Jamie Carragher declared that a club’s manager is 'always the most important person' behind the scenes after Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of football Michael Edwards stepped down
21:58, 10 Jul 2026Updated 22:02, 10 Jul 2026
Jamie Carragher insisted that the manager is always the most important person on a club
Jamie Carragher insisted that the manager is always the most important person on a club(Image: Sky Sports)
Jamie Carragher asserted that a club’s manager is “always the most important person” after Michael Edwards exited his role as CEO of football for Fenway Sports Group (FSG).
On Friday, Edwards officially stepped down from his position despite having one year remaining on his contract with FSG, which he signed back in March 2024. The former Liverpool sporting director made his intentions to leave known last autumn, with no direct replacement expected from the ownership group.
Prior to returning to FSG as CEO two years ago, Edwards worked behind the scenes at Liverpool from 2011 to 2022, first serving as performance director before assuming the role of sporting director in 2016.
While making an appearance on Sky Sports, Carragher admitted that he was “disappointed” to learn of Edwards’ departure, which comes during a pivotal summer transfer window when the Reds will be looking for Mohamed Salah’s replacement.
“Yeah, disappointed, but not really shocked to be honest,” Carragher said. “I think it was well documented when he came back to the club that he was in a slightly different role.
“He was looking at, I think, Liverpool having a feeder club. That didn't materialize, so I think this was going to happen at some stage. Probably just disappointed it's happened in the middle of the transfer window.
“I don't know why he couldn't have maybe stayed and added his expertise, or his help, to try and get some signings over the line and maybe moved out … when — as I said — the transfer window had closed.”
Michael Edwards exited his role as CEO of football for Fenway Sports Group (FSG)
Michael Edwards exited his role as CEO of football for Fenway Sports Group (FSG)(Image: Getty Images)
Though Carragher conceded that Edwards’ presence at Liverpool will be missed, the 48-year-old insisted that a manager will always be more important than a sporting director or football CEO.
“Listen, these roles in football now, we wouldn't have talked about these probably 10, 15, 20 years ago,” Carragher added. “People wouldn't have known who the chief scout was really.
“That's what a director of football is now. There's obviously a lot more to it and that's why they've got so many numbers and a big team behind them. But for me, as I said, they're a lot more high profile now.
“But for me, the manager is always the most important person and when I look back at that era of success, it was about Jurgen Klopp, no doubt about that. I think, as I said, probably what happened over the last 12 months as well proves that.”
Regardless, Carragher would’ve liked to see Edwards stay with Liverpool through the transfer window in order to help manager Andoni Iraola and sporting director Richard Hughes, who is also likely to depart in the coming months.
“I would have liked him to stay to get the transfer window out the way, maybe help the manager and Richard Hughes there as well to maybe get some deals over the line,” Carragher said. “It looks like Richard Hughes will be moving on as well shortly, maybe after this transfer window or so.
“So [Iraola] may be feeling a little bit lonely considering his mate brought him in from Bournemouth and he's maybe moving on quite quickly as well.
Article continues below
“So it's going to be a lot of upheaval behind the scenes, and it certainly doesn't help the new manager and the club right now. But this is football, it happens with players, managers and now directors of football.”