Michael Edwards is set to make his return to sport after stepping down from his role as sporting director at Liverpool.
According to The Athletic, the 44-year-old will be reunited with former Reds research director Dr Ian Graham, who will join as non-executive director of Graham’s new venture, Ludonautics.
The revelation sees a temporary end to speculation linking Edwards with a return to football after leaving his role at Anfield in 2021, with Julian Ward taking charge.
He arrived at Liverpool in 2011, following spells at Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth, and after deciding not to expand his role on Merseyside, there was speculation that Edwards might be in line to take up hierarchical roles at Newcastle United and Manchester United, who never happened. flowering.
Both Edwards and Graham were present during Jurgen Klopp’s success at Liverpool, helping them reach the pinnacle of English and European football in 2019 and 2020, winning the Champions League and then the Premier League.
It has been said that Edwards’ new role will not prevent him from securing a permanent position. According to the report, the company is expected to be established in 2024 and Ludonautics will seek to make its skills and experience available to teams, with existing and future club owners interested in the business.
The company will ensure Graham is data-driven, with Edwards’ experience seen as important for education leaders and line managers to embed their methodologies.
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group tried several times to persuade Edwards to stay with the Reds as they had contributed to their success. Instead, the manager took a year-long hiatus from the sport and helped Ward transition into his role – after deputizing for the Southampton-born boss as an assistant.
doctor Graham only gave up his role at Liverpool at the end of the season, intending to leave Liverpool after ten years in November 2022. While on Merseyside he led the analysis team team data and focused on finding goal value – something Liverpool have been praised for after a series of clever moves in the transfer market.
