In his latest article for the Fancast, @thecfc150 provides his opinion on our reported pursuit of a technical director.
For good and bad, Chelsea Football Club always attracts worldwide media attention with their dealings on and off the field. While we all typically focus on dealings on the field, I’d like to touch on the latest and hottest topic off the field, the apparent hiring of a Technical Director within the club. The West London club has built a reputation for its ruthless hiring process, somewhat likened to a conveyor belt where managers come and go. It’s no secret that the hierarchy within Chelsea is a vigorous one, where the power is found no further than the directors of the club. Now, following a recent managerial appointment with Maurizio Sarri, their focus switches to the hiring of a Technical Director, the next figure in turn to fill an influential role in SW6.
First and foremost, what are a technical director’s responsibilities? A technical director, commonly known also as a director of football, is someone who handles the overseeing of signing players, field-related matters away from day-to-day coaching, and monitors all football-related activities. Often the common link between the business and sport side of their respected football club, the technical director is a senior position and someone who must have a vast knowledge of the game, to assist with the seamless, every day running of the company.
This is a team who are currently without either a technical director or director of football at the club, since their previous occupant Michael Emenalo left in November of last year, eventually joining Monaco in Ligue 1. As I am sure you’ve heard or seen, a certain Marina Granovskaia has taken on the key responsibilities of this role as the search beckons for Emenalo’s replacement. Commonly mentioned behind the scenes and seen holding the Chelsea shirt next to the club’s new signing at the time, Marina is the club’s current director. Her biggest feat so far? Brokering the deal with Nike, a reported $900M deal over a 15-year span, working out to around $60m a year, which doubled the club’s total earnings from the previous deal with Adidas. However, questions continue to linger regarding her ability to orchestrate marquee signings. While Marina showed a tremendous aptitude for the operations side of things, there was less clarity on her ability to bridge the club’s corporate and football side.
So, the question is, do Chelsea need a new technical director? I believe so. I go back to my fundamental point, someone who has tremendous knowledge of football, not in the boardroom. There is a need for someone to come in, take responsibility and oversee crucial transfers, emulating the deals that brought the likes of Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, and Diego Costa to the club.
This may also serve as a swift comparison between Emenalo and Granovskaia’s transfer dealings. Michael Emenalo, who has a few mentions not just in this article, but also the face on the first link that pops up when you type in those two words accompanied with Chelsea on Google needs replacing. The requirements for any prospective replacement are the experience of playing the game, has the trust of the owner and supporters, and practical negotiation skills that can bring the best players to Stamford Bridge.
Now, who are the potential candidates mentioned so far? Former blues Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti have popped up regularly. Also, the FA’s director Dan Ashworth and Roma’s Monchi have graced the lips of fans around the world. My nomination? Michael Ballack. The former German captain, with 105 appearances and seven trophies for Chelsea between 2006-2010, knows the game better than most, and is often found at Stamford Bridge supporting the team, if not, he is most certainly on Twitter predicting the score and showing his support for the team. I believe the effects of hiring a technical director, specifically Michael Ballack, will benefit the club in such ways as improved transfer market efficiency; explicitly targeting quality over quantity, a smoother operation within the club in terms of on and off the field endeavours, and arguably most importantly, a closer affiliation with the people who make the club what it is, the fans.
What are your thoughts? Let us know!
Written by Dan McCarthy – @thecfc150
