Michael Edwards explains Jurgen Klopp’s role in taking sporting director role

Michael Edwards has confirmed he is to be promoted to Liverpool’s sporting director and says Jurgen Klopp‘s backing of him was what persuaded him to take on the new role.

Having been at Liverpool since 2011, arriving after two years of head of performance analysis at Tottenham, Edwards has been operating as the Reds’ technical director since last summer and has been working with outgoing CEO Ian Ayre on transfer deals this summer.

“I’ve been proud to be part of the football operations structure here at Liverpool and it’s a great honour to be asked to lead it going forward in this new role of sporting director,” Edwards said.

“We have a brilliant team of people who all make a huge contribution to the process of player transfers and retention, together with recruitment for the senior team, development squad and our academy.“

Klopp worked with a sporting director at Dortmund and has backed the promotion of Edwards – which the 37-year-old says was key for him taking the position.

“Jurgen’s belief and confidence in what we have done is also welcomed and was a big factor in me making the decision to accept this position.

“It’s critical that we are always focused on development and improvement across all areas of the football operation. It’s an exciting challenge to be tasked with the responsibility of reviewing our practices and then implementing positive changes as and when they are needed.

“I know I’ll be supported by a brilliant group of people while doing this.”

Edwards’ appointment to sporting director and Ayre’s departure from the club at the end of the season is expected to see FSG appoint a new chief executive more focussed on the business side of the club, with Edwards overseeing transfer and contract negotiations.

It’s a management structure that Klopp used to from Dortmund and one which FSG wanted to adopt prior to Brendan Rodgers’ appointment in 2012.

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