Frank Dell'Apa

MLS

Knoxville’s New England connections pay off

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Former New England Revolution striker Ian Fuller guided One Knoxville FC to a 2-0 victory over the Spokane Velocity in the USL League 1 final before a sellout 7,500 crowd at Covenant Health Park on Sunday, Nov. 16. Fuller, 46, in his first year as head coach, played at Clemson University before joining the Revolution in 2002, pairing with Taylor Twellman up front as the team advanced to the MLS Cup final. Fuller followed Adrian Heath from the Austin Aztex to MLS as an assistant with Orlando City and Minnesota United before being hired by Knoxville.

Knoxville starters included winger Mark Doyle, who competed for Rhode Island FC last year; Callum Johnson, a former New York Red Bulls Academy midfielder who played three seasons at Boston College before transferring to Clemson; Stavros Zarokostas, a midfielder from La Salle Academy in Providence via the University of Rhode Island. Zarokostas set up Nico Rosamilia for the opening goal in the fourth minute, and Kempes Tekiela added a 54th-minute penalty kick.

How BU’s Michael Emenalo became director of football for the Saudi Pro League

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By Frank Dell’Apa / September 6, 2023 /NEW ENGLAND SOCCER JOURNAL

Former Boston University standout Michael Emenalo. (Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)

New England business schools produce success stories by the dozens, sending graduates to firms where they manage accounts valued well into nine or 10 figures, maybe higher.

For Michael Emenalo, Boston University Class of ’89, you’ll have to add another zero or two to get the scale of his latest venture.

As director of football for the Saudi Professional League, Emenalo has played a major role in the acquisition of high-profile players Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Neymar, et al. The Saudis have been throwing around numbers unheard-of in the sports world, offering Lionel Messi more than $1 billion before he settled on a move to Inter Miami.

They were willing to shell out more than $300 million to Kylian Mbappe, and Emenalo held out hope until recently the deal could be done. That is the financial realm you’re in when you have access to a $777 billion sovereign fund.

Emenalo presents unique qualifications for the position, combining a strong academic background with a professional playing career, plus stints as technical director at Chelsea FC and AS Monaco. Emenalo set himself apart by excelling in the classroom, then at the global level of soccer, both on the playing field and in management.

Along the way Emenalo established contacts, won the confidence of coaches and high-rolling owners, and survived the cutthroat world of high stakes European soccer.

Former BU coach Neil Roberts credits Emenalo’s university experience for much of his success.

“He’s a very bright guy, he can juggle all these things, different personalities,” Roberts said of Emenalo. “Probably more than anything, the education — the type of people he met through education here — wealthy, bright people. And he was a very good student.”

As well as doing deals, Emenalo is a spokesman for the SPL, which has been accused of wildly distorting the market. The Saudi League, Emenalo admits, is “disrupting the industry. But we are disrupting to enhance. We’re adding value to the industry. We have economic power, that’s true. But there is also a sensible, logical, thoughtful process to making the league better.”

In a CNN interview, Emenalo said part of the league’s attraction is “because, part of the competitive beast as a former footballer myself … is the willingness to go and blaze a trail.”

Emenalo, 58, has been trailblazing for a while. Before arriving at BU, Emenalo competed with Enugu Rangers and the Nigerian national team. He only arrived in Boston after Nigeria had been eliminated from World Cup qualifying in July, 1985, according to Roberts.

“He came here straight from World Cup qualifying,” Roberts said of Emenalo. “If they had qualified, he wouldn’t have come. But they lost and he literally snuck out of the hotel and came straight to the States. If they knew, they would probably not have let him have his passport.”

At BU, Emenalo joined former Enugu Rangers Ben and Francis Okaroh in the Terrier lineup. From 1985-88, Emenalo helped BU qualify for the NCAA Tournament three times, totaling 36 goals in four seasons. He also earned a degree in International Relations/Political Science from the Pardee School of Global Studies and was a member of the Scarlet Key honor society.

