Image Credits: Imago Images
Michael Edwards made his highly anticipated return to Liverpool in March 2024, but not in his previous capacity as sporting director.
Instead, the 44-year-old accepted a newly created role as Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of Football—a position with far greater scope and responsibility than his previous decade-long stint at Anfield, which ended in 2022.
Edwards had initially rejected FSG’s advances following Jurgen Klopp’s resignation announcement in January, but face-to-face talks in Boston convinced him to return with a broader mandate.
Central to Edwards’ decision was FSG’s commitment to implementing a multi-club ownership model, mirroring the success of City Football Group and Red Bull’s global networks.
“One of the biggest factors in my decision is the commitment to acquire and oversee an additional club, growing this area of their organisation,” Edwards stated upon his appointment. “I believe that to remain competitive, investment and expansion of the current football portfolio is necessary”.
His role involves not just overseeing Liverpool’s football operations—including appointing Richard Hughes as sporting director and identifying Klopp’s successor—but also leading FSG’s expansion into acquiring partner clubs.
But it seems the popular chief is wanted on the continent.
Jop van Kempen of Het Parool appeared on Studio Voetbal on Sunday evening and discussed serious options for Ajax’s vacant technical director role, with both Michael Edwards and Jordi Cruyff in contention.
Van Kempen expressed skepticism about Cruyff’s interest, stating via Football Transfer NL:
“I think Ajax would like it, but my doubt is more in whether he wants it himself. It’s a bit of a burning house, what you buy.”
When presenter Sjoerd van Ramshorst asked about other candidates, Van Kempen responded: “I heard an English candidate, Michael Edwards. He has been mentioned before, I think as the successor to Marc Overmars at the time.”
It seems highly unlikely that Edwards would decide to leave Liverpool so soon and join what could be considered a downgrade project at Ajax.
The FSG CEO of Football still has plans to build a multi-club empire at Liverpool, with club chairman Tom Werner recently confirming that it is still the plan of the Boston-based group.
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