After reports emerged that the Sporting Director of title-chasing Arsenal, Edu Gaspar, was to resign from his post at the North London giants, it was immediately revealed that Evangelos Marinakis wished to bring him into his growing football empire, with some citing the idea of him beckoning a “CEO” of such a group, which consists of Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos & Rio Ave.
Last week, David Ornstein – top transfer journalist of the Athletic – detailed that Edu’s reasoning for resignation was due to the enticing opportunity to become a Global leader in football operations in some respect, with Mr Marinakis’ offer being a lucrative one, albeit the key details largely unknown.
Who is Edu?
He is a name that has been thrown about a lot in football over the last few years; since becoming Arsenal’s first-ever Sporting Director (SD) in 2022, he has been praised with changing the culture at Arsenal, and creating an environment that has created on-the-pitch success as well as off of it, most notably recent close title challenges against the ever-successful Manchester City. He [Edu] was previously Technical Director (TD) at the club, a role for which responsibilities vary from club to club, however typically involves Player management (Transfers negotiations, manager appointments, etc), Club Development (Culture, playing style, etc) & Scouting (forming new scouting networks & methods of scouting), however it is not limited to just this, but as before mentioned it does vary for every club.
Previous to this though, Edu Gaspar played professionally in football, starting in Brazil at Corinthians – the former club of current Reds Murillo & Carlos Miguel – for which he begun his professional career in 1998 aged 20. Within just a couple of years, the Midfielder earned himself a move to Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, but it didn’t come without some controversy. The move was initially planned for the year 2000, but it was found that the Brazilian had a fake Portuguese passport, however – and thankfully for Edu – Italian descent on his fathers side meant he could apply for an EU passport. In 2001, he then signed for the Gunners in a deal worth £6m. At the club, he won 2x Premier League titles, 3x FA Cups and a Community Shield, making 79 appearances.
Gaspar’s international career consisted of 15 caps, winning the Copa America too in 2004.
Edu would later move South to Spain, where he played for Valencia, winning the Copa Del Rey in 2007-08 season under Ronald Koeman. It was the clubs first Copa Del Rey title since 1999, delivered by the manager – a former Barcelona defender.
After a stint in Spain, Edu moved home to São Paulo in Brazil, once again signing with former club Corinthians, the club where he’d end his career in 2010. Soon after, he embedded himself in the world of football operations. Perhaps a “typical midfielder”: intelligent, and bound for a higher-up role outside of football because of this. That was to become Sporting Director of Corinthians, a new chapter for which would mark a huge new path in his career, and lay the foundations for the principles that have took him so far.
Life after his playing-career
Since leaving the game, it could be said that Edu Gaspar has become more of a household name. Before his time at Arsenal, Edu – as mentioned before – was SD at Corinthians, before stints with the Iranian & Brazilian national teams, with Selecão he was the “general co-ordinator” between 2016 & 2019.
Arsenal soon came knocking, an opportunity to take forward a club he shared much love for, and perhaps one he felt he had unfinished business at. His influence would become huge.
Edu oversaw arguably the most important decision since the departure of Arsene Wenger: appointing a new coach. Unai Emery was dismissed in 2019, with Mikel Arteta – former fan-favourite turned Man City assistant – the front runner for the job. The Spaniard was appointed that Christmas, and so far, has been perhaps the biggest gift Edu offered Arsenal. While the title hasn’t been delivered, or many trophies for that matter, Arteta has established Arsenal as title-contenders, and that came much because of Edu, his vision, and his plan. So began the transformation.
The begging of the Arteta era was, well, tough. A team that lacked the quality & discipline to succeed, eventually Arteta would iron that out, making some big calls – one of the most notable being the decision to banish Pierre-Emrick Aubameyang from the team for disciplinary issues. Arteta had his own vision, in line with Edu, and both worked hard together to make it work, and realise it.
Eventually Arsenal’s title hopes returned. Pep Guardiola’s grasp over English football continued though, Arsenal came close a couple of times, and recruitment during Edu’s tenure spearheaded that. The likes of Odegaard, Havertz, Trossard, Martinelli, White, Rice, the list goes on…all signings under Edu – all players who transformed Arsenal into the club we know, and see on the tele each week now.
