After Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool’s previous director Michael Edwards has taken over responsibility for managing the club’s football operations once again.
Recently, Edwards held a meeting with top officials from Fenway Sports Group, who own Liverpool, in Boston to finalize his new position. He has officially been announced as the CEO of football for FSG, who plans to acquire another team to their collection.
A 44-year-old declined an offer from FSG earlier this year to come back as sporting director, but has now taken on a higher-ranking role. He will essentially take over the duties previously held by FSG’s president, Mike Gordon, who will be stepping back from his responsibilities.
Edwards has the immediate responsibility of selecting a new sporting director, with Richard Hughes from Bournemouth likely filling that role. Together, they will work to find a successor for Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool’s manager. Xabi Alonso, a former Liverpool player who currently coaches Bayer Leverkusen (currently leading the Bundesliga), is the top candidate.
Edwards expressed his gratitude for FSG’s determination to collaborate with him once more, stating that he felt humbled by their interest. He emphasized the importance of coming back with heightened determination and enthusiasm, which translates to seeking out new challenges and avenues for growth.
Therefore, one of the major elements influencing my choice is the dedication to obtain and manage an extra club, thereby expanding this aspect of their company. I am of the opinion that in order to stay competitive, it is imperative to invest in and expand their current collection of football clubs.
The company FSG has put in a deliberate attempt to recruit Edwards back to Liverpool. Edwards had a successful 10-year tenure with the team before departing in 2022. Despite receiving multiple offers from other clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea, he has refused to join them. Currently, he is serving as a consultant at Ludonautics, a sports advisory business owned by former Liverpool director of research Ian Graham. However, he plans to leave his position on June 1.
Gordon stated that Michael, a highly talented executive in the world of football, has joined their business and he and his colleagues John and Tom are extremely excited about it.
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The soccer team Bournemouth made the decision to part ways with Hughes after ten years on their recruitment team, effective at the end of this season. Hughes has served as the technical director for the last eight years and played a key role in hiring Andoni Iraola as the head coach last summer. Interestingly, Iraola shares an agent with Alonso. Hughes and Edwards have a history as they previously worked together at Portsmouth, where Edwards was a performance analyst. It is expected that Edwards will officially be announced as the new technical director in the near future.
FSG has been in the process of finding a permanent sporting director since Julian Ward’s departure in 2023 was announced. Last summer, Jörg Schmadtke was brought in temporarily to assist Klopp with rebuilding Liverpool’s midfield. He departed at the end of the January transfer window.
Source: theguardian.com
