EDU has swapped a Premier League penthouse for a multi-club madhouse.
As Arsenal welcome Nottingham Forest this weekend, the Gunners are still trying to pick up the pieces from the shock departure of their Sporting Director for an expanded role under City Ground owner Evangelos Marinakis.
It has come at a time when the title-chasing North Londoners are at their most stable, consistent and successful on and off the pitch since the glory days of Edu’s own Invincibles side under Arsene Wenger.
A dream job, some would argue.
In comparison, Forest have been leaving a trail of undesirable box office drama behind them for many years now, from VAR squabbles to cigar-spitting accusations, under their eccentric owner Marinakis who is eyeing world domination via his Manchester City-inspired multi-club model.
So, why would Edu risk tainting an impressive dossier of work at Arsenal for an unspecified triple-your-money role with Grecian grouch Marinakis – a man currently at the centre of a blackmail conspiracy in his home country?
The simple answer is: power. Edu is an ambitious Brazilian who quietly eyed a bigger role at the Emirates, and discretely looked elsewhere when it was clear that was unlikely.
Despite several Brazil stars currently in Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta’s squad, Edu’s expertise and knowledge of the country and English football was not solely relied upon with Arteta having a large say in all recruitment dealings.
Under Marinakis, however, he is expected to have greater say as a powerful and extremely well-paid executive over the general running of an empire which so far consists of Forest, Olympiacos and Portuguese side Rio Ave.
Marinakis has also eyed up Serie A’s Monza and is reportedly in talks to add Rio de Janieiro-based Vasco da Gama to his growing portfolio.
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
The latter is believed to have been with Edu in mind – a man who has great connections in Brazil from his time as a director of football at Corinthians and general coordinator of the national team before joining Arsenal in July 2019.
But Edu will also be aware that Marinakis is prone to pulling the trigger if expectations are not met.
Edu Gaspar has today resigned from his position as our Sporting Director.
Edu, our former player and Invincible, re-joined us in the role of Technical Director in July 2019. He progressed through the club and was promoted to Sporting Director in November 2022, where he oversaw men’s, women’s and academy football.
We thank Edu for the part he has played in our renewed football strategy and driving the club forward with the values of Arsenal in his heart.
Edu said: “This was an incredibly hard decision to make.
“Arsenal has given me the opportunity to work with so many amazing people and the chance to be a part of something so special in the club’s history. It has been a special journey and I thank Stan, Josh, Tim and Lord Harris for the support they’ve given me.
“I’ve loved working with so many great colleagues across our men’s, women’s and academy teams, especially Mikel, who has become a great friend.
“Now it is time to pursue a different challenge. Arsenal will always remain in my heart. I wish the club and its supporters only good things and all the very best.”
Our Co-Chair, Josh Kroenke, added: “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.”
Marinakis’ erratic trial and error process for this role began with Spaniard Antonio Cordon in June 2023 after his past success with Villarreal and Real Betis.
Cordon was initially the Olympiacos Sporting Director before Marinakis promoted him to also cover Forest and Rio Ave six months later. Cordon left the role in July 2024.
In the middle of all this, Portuguese Sporting Director Pedro Alves was given the Olympiacos gig in December 2023, but lasted just two months.
One of Edu’s great strengths is his ability to control communications from top to bottom, something Arsenal chiefs are understood to be aware of replacing sooner rather than later.
But Edu knows he will be dealing with quite the character in Marinakis, one who has been known to smash TVs in director’s boxes in anger at the City Ground, and played his part in the club being fined £750k last term for green-lighting a tweet that accused referee Stuart Atwell of bias.
EDU oversaw the arrival of 35 players during his time at the club.
Some worked out better than others.
Here, SunSport ranks them from worst to best…
35. Nicolas Pepe (£72m)
34. Willian (Free)
33. David Luiz (£8m)
32. Runar Alex Runarsson (£2m)
31. Mat Ryan (Loan)
30. Fabio Vieira (£34m)
29. Neto (Loan)
28. Marquinhos (£3m)
27. Nuno Tavares (£8m)
26. Matt Turner (£5m)
25. Cedric Soares (Free)
24. Albert Sambi Lokonga (£17m)
23. Pablo Mari (£5m)
22. Dani Ceballos (Loan)
21. Raheem Sterling (Loan)
20. Jakub Kiwior (£17m)
19. Jorginho (£12m)
18. Riccardo Calafiori (£42m)
17. Kieran Tierney (£25m)
16. Takehiro Tomiyasu (£20m)
15. Mikel Merino (£28m)
14. Aaron Ramsdale (£24m)
13. Oleksandr Zinchenko (£30m)
12. Gabriel Jesus (£45m)
11. Kai Havertz (£65m)
10. Jurrien Timber (£38m)
9. Gabriel Martinelli (£6m)
8. David Raya (£27m)
7. Leandro Trossard (£20m)
6. Thomas Partey (£45m)
5. Ben White (£50m)
4. Gabriel Magalhaes (£27m)
3. Declan Rice (£105m)
2. William Saliba (£27m)
1. Martin Odegaard (£30m)
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He then was hit with a five-game ban last month for spitting at the feet of an official, his defence being that it is due to smoking two to three cigars a day.
And this week, Olympiacos were forced to come out in defence of Marinakis and board members, claiming they were being “blackmailed” with allegations of financing “sports violence”.
The influence of the City Football Group on Marinakis cannot be understated.
Under Abu Dhabi United Group owner Sheikh Mansour, a 13-strong collection of teams across five continents includes City, Melbourne City, New York City, Mumbai City, Girona and Shenzhen Peng City.
This is Marinakis’ blueprint, one that is expected to be overseen and run by Edu – an opportunity of global expansion that was not seen as a priority at Arsenal.
But for every City Group, there is Chelsea’s topsy-turvy and messy growth under Todd Boehly’s own multi-club vision, one that feels constantly on the verge of a crisis.
On his six-month gardening leave before beginning his Marinakis adventure, Edu will watch Arsenal vs Forest from home this weekend.
A penny for his thoughts, whatever the score.
By Jack Rosser
EDU GASPAR has been on a mission to ‘Make Arsenal Great Again’ ever since returning to the club he played for 2019.
After a few wobbles early on – signing Nicolas Pepe will never reflect well – the Brazilian has, alongside Mikel Arteta, been crucial in the club’s transformation.
Arteta was brought in as the new manager within months of Edu’s return to North London and the former midfielder stuck by the boss when the pressure was on two years into the job.
Instead of making the knee-jerk decision to change manager again, the former Brazil international, joined forces with Arteta to institute a huge change of culture at The Emirates.
Overpaid toxic influences such as Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were purged from the dressing room and Arsenal set about adding strong characters.
Edu finally got the club competing in the transfer market again, with Martin Odegaard an outstanding capture for the club. In landing Declan Rice ahead of Manchester City last year Arsenal showed they couple compete for and sign some of Europe’s biggest talents once more.
Arsenal have become one of the most attractive clubs in the Premier League and one of the most efficient in the market.
While there have been big deals for the likes of Rice and Calafiori, there have been smart ones too – picking out value where others have lost hope.
Kai Havertz appeared as a surprising signing after a dreadful season at Chelsea. But after Edu gave the German space and support to rebuild his confidence he has developed into a fine asset for Arteta.
Edu does not only have a tight relationship with Arteta – who many fans will be glad signed a new deal before the sporting director’s departure – but the players too, always ready and waiting to check in, keep them going.
London Colney and The Emirates will feel a very different place for all of them without Edu.
