Not only does Liverpool need to replace Jurgen Klopp, but they are also searching for a new permanent sporting director.
After Wolfsburg transfer chief and former goalkeeper Jorg Schmadtke was enticed to step down from his position at the end of the 2022–2023 season due to Julian Ward’s unexpected decision to step down, Schmadtke took an interim position in the post.
The 59-year-old, who identified himself as Klopp’s “assistant,” signed a brief contract.
Due to the midfield rebuild, Liverpool was able to get three players from his home country into the first team: Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch. This was made possible by the German’s connections in the Bundesliga during the summer.
Who would you like to see appointed as the next Liverpool sporting director?
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) February 14, 2024
Schmadtke, on the other hand, was reported to be leaving after the January transfer window, coinciding with Klopp’s shocking announcement that he would be leaving at the end of the season.
The Reds do not currently have a transfer chief, and it has been suggested that the team will try to fill the position before dealing with Klopp’s replacement.
In contemporary football, the sporting director plays a key part in a team’s performance, maybe even more so than the manager. In addition to overseeing recruitment and squad planning, the sporting director helps establish the team’s philosophy.
There has been a great deal of discussion and conjecture about who would succeed.
Michael Edwards, the beloved former sporting director of Anfield, has already been eliminated, and a number of other names are reportedly in the running.
