Liverpool’s Former Sporting Director, Michael Edwards, Set to Return to Anfield
Liverpool fans can rejoice as Michael Edwards is set to make a sensational return to the club in a wider off-field role. After two years away, Edwards will reunite with Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), in a move that has left their rivals disappointed.
The 44-year-old will now oversee all football operations at Anfield, taking up a significant role within the ownership group. This news comes as a shock, considering Edwards had only left Liverpool in 2022. In fact, he had rejected a return to the club soon after Jurgen Klopp resigned. However, it seems that the timing is now right for his comeback.
Edwards’ return is highly positive for both Liverpool and FSG. During his previous tenure, he presided over a major restructure of the club, both on and off the pitch. His expertise and strategic approach have been instrumental in Liverpool’s recent success.
Notably, Edwards had also turned down job offers from Manchester United and Chelsea before accepting the role at Liverpool. Sky Sports’ Melissa Reddy reported that he had rejected an offer from Chelsea for a “CEO of Football” position. The timing was not right for him at that moment as he wanted to prioritize spending time with his family.
Manchester United had shown renewed interest in Edwards, as reported by the Independent’s Miguel Delaney. However, Edwards showed no inclination to join Old Trafford, and instead, Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth was pursued by INEOS.
Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid were also interested in securing Edwards’ services. The Telegraph’s Sam Wallace reported PSG’s interest before he left Liverpool. Additionally, Reddy and Delaney reported for the Independent in December 2021 that Real Madrid had hoped to hire Edwards.
Despite recently joining sports consultancy group Ludonautics, Edwards is free to take up employment elsewhere as a non-executive director. He currently works alongside former Liverpool director of research Ian Graham. However, there were reports that Manchester United had held talks with Ludonautics, although they clarified that no collaboration is in progress.
With Edwards set to return to Liverpool, it is evident that FSG’s offer came at the perfect time. Liverpool fans can look forward to the continuation of Edwards’ remarkable work and the positive impact he will undoubtedly have on the club.