Emenalo’s playing career took him to seven teams in seven countries, before he entered soccer management with Chelsea FC in 2007, where he worked with some of the game’s top talents, as well as high-profile managers, for 10 years. Then, it was off to AS Monaco for two years.

Such a future would have been difficult to imagine for Emenalo in the ’80s, when player movement was restricted, and there was little demand for African players in Europe. The U.S. provided an option, and Roberts and predecessor Hank Steinbrecher recruited several Nigerians to BU.

“Ten years down the line, (Emenalo) would never have come to States,” Roberts said. “He was such a good player, he would have been a pro in Europe.”

After graduation from BU, Emenalo signed with RWD Molenbeek in Belgium, following a tryout set up by Terrier teammate Peter Verplancke. Then it was on to Eintracht Trier in Germany and Notts County in England. Nigeria finally qualified for the World Cup in 1994, and Emenalo played left back as the Super Eagles won their group, then were eliminated by Italy at Foxboro Stadium.

When MLS started in 1996, Emenalo hoped to play for the New England Revolution, but the team filled its allocated player quota. So Emenalo ended up with the San Jose Clash, competing in the league’s inaugural game, a 1-0 win over D.C. United. Emenalo stayed two seasons in MLS, then went to UE Lleida in Spain and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel.

Along the way, Emenalo made lasting impressions before retiring after the 2001 season. He worked as an agent, but after a contentious experience involving John Obi Mikel’s transfer to Chelsea in 2006, Emenalo decided to get into coaching. Roberts was about to bring Emenalo back to BU as an assistant, when Emenalo made the improbable leap from working with a youth club in Tucson, Ariz., to Chelsea. Roberts recalled connecting with Emenalo, who surprised him with the news. Roberts said he’d only believe it if Emenalo put Chelsea striker Didier Drogba on the call. The next thing Roberts knew, he was on the line with Drogba, who happened to be sitting next to Emenalo on the team bus on the way to a Champions League match.

It might have seemed a leap for Emenalo to go from coaching youngsters to the Champions League, but at the time he was being recruited by two of his former coaches: Avram Grant (Chelsea) and Juande Ramos (Tottenham). Grant won out, hiring Emenalo as a scout.

After proving himself preparing scouting reports on the opposition, Emenalo replaced Ray Wilkins as Chelsea assistant coach under Carlo Ancelotti in 2010. It was a stepping-stone position for Emenalo, who then was elevated to technical director, having gained the confidence of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. Thrust into a complicated hierarchy, Emenalo displayed an ability to communicate with high-profile managers, the board of directors, and Abramovich. He also negotiated the high-stakes player transfer market, signing 20-year-old Kevin De Bruyne and 21-year-old Mohamed Salah, who ended up making their mark elsewhere.

“He is happiest bringing in young players,” Roberts said of Emenalo. “Chelsea had such a stable of players back in the day, and they sold half of them. But, talking to him, he wanted to build up these kids. The problem was the big-name managers don’t want to take the risk. They don’t want to wait a year. They want to win now and you can’t blame them — they can’t have a bad year. (Jose) Mourinho wanted no part of it.”

At Chelsea, Emenalo worked with Luiz Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink, Andre Villas-Boas, Roberto Di Matteo, Rafa Benitez, Antonio Conte and Mourinho, who was fired after clashing with Emenalo in 2015.

While Emenalo was at Chelsea, the Blues won the Champions League (2011); Europa League (2013); plus three FA Cups and three Premier League titles. But after 10 years with Chelsea, Emenalo decided to move on, going to AS Monaco for two years.

Evidence of Emenalo’s belief in young prospects surfaced in Saudi Arabia with the arrival of Gabri Veiga, 21, from Celta Vigo. Veiga had been recruited by SS Napoli, but ended up moving to Al-Ahli on a 40 million pound transfer.

The Saudi league has upset Premier League plans by offering exorbitant salaries to free agents, and also by extending its transfer window. Two weeks into the PL season, the Saudi League was still courting Salah, a $150-plus million transfer target, which could reunite him with Emenalo.

