According to Football Insider, Jürgen Klopp wants to bring in his own sporting director as he looks to build a new Liverpool golden period to rival the one he memorably established with Michael Edwards
The Merseysiders have lost their second sporting director in as many seasons, with Julian Ward departing at the end of the season, only one year following Edwards.
Klopp is said to prefer to choose a replacement rather than be assigned one by Anfield’s owners, Fenway Sports Group.
If the club does not allow the German to have a say in the decision, it might have serious ramifications behind the scenes.
According to reliable sources, the decision is a test of FSG’s faith in Klopp as well as their flexibility in key club decisions.
One school of thinking holds that if the manager effectively selects his boss, he will be perceived as unduly strong by many.
Another view holds that after improving the club’s fortunes during his eight-year tenure, Klopp has earned the right to manage both up and down.
Klopp has had tremendous success as a manager working with sports directors for extended periods of time, most notably Edwards at Liverpool and Michael Zorc at Borussia Dortmund.
Liverpool has been connected with former Dortmund and Arsenal senior scout Sven Mislintat, although no conversations have taken place.
There is a sense that Klopp is looking for someone from Germany with whom he can collaborate, like he did with Zorc during the club’s two-title winning era.
Ward had succeeded Edwards after rising through the ranks at Anfield, and the club is now looking for their third sporting director in three years.
Since he quit so early in his employment, it was claimed to be a “shock” to the club’s hierarchy.
Many Liverpool fans were disappointed by the news last autumn, which came at a time when the club had become synonymous with stability in previous years.
Ward isn’t the only notable man at Anfield leaving; club research director Ian Graham has also resigned and will serve out his one-year notice term.
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