Michael Edwards has rejoined Fenway Sports Group as chief executive of football. What does this signify for Liverpool in their quest to find a replacement for Jurgen Klopp?
Edwards oversaw the most prosperous time in Liverpool’s recent history, creating the team that won the Champions League in 2020 and the Premier League in 2019 by bringing in players like Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah.
After that, the sporting director departed Liverpool in 2022. However, even though he turned down the opportunity to rejoin the team earlier this year, negotiations that had resumed in early March resulted in an agreement to have Edwards return in a new capacity as FSG CEO of football.
Chelsea and Manchester United were also in discussions with Edwards for a position that would entail managing their football departments, so it wasn’t just Liverpool who were considering him for a senior hierarchical position.
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain inquired about Edwards’ interest in taking over as sporting director, but it was obvious that he would not be acting in that role going forward.
On June 1, Edwards will formally leave his position as consultant for the sports management company Ludonautics.
One of Edwards’ primary responsibilities at FSG will be to assist in managing Liverpool following the departure of manager Klopp, who announced his leave in January.
At FSG, where will Edwards slot in? What does Liverpool stand to gain from this?
Edwards will now take over for FSG president Mike Gordon as the group’s daily decision-maker regarding all football-related issues at Liverpool.
Gordon has made it clear that he will be stepping back from Liverpool’s football affairs; nevertheless, he will still be on the FSG board, and Edwards will report to him on all things football related.
Assuming Gordon’s responsibilities, Edwards will carry on Liverpool’s hunt for a new sporting director, who would then be in charge of finding and hiring a new manager to replace Klopp.
Xabi Alonso is still the best choice to take over as manager of Liverpool; he is also being considered by Bayern Munich to succeed departing manager Thomas Tuchel. Other choices, such as Ruben Amorim, the manager of Sporting Lisbon, have also been examined.
Gordon, meantime, had already started the process of appointing a sporting director, a position that will be filled by Richard Hughes, the outgoing technical director of Bournemouth, who made his exit from the Cherries known earlier this month.
“With Liverpool FC, I will oversee the required reinforcement of football operations, with a number of essential leadership positions needing urgent attention,” Edwards said in a statement.
“Also, in assuming this role, I fully understand that it comes with great expectations, and I therefore intend to identify, hire, and subsequently empower leaders who meet and embody the club’s values and ambitions.”
In order to draw in more international talent for the Premier League team, Edwards will search for a second football club to add to the FSG football structure in addition to hiring a new sports director and manager for Liverpool.
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