On his first day in the role, chelseafc.com caught up with new chief scout Michael Emenalo at Cobham, and found an experienced football man with a rich history in and out of the game.

Emenalo is in a minority of footballers to also have a degree, in international relations and political science, which he received in 1989 after earning a scholarship to Boston University, which meant putting his blossoming football career in Nigeria on hold.

Following graduation, Emenalo played across Europe as well as in America, and worked with Avram Grant for two years at Maccabi Tel Aviv.

He also won 14 caps for Nigeria, which included three appearances at the 1994 World Cup in the USA, and briefly appeared in England for Notts County (pictured), a time he remembers well.

'I wanted to play in England so badly I signed for the first club that showed interest. It wasn't the best of times but it was still a very good experience,' he recalls. Eventually the team were relegated from the old Division One and Emenalo returned to America.

There, he helped make history as he played in the first ever MLS game.

'When the league started in the US they were bringing players back. I was the franchise player for San Jose Clash for two seasons, before moving back to Europe to play for Lleida where I played under Juande Ramos,' Emenalo said, in perfect English.

After a season at Lleida, he first met Avram Grant who brought him to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

'I ended up at Maccabi Tel Aviv on the advice of a friend where I met Avram. He became not only a very good coach for me but also a very good friend, and together we had a very successful season at Maccabi and played in Europe,' he said.

'I retired after playing for Maccabi and moved back to the States to run my own business and stay in touch with football, coaching and scouting for coaches I have played for and admired.'

One of these is Avram Grant, for whom Emenalo has many kind words.

'I have always kept in touch with him,' Emenalo said. 'When I retired he offered me the opportunity to be his assistant at Maccabi Haifa, which at the time wasn't possible for personal reasons, but we stayed in touch and enjoyed talking about football.

'Avram has a very long memory and never forgets, but of all the good things I did for him as a player he remembers the one game we lost where we would have won the championship, and the fictitious penalty that was called against me. He has enough appreciation for my understanding of the game and the way I played though, and wanted to pick my brains and what I think.

'This is a wonderful opportunity for me also, not only to prove myself, but to give back to him and be successful here. I look around and see these guys who a few years ago I would have played against. It's a fantastic club and family, and I'm very happy to be a part of it.'

Hailing from Nigeria, the Chelsea player who may know the most about the new chief scout is his compatriot John Mikel Obi, who has been recognised as a talent by Emenalo for some time.

'I have known John since he was 15 or 16, and he was the emerging talent in Nigerian football,' he recalls. 'He has gone on to prove everything we thought he was going to be, and there's still a lot more in the tank. He can do so much more, but so far so good, the boy has been brilliant.'