After much progress with the Gunners, Edu called it time on his tenure at the Emirates, and decided to resign, following a reported attempt by Evangelos Marinakis to recruit him to head up his football group, which consists of Olympiacos, Nottingham Forest & Rio Ave – with more coming. The opportunity turned the Brazilians head, with his future – although largely likely he’ll join Forest – waiting on an official announcement.
What could he offer Evangelos Marinakis, and the clubs within his football network?
First of all, it must be said, as nothing is perfect, that Edu’s time at Arsenal came with many flaws, especially in recruitment. While he should be lauded for the money spent on the aforementioned stars, Edu was also partly-responsible for signing many players that would never really make it at Arsenal. The likes of Nicolas Pepe (£72m), Nuno Tavares, Marquinhos, etc – players who cost Arsenal large sums, but brought almost no return.
There were some big misses, but also huge hits – in many aspects, its up to you to decide your on view on Arsenal’s recruitment under Edu. While the number of players who failed to succeed is likely larger than the ones that did, I’d say that’s quite a typical aspect of recruitment, and that the hits far outweigh the misses in terms of quality & impact. Plus, Edu was bound to face more scrutiny, as the millions of Arsenal fans who saw success under Wenger demand a return to the “glory days” – modern football demands a club have staff such as Edu and demands that said staff stabilise the ship, perhaps bringing success. One thing I don’t think can be argued, and is object, is that Edu certainly brought stability to Arsenal in a turbulent period, and with greater authority for him within the club came greater progress – his relationship with Arteta was absolutely crucial to that.
Does Marinakis’ football group need stabilising? I don’t think so. But Multi-club models demand another component: organisation. Ensuring every team strives for/achieves relevant success is important. The last thing the model needs is a club that is used simply as an experiment, so to speak, left in the shadows, one big concern about the model. You have to find balance, and I think that is the reason that the Greek shipping magnate wants Edu so much. He brings a wealth of experience, overseeing one of the biggest football clubs & brands in the world, with a global reach. Marinakis wants to own a group with that influence, and he wants a network of clubs that collaborates, develops and ultimately succeeds – it is his greater goal.
What is next on Marinakis’ objectives, do we think? I’d probably say:
- Expansion
- Organisation
- Trophies
Expansion in particular is important to Mr Marinakis. Alongside reported interest in Cypriot football team APOEL – a team founded by Greeks – Marinakis is reportedly looking further ashore, with Brazilian side Vasco da Gama of interest. Italian side Monza may also be of interest, but there is less on this than the Brazilian side mentioned, for which produced names such as Coutinho & more recently Andrey Santos. It is one of the biggest clubs in Rio Di Janeiro, with a huge pool of talent, for which Evangelos Marinakis wants to “tap in to” – of course, with multi-club models comes opportunity for development at various different steps in the football pyramid.
Some reports stated that Edu wanted more authority at Arsenal, perhaps a CEO-type role, but it wasn’t available, something that opened up a divide. This opportunity under Marinakis is a huge step up in the authority given to him – not only will Edu likely be tasked with expansion & general success of the group, but attempting to create one of the strongest multi-club models currently around, in an ever-changing and certainly competitive landscape.
The vast span of control the Brazilian would likely have is astonishing, and the ability to have lured him away from Arsenal is proof of Evangelos Marinakis’ ambitions. The is a huge step for his football group, and all that is really needed now is an announcement.
Edu’s vision for club operations & long-term goals makes him a key asset. Yes, Arsenal didn’t really get the silverware the fans desired under Edu, but the influence and impact he had is/will be long-lasting. He’s left the club in a good place. I would argue that Marinakis’ group of football clubs is a position for which suits him better, not just because of his desire for more authority within a footballing ecosystem, but given his outlook to develop a club from being in a “decent position” to greatness.
*Article provided by Jamie Martin (Head Nottingham Forest Correspondent).
*Main image @Arsenal Edu Gaspar would bring experience to the Marinakis franchise.
