Edu Gaspar has resigned as Arsenal’s sporting director.
The 46-year-old initially arrived as the Gunners’ technical director in the summer of 2019 and was instrumental in the appointment of Mikel Arteta as head coach later that year. Edu, a member of Arsenal’s legendary Invincibles team, is in line for a position with the network of clubs including Nottingham Forest, owned by Greek businessman Evangelos Marinakis. Should he take on that role, he is expected to receive a significant increase in his salary at the Emirates Stadium.
“This was an incredibly difficult decision,” Edu said. “Arsenal has given me the opportunity to work with so many great people and the opportunity to be part of something so special in the club’s history.
“Now it’s time to take on another challenge. Arsenal will always remain in my heart. I wish only good things and all the best for the club and its supporters.”
No departure date has yet been confirmed for Edu, who as a permanent member of staff may have to serve a notice period or be placed on garden leave. His departure comes at an important time for the club, which under Arteta is now established as a Premier League and Champions League contender. Edu had previously worked as general coordinator of the Brazilian national team and in a senior role at Corinthians, the club where he started his professional career.
His departure is a matter of some surprise to sources with knowledge of his situation. Edu had been coveted by rival clubs for years but had rejected previous interest, most notably when Paris Saint-Germain came knocking in 2022. He settled in London and was very proud of the progress Arsenal had made in his five years with them. . It was thought he would remain in the role for at least another 12 months following the departure of chief executive Vinai Venkatesham in the summer.
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A triumvirate that also included Arteta had built a strong bond in rebuilding Arsenal. All three were completely new or relatively inexperienced in the positions they held and found an alchemy in their work. It will be a challenge to recreate that with two of the three gone in a short time. Any new sporting director will have to work with Arteta.
Owner Stan Kroenke will be aware of how the turmoil that followed the departures of Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis in 2018 was reflected on the pitch in the months that followed. However, Arsenal are now in a much better football position than they were then, partly thanks to Edu.
“We respect Edu’s decision and thank him for his tremendous contribution and dedication to moving the club forward,” said co-chairman Josh Kroenke. “Everyone at the club wishes him the best. We all love him so much and the positive energy he brings to everyone and everything.
“Change and evolution are part of our club. We remain focused on our strategy and winning major trophies. Our succession plan will reflect this continued ambition.”
Arteta, managing director Richard Garlick and executive vice-chairman Tim Lewis are expected to assess the candidates for the vacancy, but given the surprise this has hit Arsenal, it could take some time before a successor is found.
What does Arsenal lose in Edu?
During his half-decade at Arsenal, Edu made an important mark. When he joined the club on their summer tour in 2019 – earlier than his new employers had demanded or even hoped – he found a club devastated by its inability to reach the Champions League, with a wage bill well out of the was in keeping with the club’s standards. performance. In his five years, Arsenal, both on and off the pitch, were reduced to something leaner, now competing for football’s biggest trophies. No one can argue that Edu won’t leave Arsenal better than he found them.
Perhaps the most radical step he took in managing the Arsenal side came in the early years of Arteta’s tenure. The vision was clear – enough to ensure the club hierarchy backed the then manager amid disastrous 2020 results – but many of the veterans were unable to put it into practice. Edu simply paid them to leave. Mesut Ozil, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Willian and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were among those whose contracts were terminated, not without cost to Arsenal when they failed to perform as expected. Some of those mistakes involved Edu and Arteta. They weren’t afraid to tackle them quickly.
That speaks to the growth Edu made during his time at the club. Being completely inexperienced in terms of power in European football early in his tenure, his recruitment was far from stellar from the start. That changed over time, just like Edu. A source who worked with him talked about how he “developed a steel for him” as time went on.
“He is someone who will represent the club in the right way, he is charming. But you know he can get along with everyone in a negotiation.”
This steeliness ensured that big deals were made for Arsenal. Much has been made of Arteta’s sales pitches to the likes of Declan Rice, but behind the scenes Edu was the one tasked with completing the difficult club-to-club negotiations. Those who have worked with him have spoken of the Brazilian’s ability to make deals that make everyone feel like a winner. That would be a quality that would serve him well as he finds himself leading an organization with multiple clubs.
It seems like this is the direction the best of the best is going now. Jurgen Klopp becomes head of Red Bull’s football department. Michael Edwards has been lured back to Anfield as football CEO of Fenway Sports Group. Edu’s work at Arsenal has taken him to that echelon. Finding a comparable replacement will be almost as challenging