Edu Gaspar at Anfield.
Former Arsenal and Nottingham Forest chief Edu has been handed a surprise new role at League Two side Northampton Town.
The Brazilian will work as a senior advisor to the Cobblers, who have just been taken over by a consortium that includes Alexandre Pato.
2Edu, a former Arsenal and Nottingham Forest chief, is going to be advising Northampton in a surprise new roleCredit: Getty
Edu left his position as Arsenal's sporting director in 2024 and eventually became Global Head of Football at Nottingham Forest.
However, just over a year after joining Forest, he officially left the club in September after months of negotiating an exit.
Things didn't go well for Edu at the City Ground as he was told to stay away from the stadium and training ground by owner Evangelos Marinakis in March amid disappointment in his performance.
Since his departure, he has been named as a member of the board of directors for Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia.
But that's not all he's going to be doing, having been revealed to also be helping out Northampton in a new role.
What is Edu's new role?
Northampton's co-chairman Joao Xavier confirmed that Edu is working with the club during an open forum on Thursday.
He said: “We are very proud to have Alex [Pato] with us and Edu with us too.
“We became friends as he had a role at Nottingham Forest, and I asked him to help me learn more about English football.
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“Edu is a senior advisor for one of our partners, acting as an advisor for Levski Sofia and also here, helping us navigate the sporting questions here at the club.
"Not day-to-day, just when we ask him and when we need him.”
2Edu is going to be working with new Cobblers owners, Sports Alpha Capital, who have Pato as a board member and investorCredit: Getty
A new era in Northampton
Northampton will hope that the help of Edu will see them rise up the League Two table after a slow start to the season.
The Cobblers have only won two of their opening 10 games this term, currently sitting 23rd in the fourth tier.
But this weekend brings their first home game on a Saturday since they were taken over by ex-AC Milan and Chelsea star Pato.
And the club are making it a big occasion, even selling Northampton X Brazil merchandise ahead of the match.
Colchester United are the visitors to Sixfields at 12:30pm.
A win could see them jump out of the relegation zone and build on the positivity created by Edu's appointment and Pato's arrival.