Michael Edwards has left his position as Fenway Sports Group’s chief executive of football, bringing his second spell with Liverpool’s ownership group to an end.
The former Reds sporting director has completed his notice period after deciding to step down, despite still having 12 months remaining on the contract he signed when he returned in 2024.
Edwards, according to The Athletic, notified FSG’s senior leadership of his decision last autumn.
Rather than appointing a replacement, the ownership group are expected to hand responsibility for their football operations back to president Mike Gordon.
His return to Anfield came shortly after Jurgen Klopp announced his departure, with Edwards taking on the newly-created CEO of football role.
A major factor behind his decision to come back was FSG’s ambition to establish a multi-club model, having been promised the opportunity to oversee the expansion of the company’s football portfolio.
Those plans, however, never came to fruition.
Michael Edwards has left his position as Fenway Sports Group’s chief executive of football, bringing his second spell with Liverpool’s ownership group to an end
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Edwards led an extensive search that assessed around 25 clubs across Europe, with Spain, Portugal and France identified as key markets.
But none of the proposals secured approval from the FSG board, with plans to purchase a second club eventually put on hold.
He originally joined Liverpool from Tottenham Hotspur in November 2011 as head of performance analysis before rising through the ranks to become director of technical performance, technical director and, eventually, sporting director in 2016.
Liverpool’s Premier League record over the years
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Edwards played a pivotal role in building one of the most successful squads in Liverpool’s modern history alongside Klopp.
During that period, the Reds lifted the Champions League in 2019 before ending their 30-year wait for a league title by winning the Premier League the following season.
He stepped down as sporting director in 2022 and spent time away from the game, rejecting numerous approaches from clubs across Europe, including reported offers from Manchester United and Chelsea.
Instead, Edwards partnered with former Liverpool director of research Ian Graham to launch the sports analytics consultancy Ludonautics.
FSG convinced him to return two years later to oversee the club’s transition following Klopp’s exit.
Michael Edwards has worked wonders across his two spells at Liverpool
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During his second spell, Edwards appointed Richard Hughes as Liverpool’s sporting director and brought Julian Ward back into the fold as FSG technical director.
Further changes behind the scenes are expected before the end of the year, with Hughes widely anticipated to depart after the summer transfer window to take up a role with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.
Liverpool are currently preparing for the start of a new era under Andoni Iraola.
The Reds axed Arne Slot last month, with the Dutchman departing just 12 months after guiding the club to the title.
