Chelsea FC have appointed Seyi Olofinjana to a expertise administration function centered on Africa. The brand new function includes recruitment suggestions throughout the continent, working alongside a newly-appointed scout devoted to Africa.
Olofinjana, 44, can also be the chief director of Imperial FC in Nigeria’s third division. He has been instrumental in growing and procuring soccer skills in Nigeria, together with Taiwo Awoniyi, who joined Liverpool in 2015 and now performs for Nottingham Forest.
This appointment is a part of Chelsea’s technique to determine and nurture expertise earlier of their careers. Over the previous twenty years, a number of African gamers equivalent to Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, and Mikel John Obi have achieved vital success at Chelsea. Nevertheless, most have been signed after transitioning to European golf equipment.
44-year-old Olofinjana — capped 56 occasions by his nation — performed 147 matches and scored 18 targets for Wolverhampton Wanderers between 2004 and 2008 along with spells at then fellow Championship sides Cardiff Metropolis and Sheffield Wednesday. The previous midfielder additionally performed within the Premier League with Stoke Metropolis and Hull Metropolis.
After retiring in 2014 after a brief stint in Norway, Olofinjana labored in under-23 teaching and improvement at Wolves together with a task as loans and pathways supervisor. He then spent a yr as Sporting Director at Grasshoppers Zurich in Switzerland till 2022. The previous midfielder holds a UEFA professional teaching license
Chelsea’s new initiative goals to find and develop expertise straight from Africa, enhancing the membership’s skill to acquire promising gamers early of their soccer journeys.