Michael Edwards has stepped down as Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of football.
The former Liverpool sporting director has already served his notice period and leaves with one year remaining on the contract he signed when he was appointed in 2024.
Edwards informed the FSG hierarchy of his decision last autumn and the club’s ownership group are unlikely to recruit a replacement with FSG president Mike Gordon set to resume oversight of their football operations
When Edwards agreed to return to the fold to oversee the post-Jurgen Klopp era two years ago, he made it clear that FSG’s commitment to embarking on a multi-club model had been crucial in convincing him to accept the newly-created CEO of football role.
However, despite leading an extensive search, with analysis conducted on around 25 clubs across Europe with a strong focus on Spain, Portugal and France, no proposal got the green light from the FSG board. The Athletic reported in March that FSG had effectively shelved plans to buy a second club with Edwards left frustrated by the impasse.
‘Pretty grim’ data played a part in Liverpool’s decision to sack Slot
James Pearce
Edwards initially joined Liverpool from Tottenham Hotspur as head of performance analysis in November 2011. He was promoted to the role of director of technical performance and then technical director before becoming sporting director in 2016.
He developed a reputation as a shrewd negotiator and his double act with Klopp helped Liverpool build a team who were crowned champions of Europe in 2019. The following season, the club’s 30-year wait for the league title was ended with Premier League glory.
Edwards stepped down as sporting director in 2022 and subsequently rejected around a dozen job offers from clubs across Europe, including lucrative approaches from Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea to run their football operations.
Instead he joined forces with former Liverpool director of research Ian Graham as a consultant for sports advisory analytics business Ludonautics.
FSG turned to Edwards in 2024 to oversee the transition from the Klopp era. Edwards was responsible for appointing Richard Hughes as sporting director and bringing back Julian Ward as FSG technical director.
The Athletic reported last week that Hughes is also set to move on later this year with the expectation that he joins Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal after the summer transfer window.
Does Edwards’ exit make sense for Liverpool?
It had become increasingly clear that Michael Edwards wasn’t going to stick around beyond the three-year contract he signed in March 2024.
The job he signed up for involved identifying and then running a second football club for FSG. He believed embarking on a multi-club project was pivotal in terms of ensuring that Liverpool were competing on a level field with their rivals.
However, more than two years later, FSG has effectively ditched those plans. FSG investigated possible deals for French side Bordeaux, plus Spanish outfits Malaga and Getafe, but opted not to pursue them.
Price was one factor but another was UEFA’s tightening of regulations with two clubs under the same ownership structure unable to compete in the same European competition.
With no second club in the pipeline, it was just a case of when rather than if Edwards would depart. With a new era about to dawn at Anfield following the appointment of new head coach Andoni Iraola, leaving now makes sense.
FSG didn’t want to lose him but reluctantly accepted his decision. With Edwards having recruited Hughes, it’s no surprise that they will be leaving in quick succession with Hughes set to move on after this summer’s transfer window.
But the situation is far from ideal. When FSG put its faith in the Edwards/Hughes double act to run Liverpool in 2024, it didn’t expect it to end so soon.