However this phase of the transfer market works out, there will be questions about the SPL’s sustainability. Certainly, there are enough petrodollars in the Public Investment Fund to keep things going, but the flow of funds could be halted should the balance sheet show consistent losses. Also, the quality of play in the SPL is suspect.

Working against the league are climate and an extremely wide gap between the top and mid-range teams. But the Saudis are not going to give up their involvement in the game any time soon, partly motivated by the concept of “sports washing” image manipulation. Last year, they bought in to the Premier League via Newcastle United — there were rumors Emenalo would be involved in management — following the example of neighboring countries Qatar (Paris Saint-Germain) and UAE (Manchester City). They are also bidding for big events, inspired by Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup.

“(Emenalo) doesn’t want it to be a league for old people to go to get buried,” Roberts said. “That’s his main goal now. When I talked to him, kind of how he put it was, this is the challenge he was looking for. He has everything he needs to try and make it a legitimate league.”

New England and MLS Draft

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Note: New England region produces soccer players, despite itself — this story pre-MLS draft from 2019. Also, Boston connection for Victoire Cogevina, who was repping players and trying to improve scouting methods.

When it comes to conditions for developing soccer talent, New England cannot come close to matching other areas of the country in terms of climate, facilities or population.

But the region’s players are highly-regarded, judging by the MLS SuperDraft – New England-connected players have been selected either No. 1 or 2 in seven of the last eight years.

Siad Haji continued the trend after being chosen No. 2 by the San Jose Earthquakes last week. Haji, born to Somali parents in a Kenya refugee camp, attended Manchester (N.H.) Central High School and played at Lawrence Academy, New England FC, Seacoast United SC, the Revolution Academy, and US junior national teams.

Haji scored nine goals in 14 games as a freshman at New England College as the Pilgrims went 11-10-1 and captured the North Atlantic Conference title in 2016. He then transferred to Virginia Commonwealth and was named to MLS’ Generation Adidas program after his junior season.

UConn players began the streak of New Englanders becoming early picks: Carlos Alvarez was No. 2 in 2013 and goalkeeper Andre Blake and striker Cyle Larin were No. 1 the next two years. Former Berkshire School star Jack Harrison became the top selection in 2016; Syracuse defender Miles Robinson (Arlington, Mass.) was No. 2 in 2017; Francis Atuahene (The Hotchkiss School) was No. 4 in 2018.

Other New Englanders selected in the first round this year included Logan Gdula (East Lyme, Conn./Oakwood SC) by FC Cincinnati and midfielder Sam Brown, who became the first Harvard first-rounder after being taken by Real Salt Lake with the 17th pick.

Other players with New England roots selected after the first round could be late-bloomers/sleepers.

The Vancouver Whitecaps’ second-round pick was Georgetown defender Brendan McDonough, son of Arizona Cardinals player personnel director Terry McDonough and grandson of former Globe staffer Will McDonough.

Jamaican Rashawn Dally (Watkinson School, Quinnipiac) went to FC Cincinnati, Geo Alves (Dean JC, Vermont) to D.C. United, and Dartmouth’s Eduvie Ikoba to FC Dallas and Justin Donawa to Columbus.

Dally, who grew up in Bloomfield, Conn., presents size (6 feet, 2 inches) and athleticism. Dally has participated in Jamaica national team training camps, but possesses a green card and will not be counted as a foreign player.

Donawa, who has played for Bermuda’s national team, would likely have been a high draft choice but struggled with injuries. Donawa was considered an Ivy League player of the year candidate (Ivy League indoor triple jump champion), and had been expected to combine with Ikoba in the Dartmouth attack. But Donawa sustained a knee injury, then sprained an ankle after returning late in the season.

Alves moved to Pawtucket, R.I. (Shea HS) from Cape Verde and played for Brockton United and the Revolution Academy.

The MLS draft is flawed, though, as many of the country’s best players bypass it to play overseas or are considered ineligible due to their status as “Homegrown” players.

The Revolution made two first-round picks – Canadian midfielder Tajon Buchanan (Syracuse) and midfielder DeJuan Jones (Michigan State). But no Revolution draft choice has been an Opening Day starter since 2013.

