After hanging up his boots at Corinthians as a player, Edu decided to pursue a career in football operations behind the scenes instead of taking to the touchline.
He was Director of Football for the Brazilian side before elevating his responsibilities by switching to serve for the national team as their General Coordinator from 2016 to 2019.
Brazil went on to win the Copa America for the first time in 12 years at the tail end of his role.
He played for Arsenal when the historic Invincibles squad, led by Arsene Wenger, achieved the unprecedented feat of not losing a game in a Premier League season in 2003/04.
His future employment seemed destined for a return to North London, and he was appointed as technical director in the summer of 2019.
One of Edu’s most significant involvements was the sacking of Unai Emery and finding the right replacement as Arsenal strived to escape a period of turmoil.
Even though Mikel Arteta had no experience as a manager, Edu seemed convinced of Arteta’s high ceiling, nurtured by his success as Pep Guardiola’s closest confidant at Manchester City.
Arsenal suffered a winless streak at the start of Arteta’s tenure but lifted their 14th FA Cup title during the lockdown campaign in 2020.
Silverware has evaded them ever since, but Edu’s recruitment had bolstered and solidified several positions once he was also promoted to Sporting Director, positioning The Gunners tantalisingly close to trophies and ultimately well clear from the place they started.
As Edu’s project neared completion at Arsenal, he decided to resign from the club in November and seek a new challenge, expecting Arteta’s men to mount a serious title challenge and advance to the latter stages of the Champions League.
Arsenal fans were still crying out for additions to the squad in the January transfer window to add the extra percent and extra margin to get them over the line in several competitions come the end of the season.
Their inaction had ramifications for their threat in attacking phases, particularly when Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz were sidelined with injury.
Though his direct affiliation to Arsenal was much greater when he received the call for the job, Forest offers Edu a significant recruitment project to tackle.
An on-pitch confrontation between Nuno Espirito Santo and Evangelos Marinakis took place when medical staff allowed a seriously injured Taiwo Awoniyi to continue playing.
This prompted skepticism over their future relationship, but Nuno recently earned a new contract at The City Ground.
Under ambitious owner Marinakis, who acquired the club in 2017, Forest have found much needed stability ahead of their long-awaited return to European football and aim to surpass their 7th place finish in the top flight.
According to the Nottingham Forest website, "Edu will oversee all football-related functions, including recruitment, performance, squad strategy, and player development."
As Marinakis owns Olympiakos in Greece and Rio Ave in Portugal, Edu will also be assigned the same task at both of these clubs, and perhaps their styles, European objectives, and transfer model could come to be more aligned than ever.
Marinakis commented on Edu’s appointment: "We are extremely happy to welcome Edu to our football family. His global experience, values, and winning mindset align perfectly with our objective to strengthen and expand our international platform."
Meanwhile, Edu sees his expertise as valuable for the current standing of the club: "I’m truly excited about this new chapter and honoured by the trust placed in me. This project connects deeply with my values around innovation and long-term planning. I look forward to building a global football model that is competitive, sustainable, and aligned with our President’s ambition."
Influence in Arsenal's transformation
Edu’s introduction at Arsenal marked a promising shift in regards to their transfer strategy and the type of squad they wanted to build.
It required patience for the desired plan to come into fruition, integrating individual signings into a cohesive squad with consistent performances on the pitch.
Arsenal have now finished second in the Premier League three seasons in a row.
Even though many deem the upcoming campaign as make or break for Arteta if Arsenal are bridesmaids to Liverpool or Manchester City once again, their recruitment has proved superior to so many clubs and has catalysed their progression.
The mastermind behind that for five years was Edu Gaspar and key players like Martin Odegaard and William Saliba were brought to Arsenal as youngsters without renowned appeal.
What seemed clear was that the players were not merely for the short-term, but that they had the ingredients to become senior figures in the Emirates’ dressing room for years to come.
The Norwegian captain initially joined on a loan in January 2021 before being offered a permanent transfer.
Meanwhile, the deal for stalwart centre-back Saliba perplexed supporters when he was loaned back out to Saint Etienne, Nice and Marseille to hone his skills in the back line.
