Edu Gaspar has been elevated from his role as the Technical Director to the first-ever Sporting Director of England football club, Arsenal.
Edu Gaspar appointed Arsenal Sporting Director
The former Brazilian football player who was a member of the cub’s Invincibles won two Premier League Titles, two FA Cup Titles, and One FA Community Shield Title during his 4-year stint as a professional football player for the North London Club.
Arsenal on 9 July 2019, announced the appointment of Edu as the club’s first-ever technical director, with Raul Sanhelli, Arsenal’s director of football, happily saying:
“We’re very excited that Edu is joining the team. He has great experience and technical football knowledge and most importantly is a true Arsenal man. He understands the club and what we stand for to our millions of fans around the world”.
His responsibilities as the club’s technical director saw him oversee responsibilities across men’s and women’s football, where he was largely involved in the scouting and monitoring of players before he decides the best fit for the first-team squad. He also worked hand-in-hand with Mikel Arteta, the first team manager in the club’s transfer strategy and plans.
The new elevation will see Edu assume over-arching responsibility for all Academy activities.
Arsenal, in a statement on their official website, wrote:
“We are delighted to announce that Edu Gaspar has been appointed as Arsenal’s first-ever Sporting Director.
“Edu’s promotion sees him assume over-arching responsibility for all our Academy activities, in addition to his existing responsibilities across men’s and women’s football.
The club’s Chief Executive, while expressing his delight at Edu’s elevation said:
“We are delighted that Edu is recommitting his future to the Club that he so clearly loves, after making such a positive and critical contribution to our progress in his time with us so far.
“Edu’s promotion formalises his already growing influence over our Academy operations, and we look forward to Per and Edu working together to strengthen the integration between our men’s first-team and Academy yet further.
Elated Edu, while showing his gratitude for the new role wrote:
“I’m delighted to have this new role which I see as an evolution and consolidation of the way we’ve been working. We are making good progress in all areas of our men’s, women’s, and academy and we are all excited about what can be achieved”.
“I look forward to building on the hard work of so many people and helping all of us grow together and enjoy more success and I am thankful for the trust the club has put in me. We move forward together.”
Bifotad Media compiles Edu Gaspar’s football trajectory, as we state a few things about the Brazilian football honcho.
Edu César Daude Gaspar was born 16th of May 1978 in São Paulo, the most populous city in Brazil. He is a central midfielder who can also play as an attacking midfielder.
Edu Gaspar at Corinthians
At 20 years, Edu began his professional football career in Série A where he won the 1998 and 1999 Brasileiro championships. He also won the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship at the Brazilian club.
Edu Gaspar at Arsenal
He was primed to join Arsenal in the year 2000 but he was enmeshed in a fake passport controversy which stalled the switch.
His transfer to Arsenal was therefore suspended after it was discovered that he had a fake Portuguese passport, but a few months later, he became eligible for a European Union (EU) passport, as a result of his paternal Italian lineage.
He finally signed for Arsenal on 16 January 2001 for £6 million, with his debut coming that same year in a game against Leicester City.
His first game for the gunners’ can be said to be a bitter-sweet experience as the match which ended in a goalless draw was tarnished by an injury he sustained after just 15 minutes of the match when he replaced Freddie Ljungberg at halftime. He was later substituted and replaced by Dennis Bergkamp minutes later.
He went on to later establish himself as an integral part of the team, having 7 goals and 79 appearances in his 4-year spell as a central midfielder for Arsenal.
Edu and his representatives in May 2005 confirmed that he would be leaving Arsenal on a Bosman ruling free transfer, a European Court of Justice decision that deals with freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 now article 45 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union) of the Treaty of Rome.
Edu Gaspar at Valencia
After the competition for his signature soared by European clubs like Juventus, Valencia, Inter Milan, and Barcelona, Edu opted to pitch his tent with Valencia who won his signature on 30 May 2005 on a five-year deal.
His career at Valencia got to a slow start as he suffered a pre-season injury that ruled him out for close to a year.
Upon his return from injury, he made his first competitive debut for the club in April 2006 in Valencia’s 5-3 victory over Cardiz.
He left Valencia after his contract with the club was terminated through mutual consent on July 3, 2009.
Edu Gaspar Corinthians Reunion
After he became a free agent as a result of his contract termination with Valencia, he rejoined Corinthians on August 6, 2009, signing a 2-year, 4 months contract with the club.
Just like Valencia, his contract with Corinthians was terminated by mutual consent after making just four matches in the 2010 season.
In 2010, Edu Gaspar announced his retirement from professional football.
Post-Retirement Career:
After he retired as a football player in 2010, he went on to become the club director of football for the Brazilian football team, Corinthians on 17 March 2011, succeeding William Machado in the process.
Edu was on 9 July 2019 announced as Arsenal’s first-ever technical director and he held that role before today’s elevation.