Among those attempting to move directly to the professional ranks is Amos Shapiro-Thompson, who performed briefly for the Revolution Academy and turned down Harvard. Shapiro-Thompson, 19, from Worthington, Mass., is playing for Legia Warsaw’s B team in Poland after deferring a commitment to University of Virginia. Ricardo Sa Pinto, Legia’s Portuguese coach, called Shapiro-Thompson into the first team but did not keep him on, partly due to foreign player limits.

Players outside the collegiate system are often good bets to make an impact. Diego Fagundez, who found a place in the Revolution lineup while a high school student, provides a local example. The Revolution roster includes four “Homegrown” players: Fagundez, Isaac Angking, and Zach Herivaux bypassed college, and Scott Caldwell played at Akron.

This year’s draft included a non-collegiate player – Peter-Lee Vassell, 19, selected by Los Angeles FC in the second round. Vassell, who has scored five goals in eight games for Jamaica, has been performing for Harbour View FC, which has produced star MLS attackers such as Damani Ralph and Andy Williams, plus MLS Best XI defender Kemar Lawrence.

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Victoire Cogevina has developed a system for processing videos that could aid in the efficiency of scouting. Cogevina is also hoping the setup, which uses Artificial Intelligence, will reduce corruption and exploitation of players.

“This is a very simple technology that players all around the world, from any background, any age, will be able to use to upload their achievements,” Cogevina said. “You and I have a resume – players have their video.”

Cogevina’s software product, called Gloria, intends to provide a centralized platform for players’ videos to be accessed by clubs, federations, and leagues. She said the Argentina SuperLiga, DFB and Spain’s La Liga women’s division have signed on.

“It’s completely unorganized and it shouldn’t be, with all the technology we have today,” Cogevina said of evaluation and scouting in soccer. “Over and over kids who are extremely talented don’t make it because they don’t have the right contacts or enough money in their bank account. The whole idea is to give power to kids to go directly to clubs, regardless of who they know or how much money they have, they don’t need a broker. We will have a data base with millions of videos – not even FIFA has this.”

Cogevina, 27, born in Boston while mother Shalimar Reynal was studying international affairs at Boston University and father Alexios was serving as Greek consul.

In 2015, Shalimar and Victoire established SR All Stars, a FIFA-licensed player representation agency. They have worked with MLS players such as Miguel Almiron, Osvaldo Alonso, and Nicolas Lodeiro, plus former Chilean national team forward Mauricio Pinilla.

“My mother and I were one of the first to open an agency run by women in the soccer world, and I’m very proud of that,” Cogevina said. “It is a special achievement. You don’t see many women doing this and I think it gives us an edge. Players trust us more, the way we run the business, it’s like a family, and we don’t care only about commission. That can be disruptive in the agency world.”

Cogevina believes soccer development needs shaking up, as well. She has been motivated by the problems of third party ownership, the pay-to-play youth setup, and a prostitution ring involving young players in Argentina.

“That gives us extra incentive but incentive is not the right word – responsibility – to build the software to provide a safe place for players, clubs, and leagues,” Cogevina said. “I worked in my mother’s agency and I’m not going to take her job away from her. Agents are still needed. Like a lawyer, you cannot represent yourself. A player cannot do it. We’re not going to replace humans. By automatizing we make it easier and faster. And for kids, no matter where they are or how much money their parents have, they are just being judged by talent.”#

R.I.P. John DeBrito, ex-USMNT, NE Revolution

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Joao “John” DeBrito, a former US national team midfielder and member of the New England Revolution in its first MLS season, died in Miami Wednesday. He was 51.

DeBrito started in midfield in the Revolution’s initial game, a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Mutiny at Raymond James Stadium April 13, 1996. He played 21 games for the Revolution, then moved to the NY/NJ MetroStars, Kansas City Wizards, Dallas Burn, and Columbus Crew, concluding his career with the Connecticut Wolves in 2001.

