July 10 – Edu Gaspar has returned to Arsenal to become the club’s new technical director. The Brazilian held a similar role with the Selecao, which won a ninth Copa America last Sunday on home soil.
The Brazilian flew in from Rio de Janeiro and immediately joined Arsenal on their tour to the United States. Edu will be responsible for coordinating the first-team coaching group, the academy and scouting and recruitment.
“His arrival is the final and very important part of the jigsaw in our development of a new football infrastructure to take us forward,” said Arsenal’s head of football Raul Sanllehi. “He will be working closely with Unai Emery and the first-team coaches and will play a relevant role leading our football vision and ensuring we have – and follow – a solid philosophy through all our football activities.”
Arsenal had been keen on appointing a new technical director for a while. Head of recruitment Sven Mislat has left the club and Monchi returned to his old club Sevilla. Edu played for Arsenal between 2001 and 2005 and was a part of the Invincibles, the Arsenal team that went the entire 2003/04 season unbeaten.
At the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) Edu will be replaced as general coordinator by Juninho Paulista, who also has a past in English football with Middlesbrough.
Edu’s time with Brazil however has been perceived as a failure. His choice of Sochi as Brazil’s base camp during the World Cup proved to be too distant from other Russian venues and complicated the logistics of the team. He was also responsible for youth football, but both Brazil’s U-17 and U-20 teams failed to qualify for the World Cup in their respective age groups.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1730840638labto1730840638ofdlr1730840638owedi1730840638sni@f1730840638oni1730840638