LONDON: The man who helped underpin much of Liverpool’s success under Jurgen Klopp is returning to oversee the restructuring of the English club when the German manager leaves at the end of the season.
Michael Edwards, Liverpool’s former sporting director, will take up the role of “chief executive of football” at Fenway Sports Group — the US-based conglomerate whose portfolio of sports teams includes Liverpool.
His tasks will include hiring a sporting director at Liverpool who will be responsible for identifying a replacement for Klopp, who said in January that he will be stepping down after nearly nine years as manager. Among those linked with the upcoming vacancy is Xabi Alonso, who currently coaches German league leader Bayer Leverkusen and used to play for Liverpool.
Edwards will also oversee FSG’s purchase of another soccer club, he said in a statement published by FSG, which also owns the Boston Red Sox.
Edwards left Liverpool in 2022 after an 11-year association with the team, which included time as sporting director from 2015-22 when he oversaw the signings of Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker, and Virgil van Dijk. Klopp, who joined in late 2015, has led Liverpool to the Premier League and Champions League titles in that period, as well as multiple domestic cups.
Edwards has rejected numerous offers to return to soccer after leaving Liverpool and has been doing consultancy work with sports advisory firm Ludonautics. FSG said Edwards will no longer be working for Ludonautics.
FSG President Mike Gordon described Edwards as “one of the most formidable executive talents in world football.”
“He returns to us in a role with greater seniority than he held previously and with a wider remit,” Gordon said. “It was clear when we initially reached out to him that a broader scope would be a key motivating factor for any potential return to the industry. In this regard — and many others — his ambitions matched ours.”
Edwards replaces Gordon as FSG’s day-to-day decision maker on all soccer matters and said one of the biggest factors in agreeing to return was “the commitment to acquire and oversee an additional club, growing this area of their organization.”
“I believe that to remain competitive, investment and expansion of the current football portfolio is necessary,” Edwards said.
Liverpool’s restructuring in the post-Jurgen Klopp era will be overseen by Michael Edwards
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Liverpool’s restructuring in the post-Jurgen Klopp era will be overseen by Michael Edwards
- Michael Edwards, Liverpool’s former sporting director, will take up the role of “chief executive of football”
- His tasks will include hiring a sporting director at Liverpool
Lens cruise into French Cup quarters, Endrick sends Lyon through
- Goals by Florian Sotoca and Andrija Bulatovic, as well as a Abdallah Sima brace, saw surprise Ligue 1 title contenders Lens through their last-16 tie
PARIS, France: Lens reached the quarter-finals of the French Cup on Wednesday courtesy of a 4-2 win over Troyes, while an Endrick-inspired Lyon fought past second-division Laval.
Goals by Florian Sotoca and Andrija Bulatovic, as well as a Abdallah Sima brace, saw surprise Ligue 1 title contenders Lens through their last-16 tie.
Martin Adeline had levelled before half-time for second flight leaders Troyes before three goals in eight minutes early in the second period put Pierre Sage’s side firmly in charge.
At home to Ligue 2 strugglers Laval, Lyon struggled to break down their opponents until a moment of individual excellence by Real Madrid loanee Endrick.
Following a surging run from midfielder Pavel Sulc, the 19-year-old Brazilian burst through a challenge before unleashing a rasping drive from the edge of the box to open the scoring in the 80th minute.
It was Endrick’s fifth goal in as many outings for Lyon since arriving from the Santiago Bernabeu in late December.
“It’s really important to have scored my first goal on our home turf. This start at Lyon is truly a dream come true,” the forward said.
Lyon wrapped up their 11th consecutive victory in all competitions when Laval ‘keeper Maxime Hautbois inadvertently turned Afonso Moreira’s effort into his own net late in added time.
Struggling Nice pulled off a remarkable comeback in their last-16 tie against Montpellier to win 3-2.
The hosts found themselves trailing 2-0 midway through the second half before Kail Boudache halved the deficit with 18 minutes remaining on the clock.
Antoine Mendy netted on 89 minutes and looked to have forced extra-time, until Sofiane Diop shaped a fine curling effort beyond Montpellier goalkeeper Mathieu Michel seven minutes into injury time.
Lorient saw off fellow Ligue 1 outfit Paris FC with a 2-0 win thanks to a second-half goal by Noah Cadiou and a late Moustapha Mbow own goal.
Toulouse beat Ligue 2 Amiens 1-0 with Yann Gboho netting the winner six minutes before the interval.
