Arsenal announced on Monday that sporting director Edu has resigned from his position at the club, and wider reports suggest he will take on a new role with teams controlled by Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.
That’s according to The Athletic, who say contracts are yet to be signed, but the 46-year-old is expected to start working for the Greek businessman as soon as he is released from Arsenal. Edu, a former player, represented the Gunners between 2001 and 2005, and was part of the famous ‘invincibles’ team in the 2003/04 season.
Edu retired from professional football in 2010 and took up a director of football role with Corinthians soon after. He then spent time coordinating the Brazil national team before he rejoined Arsenal as a technical director in 2019.
In 2022, he became the club’s first ever sporting director, and he has played a significant role in shaping both the men’s and women’s teams in recent years. Earlier this year, he revealed in an interview with Brazilian outlet Desimpedidos that he has weekly meetings with both the head coach of the women’s side, as well as the women’s own director of football, Clare Wheatley, and expressed the desire to see them compete for major honours.
Following Jonas Eidevall’s departure last month, it was revealed by the BBC that Edu was expected to play a key role in appointing the Swede’s successor, alongside Wheatley.
90min have ranked the top five Arsenal Women signings from Edu’s time as sporting director…