Robin Jones/Getty ImagesJuly 10, 2026 9:04 am EDT Updated Michael Edwards has stepped down as Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of football.The former Liverpool sporting director has already served his notice period and leaves with one year remaining on the contract he signed when he was appointed in 2024.Edwards informed the FSG hierarchy of his decision last autumn and the club’s ownership group are unlikely to recruit a replacement with FSG president Mike Gordon set to resume control of running their football operations.When Edwards agreed to return to the fold to oversee the post-Jurgen Klopp era two years ago, he made it clear that FSG’s commitment to embarking on a multi-club model had been crucial in convincing him to accept the newly created role of CEO of football.However, despite leading an extensive search, with analysis conducted on around 25 clubs across Europe with a strong focus on Spain, Portugal and France, no proposal got the green light from the FSG board. The Athletic reported in March that FSG had effectively shelved plans to buy a second club with Edwards left frustrated by the impasse.
Edwards initially joined Liverpool from Tottenham Hotspur as head of performance analysis in November 2011. He was promoted to the role of director of technical performance and then technical director before becoming sporting director in 2016.He developed a reputation as a shrewd negotiator and his double act with Klopp helped Liverpool build a team who were crowned champions of Europe in 2019. Twelve months later the club’s 30-year wait for the league title 12 was ended with Premier League glory.Edwards stepped down as sporting director in 2022 and subsequently rejected around a dozen job offers from clubs across Europe, including lucrative approaches from Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea to run their football operations.Instead he joined forces with former Liverpool director of research Ian Graham as a consultant for sports advisory analytics business Ludonautics.FSG turned to Edwards in 2024 to oversee the transition from the Klopp era. Edwards was responsible for appointing Richard Hughes as sporting director and bringing back Julian Ward as FSG technical director.The Athletic reported last week that Hughes is also set to move on later this year with the expectation that he joins Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal after the summer transfer window.Jul 10, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
