Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group have announced the appointment of Michael Edwards as their new CEO of Football, which will see the 44-year-old return to work at Anfield.
Edwards previously left his role as sporting director in the summer of 2022 after 11 years of service to the club, during which time he was also a technical director, head of methodology and chief analyst.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth chief was Jurgen Klopp's transfer guru for seven years, helping the club acquire the services of Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk among others.
The Reds won their sixth European Cup and first Premier League title with Edwards at the helm, and his new role at Liverpool will see him spearhead the Reds' search for a new head coach to replace Klopp and new sporting director to succeed Jorg Schmadtke.
"It was vital for me that, if I did return, it had to be with renewed vigour and energy. In practice, this means having fresh challenges and opportunities," Edwards said in a statement released by FSG.
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"As such, one of the biggest factors in my decision is 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.
"With Liverpool F.C., I will oversee the required reinforcement of football operations, with a number of essential leadership positions needing urgent attention. I know from personal experience what a wonderful job Mike Gordon has done with day-to-day oversight on behalf of his fellow owners.
"Going forward I'm looking forward to working with FSG's Board of Managers. 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.
"Having served the club previously I need no reminder of how much emotional investment is made by supporters in the city itself, as well as across the U.K. and the world. I am looking forward to getting started."
Since handing the reins over to Julian Ward - who only spent one season as Liverpool's sporting director in the 2022-23 campaign - Edwards has been on the radar of other European heavyweights, namely Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
The Blues and the Red Devils are believed to have made approaches to hire Edwards, who rejected both clubs, while he also showed no interest in taking on the Real Madrid or PSG sporting director jobs.
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The 44-year-old is said to have turned down a first offer to return to Liverpool, but following a compelling pitch from FSG, Edwards agreed to return to work on Merseyside and will resign from his current role as a consultant for sports management business Ludonautics.
FSG president Mike Gordon added: "Michael is one of the most formidable executive talents in world football and John [W Henry], Tom [Werner], and I are absolutely thrilled to have secured his services for our business.
"He returns to us in a role with greater seniority than he held previously and with a wider remit. 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. I look forward to working with him again from my position within ownership, from where I will continue to lead engagement on matters relating to football.
"On behalf of everyone at FSG I am delighted to welcome him back and also hugely excited to see one of the most sought-after executives back in our ranks."
Following Edwards's appointment, Liverpool are expected to confirm ex-Bournemouth chief Richard Hughes as their new sporting director, while Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso is still considered the top candidate to take over from Klopp as head coach.
Ben Knapton
