With Edu's announced departure as Sporting Director https://www.arsenal.com/news/edu-gaspar-resigns-sporting-director, I thought it was a good moment to create a thread that apparently has been missing all these years. We had an old finance thread which was mostly KSE-related and sometimes bled into broader management, but seems we should have one that's more apropos to this position, the new vacancy, future mgmt (re)structure, etc. So, to start this off, I saw this quote from Mikel's presser yesterday when he talked about Edu leaving: "That means opportunities for somebody else to come in, to fill that role. There are people that Edu has brought as well, alongside him on this journey which is always very important." I was wondering about that last sentence. Does he mean that Edu has a team of underlings who worked with him who are also going to be leaving? Like what happens when a head-coach/manager leaves? And in general I'm also wondering if the management structure and this SD scope will remain as is, or if a reorg is in the works, and if that'll mean any kind of change/consolidation for Mikel?
🚨Josh Kroenke has released a statement following Edu’s shock exit.“We respect Edu’s decision and thank him for his immense contribution and dedication to drive the club forward. Everyone at the club wishes him well. We are all so fond of him and the positive energy he brings… pic.twitter.com/P7l7v4PRBd— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) November 4, 2024 “We respect Edu’s decision and thank him for his immense contribution and dedication to drive the club forward. Everyone at the club wishes him well. We are all so fond of him and the positive energy he brings to everything and everyone." “Change and evolution is a part of our club. We remain focused on our strategy and winning major trophies. Our succession plan will reflect this continued ambition.”
So it does seem pretty clear that Edu is being willingly poached for bigger job scope & salary. It must be all but a done deal for all these public statements to have been issued, but I heard today that it's not 100% done yet. I wonder what his contract status was with us, and whether we're entitled to remuneration for him leaving early? How does it work with SD positions like this? I also still wonder if he'll take any of his staff with him and if so whether that'll put us in a bind for the January window. I.e. if we don't have a replacement SD (plus staff?) ready to go. OTOH, if we do have a succession plan, then maybe we'd actually want him to leave ASAP so we can let the new folks get working for this impending window. Or more depressingly, if KSE has decided we won't be doing any business in January. I sure hope that's not true.
I don't recall there being any sort of administrative failures when Gazidis left. Not sure why you're so concerned about the minutiae of Edu's departure. I'm more interested in whether we do any business in January, not whether we are capable of operating the fax machine on deadline day because Edu took his interns with him.
I strongly doubt with or without Edu we were doing anything in January, and I would imagine the only business we do will be in the summer.
I suggested that above as a depressing possibility, that KSE is going to stand pat in January, but... I sure hope such KSE speculation is wrong and that we're about to be opportunistic! We surely could use something up top, if not midfield. Whether we can effectively integrate anyone new mid-season is another issue.
I know DiMarzio is iffy but he claims we are looking at Monaco's SD to replace Edu. Interesting that it's another Brazilian. L'@Arsenal pensa a Thiago #Scuro come erede di #Edu da direttore sportivo. Alla scoperta del Dg dell'@AS_Monaco con un passato nel gruppo #RedBull. #AFC ⤵️https://t.co/iAwLRPDyU3— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) November 13, 2024
Ornacle doesn't say we're looking at him, but I'd surprised if he wasn't under consideration. 🚨 EXCL: Real Sociedad director of football Roberto Olabe to exit role in June 2025. Led #RealSociedad rise + player trading/development (Isak, Odegaard, Merino, Zubimendi etc). No job agreed but viewed among best around so will be in demand @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/eOuYDjMz8E— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) November 13, 2024
I saw stuff about Olabe but no link to Arsenal. Think he would 100% make sense but would be mildly concerned that he isn't leaving until June. Can we wait? do we assume no moves in Jan? If we don't bring someone in until June, what does that do with our Summer business?
As mentioned in several of the pods I've listened to on this topic, anyone we'd want wouldn't be leaving until the end of the season unless we paid some sort of expensive buyout. Same reason Edu is currently on "gardening leave" as the English call it.
Exactly. And that's why I figure his mid-season decision will cause some kind of disruption for our transfer business. I also figure there's gonna be a somewhat interesting backstory to why this went down in this manner and at this time... if that ends up coming out.
The initial press briefings out said Arsenal were willing to wait until the end of the season to sign the right DOF.
Also from what I've read/heard, potential January strategy/targets will have been discussed several months ago. As for the summer, Arteta, Garlick, Lewis, and Ayto are in L.A. right now (as they did this time last year) to discuss end of season strategy/targets. So I'd guess Edu's absence might have more impact there. Hopefully, Ayto and Garlick can pick up the slack until the new hire steps in. As for the timing, my guess is it happened now so that Edu's six-month non-compete (aka gardening leave) will end in May so he can hit the ground running for Marinakis's group then.
I think it depends on Ode if I am honest. If he has another injury we will find an attacking mid who can play L8 and R8 to fill in both sides.
🚨 JUST IN from @SamiMokbel81_DM:Bayer Leverkusen’s managing director of sport Simon Rolfes is among the early names on Arsenal’s radar as they begin the process of replacing Edu Gaspar. 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/HFeSVS7G9H— Eduardo Hagn (@EduardoHagn) November 14, 2024
https://www.noticiasdegipuzkoa.eus/reala/2024/11/14/olabe-fecha-8932195.html Article says that Olabe is leaving Sociedad to "take a break" but that he views a potential Arsenal proposal very favorably. Supposedly the same reporter that accurately provided intel on potentially Zubi & Merino potential transfers this past summer.
FWIW TBR claims we are pursuing..... Luis Campos (PSG) Simon Rolfes (Leverkusen) Roberto Olabe (Sociedad) Per Mertersacker (Academy Manager) Tomas Rosicky (Sparta Prague) Jason Ayto (Interim Sporting Direction)
Interesting that Per is mentioned. Because shortly after the news broke I thought of him in terms of (a) short-term filling for some of Edu's tasks, and (b) long-term permanent option as SD, though I figure it's a bit early for Per in this regard. Assuming that they keep the SD scope the same as it was for Edu, which probably is not necessarily a safe assumption.
I'm not opposed to propping up Arsenal greats but part of me would prefer an outside hire until those guys have proven themselves elsewhere. So, if that is the list..... I would prefer one of the first 3.