Michael Edwards, the architect of Klopp’s Liverpool, is back

Michael Edwards (44 years old) will return to Liverpool after accepting an offer from Fenway Sports Group (FSG, club owners) as area head of football of the red team after leaving his post as sporting director in the summer of 2022. After weeks of speculation, Paul Joyce explained to The Times that the Englishman, who had been reluctant to return, had finally agreed to return to the club that, as sporting director, led to success with Jürgen Klopp.

Within weeks, John W. Henry (FSG founder) and Mike Gordon (FSG president), pressured Edwards to return and will manage the football structure after learning that Jürgen Klopp will not renew his contract as coach of Liverpool and thus rearrange the future of the red club. The priority upon his arrival is to appoint a new sports director, who aims to be Richard Hughesuntil now at Bournemouth and he signed Andoni Iraola, and has already announced that he will not continue with cherry at the end of the season. The two met during Hughes’ playing days at Portsmouth in 2014 and have maintained a relationship ever since. With the arrival of these two, it is time to look for the new coach of the reds, which is in mind Xabi Alonso, Rubén Amorim (Sporting CP) and Julian Nagelsmann as the main candidate.

As a curiosity, Michael Edwards he has between his eyebrows to carry Richard Hughes to Liverpool to become sports director. Hughes brought Andoni Iraola to Bournemouth. The former Athletic Club player’s agent is Iñaki Ibáñezwho is also an agent for Xabi Alonso.

It wasn’t easy

Edwards’ return it was not easy. He left the position of sports director in 2022 due to exhaustion and devoted himself to his commitments Ludonaticsa sports consultancy company launched with his former Liverpool colleague Dr Ian Graham. Jörg Schmadtke, who had been the club’s sporting director for a short time, arrived in the summer to replace Julian Ward (Edwards’ successor at the time), but left the club after the winter market as his contract was short-term. There were weeks of negotiations with Michael Edwards, as he was the offer was rejected and I don’t want to be a sports director again. however, FSG blindly believe in him for the post-Klopp era, because they gave him a higher position, the head of the football area. Although there are also speculations that he could have a bigger role in FSG himself.

Liverpool’s winning architect

Michael Edwards initially gained respect for his work as head of performance and analysis after joining Liverpool from Tottenham in 2011. Five years later, he was promoted to sporting director and recruited a team that won the Champions League in 2019 and Premier League title in 2020. Among his aspects are being a good negotiator and getting player signings at very good prices who will eventually become stars. Cases like those of Salah, Mané, Firmino, Robertson, Alisson, Fabinho or Van Dijk himself. In addition to knowing how to get a large amount of money for footballers, they do not expect or get the biggest possible transfer, as in the case of Coutinho.

Through a data-driven approach, Edwards made FSG’s self-sustaining business model work and established a close relationship with Gordon, President of FSG.

Always admired by owners your ability to remove emotion from the decision-making process and the fact that he is not shy about questioning and challenging other senior officials, including Klopp.

The future Liverpool

With the arrival of Edwards, the appointment of Richard Hughes as sporting director and the search for a new coach, Liverpool also have to address cases such as the continuation of Salah, Van Dijk or Trent Alexader-Arnold, whose contract expires in 2025. With Edwards back and a plan for the future, Liverpool look to be in good hands for the post-Klopp era.