Fenway Sports Group have confirmed the appointment of Michael Edwards as the organisation’s CEO of Football, with one of his primary tasks to add to their existing portfolio of football clubs.
Edwards previously worked as sporting director at Liverpool and was responsible for some of the club’s greatest dealings in the transfer market – the deals to sign Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson and Sadio Mane just four of many success stories under his watch.
After months of courting over a potential return, Edwards has now accepted a senior role with FSG, rather than at Liverpool specifically. One of his primary objectives will be to help with the acquiring of an additional club – following the models of Chelsea and Manchester City among others – which he revealed to be a necessary step to “remain competitive”.
“It was vital for me that, if I did return, it had to be with renewed vigour and energy. In practice, this means having fresh challenges and opportunities.,” Edwards said in an FSG released statement.
“As such, one of the biggest factors in my decision is the commitment to acquire and oversee an additional club, growing this area of their organisation. I believe that to remain competitive, investment and expansion of the current football portfolio is necessary.
“With Liverpool, I will oversee the required reinforcement of football operations, with a number of essential leadership positions needing urgent attention.
“I know from personal experience what a wonderful job Mike Gordon has done with day-to-day oversight on behalf of his fellow owners. Going forward I’m looking forward to working with FSG’s Board of Managers. Also, in assuming this role, I fully understand that it comes with great expectations, and I therefore intend to identify, hire, and subsequently empower leaders who meet and embody the club’s values and ambitions.
“I know from personal experience what a wonderful job Mike Gordon has done with day-to-day oversight on behalf of his fellow owners. Going forward I’m looking forward to working with FSG’s Board of Managers. Also, in assuming this role, I fully understand that it comes with great expectations, and I therefore intend to identify, hire, and subsequently empower leaders who meet and embody the club’s values and ambitions.
“Having served the club previously I need no reminder of how much emotional investment is made by supporters in the city itself, as well as across the UK. and the world. I am looking forward to getting started.”
President Mike Gordon, who will relinquish some of his responsibilities to Edwards, said: “Michael is one of the most formidable executive talents in world football and John, Tom, and I are absolutely thrilled to have secured his services for our business.
“He returns with us in a role with greater seniority than he held previously and with a wider remit. It was clear when we initially reached out to him that a broader scope would be a key moticating factor for any potential return to the industry. In this regard – and many others – his ambition matched ours.
“As an organisation we constantly strive for improvement in our football operation, whether that be identifying fresh opportunities externally or areas for enhacement internally, and there is no better person to lead that ongoing process. In keeping with this objective, he will take over responsibilities I have previously held regarding oversight and management of Liverpool F.C’s football operation.
“Fulfilling that role has been one of the greatest privileges of my life and handing it over and returning to a more traditional role in ownership is something I have been hoping to do for some time, but only if we could find the right individual or structure. In Michael we now have now the ideal person to assume these responsibilities.”
