When then-Chelsea coach Avram Grant turned to Michael Emenalo, his former charge at Maccabi Haifa, to join him at Stamford Bridge as an opposition scout a decade ago, not many could have imagined that he would last as long as he did, let alone rise to become one of the most powerful people in European club football.
Prior to the Nigerian's arrival, no former African international had made it through anything close to the big leagues' front door, let alone to his recently-relinquished position of technical director for the Blues, which he was promoted to in 2011.