Michael Edwards has stepped down from his role as Chief Executive of Football at Fenway Sports Group (FSG), ending his tenure with one year remaining on the contract he signed when he returned to Liverpool’s ownership group in 2024.
According to The Athletic, Edwards informed the FSG hierarchy of his decision last autumn and has now completed his notice period. Rather than appointing a direct replacement, FSG is expected to place football operations back under the supervision of FSG President Mike Gordon.
Multi-club ambitions failed to materialise
Edwards’ return to FSG in 2024 was built around a newly created CEO of Football position, with one of his primary objectives being to establish a multi-club ownership model.
During the past two years, Edwards led an extensive search, assessing around 25 clubs across Europe, with particular focus on Spain, Portugal and France. Clubs including Bordeaux, Malaga and Getafe were evaluated, but none of the proposed acquisitions received approval from the FSG board.
The project ultimately stalled due to a combination of acquisition costs and UEFA’s increasingly strict regulations preventing clubs under the same ownership from competing in the same European competitions. With the multi-club strategy effectively abandoned, Edwards’ departure had become increasingly likely.
Architect of Liverpool’s modern success
Edwards first joined Liverpool in 2011 as Head of Performance Analysis before progressing through several senior football operations roles, eventually becoming Sporting Director in 2016.
Widely regarded as one of football’s leading executives, he played a pivotal role alongside Jürgen Klopp in building the Liverpool squad that won the UEFA Champions League in 2019 and ended the club’s 30-year wait for the Premier League title in 2020.
After leaving his Sporting Director role in 2022, Edwards turned down several high-profile offers—including approaches from Manchester United and Chelsea—before launching sports analytics consultancy Ludonautics with former Liverpool research director Ian Graham.
Oversaw Liverpool’s post-Klopp transition
FSG persuaded Edwards to return in 2024 to oversee Liverpool’s transition following Klopp’s departure.
During his second spell, he appointed Richard Hughes as Sporting Director and brought back Julian Ward as FSG Technical Director to help shape the club’s new football structure.
However, Hughes is also expected to leave later this year, with reports indicating he is set to join Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal after the summer transfer window. His expected departure means the leadership team assembled by Edwards is likely to be dismantled just two years after its formation.
A significant change for FSG
Edwards’ exit comes at the beginning of a new era at Liverpool under head coach Andoni Iraola and represents a major shift in FSG’s football strategy.
While FSG reportedly hoped to retain Edwards, the collapse of its multi-club project removed the central responsibility that had convinced him to return. As a result, one of the most influential executives in Liverpool’s modern history departs once again, leaving FSG to navigate the club’s next chapter without the architect of both its recent sporting success and its post-Klopp restructuring.