Both have now asserted themselves as fundamental players in Arsenal’s system and are unlikely to fall out of favour any time soon.
Declan Rice in the summer of 2023 was Arsenal’s record signing for over £100 million.
He seemed a more straightforward target for Edu and Arteta, and all that remained at the time was matching West Ham United’s financial demands for their midfield engine.
Before Rice’s arrival, Nicolas Pepe’s signing for £72 million was the highest fee The Gunners had ever paid for a player and Edu was influential in the decision, but Pepe ultimately fell way short of expectations.
Raheem Sterling’s season-long loan from Chelsea, which was sealed last summer, turned out to leave a lot to be desired from the 30-year-old as he faded into the peripheries of his manager’s plans and others in attack were handed regular starts ahead of him.
Some mistakes were made, particularly when Edu deviated from signing younger players.
In 2022/23, Arsenal had the youngest average squad in the Premier League and proceeded to firmly cement themselves in the Champions League places as runners-up to Manchester City.
Now, Arsenal seem to have pivoted their strategy under new Sporting Director Andrea Berta, who is dictating their activity in the market.
He has opted for slightly older players, who are making up the majority of their incomings and prospective deals.
Edu recognised Arsenal and Arteta were at the start of their journey and concluded that youngsters should constitute the initial starting lineups with room to grow, and still supported by experienced players in key positions.
It will be a different dynamic for a club outside the traditional ‘big six’ but Forest's limit is by no means capped at the Conference League.
Edu and Marinakis should set their standard high when electing their next crop of players alongside the existing personnel Trentside.
Brazilian connection
Arsenal made seven Brazilian signings during Edu’s time in North London and clearly the connection to his homeland from his role with the national team and time as an esteemed player was a pivotal asset he utilised.
Gabriel was a feisty Brazilian defender for Arsenal, and now Edu will be exposed to Murillo as Forest’s main centre-back, who played for Edu’s former club Corinthians three seasons ago.
Arguably, he has been the largest revelation to Forest fans and Nuno Espirito Santo.
The Tricky Trees have already delved into the Brazilian market as they picked up Botafogo striker Igor Jesus, who lit up the Club World Cup before accompanying his new teammates for pre-season duties.
His acquisition only set back Forest’s funds by a reported £10 million.
Are Forest perhaps ahead of the curve by steering clear of the European market in particular deals?
Jesus’ Botafogo teammate, Brazilian 20-year-old Jair Cunha, has also been on the radar as Forest’s next signing this summer.
He could be a strong understudy to the defensive duo of Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic should one sustain an injury.
Before Edu has even officially stepped into his senior role at The City Ground, approaching Brazilians has been one part of the club’s approach.
Though these players may not boast Premier League experience or extensive exposure to the rigours of European football, Igor Jesus could supply a similar output for his side as Murillo, and Forest’s decision not to break the bank may again pay dividends on the pitch.
Edu’s job is to identify his plans and execute progression. Forest have set the foundation to do so after their promising season, where they doubled their points tally with a distinct style of play.
Meeting the immediate brief
As per Fabrizio Romano, Newcastle United have a deal in place with Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga for £55 million, and the Swedish international is set to undergo a medical in the coming days.
Edu’s first point of call is to find a suitable replacement for Elanga, who provided the most assists for Forest last term and became their main outlet in transition, where the majority of their goals and opportunities stemmed from.
New contracts have been tied down for Neco Williams and Ola Aina, while Nuno Espirito Santo also extended his stay until the summer of 2028.
However, as the start of pre-season commences, bringing in a new winger with a similar profile to Elanga will be of utmost priority.
If Forest already have a target in mind, they need to act quickly and reinvest the funds from Elanga’s potential sale into securing a suitable deal.
Nottingham Forest have serious ambition to remain as contenders for the European places and reach the heights of the days under Brian Clough.
Edu is a major part of that mission, and with his experienced background, he will have to bear some of the brunt if Forest’s squad becomes incapable of sustaining the high levels from last season.