Mikel Arteta - Arsenal
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reportedly pinpointed his preferred candidate to replace Edu Gaspar as the club’s sporting director. Edu departed the Gunners last month to join Nottingham Forest, where he is taking on a new challenge within Evangelos Marinakis’ multi-club football model, after turning down a lucrative contract extension from Arsenal.
The Gunners are now searching for the ideal candidate to fill the vacancy, with several high-profile names linked to the role. Among them is Real Sociedad’s sporting director, Roberto Olabe, who is reported to be Arteta’s top choice, according toThe Daily Mail.
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Olabe shares a history with Arteta, having signed him as a player in 2004 during his tenure as Sociedad manager. The Spaniard is set to leave the La Liga side at the end of the season and has an established rapport with Arsenal, having facilitated Mikel Merino’s move to the club last summer. Olabe’s wealth of experience in football operations makes him a strong candidate to steer Arsenal’s sporting ambitions.
Arsenal - Roberto Olabe
Roberto Olabe (Image credit: Getty Images)
The North London club is focused on building a legacy as perennial Premier League and Champions League contenders, and finding the right sporting director is seen as a critical step in achieving that goal.
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Other nameslinked to the position include Monaco’s sporting director, Thiago Scuro, whose reputation for negotiation and fostering team unity has risen significantly in the last 18 months. Before his tenure at Monaco, he was instrumental in player development and building a winning culture at Red Bull Bragantino in Brazil from 2018 to 2022.
Former Arsenal players Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky have also been mentioned as potential candidates, alongside interim sporting director Jason Ayto.
Arsenal’s decision on the appointment is expected to have a major impact on their long-term strategic goals, with Arteta favouring a familiar and trusted figure in Olabe to take the reins.
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