the man who brought Eden Hazard to the club, as well as Thibaut Courtois, Cesar Azpilicueta, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne.
Some have suggested that Emenalo's resignation is a win for Antonio Conte, who fought to have the players he wanted signed for the club in the summer. However, Emenalo continued to support the man he hired in the summer of 2016, and the 10th manager he worked with at the club.
Emenalo, one of Chelsea's Russian owner Roman Abramovich must trusted confidants, leaves after the club won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Europa League and the Champions League during his ten-year stint.
Source: tribalfootball.com