DeBrito was born in Cape Verde and grew up in Waterbury, Conn. He won the 1987 and ’90 NCAA D2 championships with Southern Connecticut State. Before the start of MLS, DeBrito performed for Gremio Lusitano in Ludlow and the Boston Storm and made six appearances for the US. His older brother, Pedro, led UConn to the 1981 NCAA D1 title and became the No. 1 pick in the NASL draft, going on to perform for the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Team America and New York Cosmos, plus once for the US national team. Pedro died in an auto accident in 2014.

“John won two national championships and he was maybe the outstanding player in both of them,” said UConn coach Ray Reid, who was an SCSC assistant in 1987 and head coach in ’90. “In 1987, as a freshman, he scored both our goals and was named the most outstanding attacking player. He was a fantastic guy. He and Pedro did more for soccer in the state of Connecticut than any family I know. Both of them were good players, and they were so patient with guys who weren’t good enough. People loved them.”

DeBrito had been working as a paramedic in Miami. He was selected to the Southern Connecticut Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1987 team and as an individual, and to Connecticut and New England Soccer Halls of Fame.

Jan. 14, 2005 – Revolution select Michael Parkhurst with No. 9 pick in MLS SuperDraft

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The Revolution took Michael Parkhurst in the first round and also selected James Riley in the second round (21st overall) and Tony Lochhead in the third round (33rd overall). [Read more…] about Jan. 14, 2005 – Revolution select Michael Parkhurst with No. 9 pick in MLS SuperDraft

Jan. 13, 2014 – Revolution trade rights to Michael Parkhurst to Columbus in exchange for draft pick

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Michael Parkhurst started for the Revolution from 2005-08, then moved to Europe, returning to MLS in 2014. [Read more…] about Jan. 13, 2014 – Revolution trade rights to Michael Parkhurst to Columbus in exchange for draft pick

Dec. 9, 2008 – Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst joins FC Nordsjaelland on free transfer

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Michael Parkhurst set standards as a central defender in four seasons with the Revolution. Parkhurst’s ability to command the back line allowed coach Steve Nicol to switch to a 3-5-2 alignment that keyed the team’s success from 2005-08. Parkhurst went on to play in the Champions League and Europa League, returning to MLS to perform for the Columbus Crew and captain Atlanta United’s 2018 MLS Cup-winning team.

https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/image/443566922/?terms=%22Michael%2BParkhurst%22

[Read more…] about Dec. 9, 2008 – Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst joins FC Nordsjaelland on free transfer

Dec. 7, 2014 – LA Galaxy 2:1 [aet] Revolution, MLS Cup final, StubHub Center (Att.: 27,000)

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The Revolution fell for the fifth time in five MLS Cup appearances over a 13-year span. Three of those losses were to the LA Galaxy (all in extra time), who also defeated the Revolution, 2-1, in extra time in the 2001 U.S. Open Cup final.

Goals: Zardes, Keane; Tierney.

https://www.boston.com/sports/untagged/2014/12/07/revolution-players-defensive-miscue-led-to-loss

[Read more…] about Dec. 7, 2014 – LA Galaxy 2:1 [aet] Revolution, MLS Cup final, StubHub Center (Att.: 27,000)

Nov. 23, 2014 – New York Red Bulls 1:2 Revolution, Red Bull Arena (Att.: 25,000)

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The Revolution moved within a game of advancing to the MLS Cup final for the first time since 2007. Teal Bunbury opened the scoring and Jermaine Jones converted with a spectacular late-game run to provide what turned out to be the deciding goal in the series. [Read more…] about Nov. 23, 2014 – New York Red Bulls 1:2 Revolution, Red Bull Arena (Att.: 25,000)

Nov. 21, 1999 – D.C. United 2:0 LA Galaxy, MLS Cup, Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 44,910)

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D.C. United won the MLS Cup title for the third time in four years, defeating the LA Galaxy for the second time at Foxboro Stadium. Goals: Moreno, Olsen. [Read more…] about Nov. 21, 1999 – D.C. United 2:0 LA Galaxy, MLS Cup, Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 44,910)