Klopp set to enjoy reign as club appoints new sporting director
Liverpool have appointed Michael Edwards to the newly-created role of sporting director at Anfield. The 37-year-old, who has previously held posts as head of analytics, director of technical performance and technical director, will govern the "club's overall football development". Klopp is believed to have pushed for the creation of the position before Mike Gordon, Liverpool’s president, backed the promotion of Edwards - a key figure on the club’s muchcriticised transfer committee.
Klopp is said to be enthusiastic about the prospect of working closely with Edwards, whose responsibilities are now expected to include the overseeing of all transfer business, thus granting Klopp his wish of more coaching time with players at Melwood, where Edwards is also likely to be based.
The German's involvement in recruitment will remain apparent at the beginning and end of deals: deciding which areas of his team needs improving, then having the final say on who is bought and who is sold as well.
Edwards’s influence at Liverpool has quietly increased over the last 18 months, especially since the announcement in March of Ian Ayre’s departure as chief executive at the end of this season.
Edwards arrived at Anfield in 2011 as head of analytics in the same month as Damien Comolli, who became director of football strategy after being recommended to Fenway Sports Group by Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A’s baseball team.
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