LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Liverpool have officially confirmed Jorg Schmadtke as their new sporting director ahead of summer transfer in order to rebuild.
The 59-year-old German will succeed Julian Ward, who is leaving the club after 11 years in a variety of capacities.
Prior to his retirement in January, Schmadtke was managing director of sport at Bundesliga team Wolfsburg. He has held comparable posts in the past at Alemannia Aachen, Hannover 96, and FC Koln.
President of the Fenway Sports Group Mike Gordon welcomed Schmadtke to the team and thanked Ward for his contributions over the last ten years.
“Firstly, I would like to welcome Jorg to Liverpool Football Club in the knowledge that he will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience into a role in which such qualities can only be beneficial both to him and us,” said Gordon.
“Jorg will work with our football operations department as it continues to provide support for Jürgen Klopp, in keeping with our ongoing endeavour to keep growing and developing the club in all areas.
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“At the same time as we welcome Jorg, we must also bid a fond farewell to Julian Ward, who has served us with unstinting diligence, fortitude and energy in a number of roles, the most recent one being sporting director.
“We wish Julian and his young family the very best for the future and thank him for everything he has done for Liverpool FC during the past 11 years.”
Schmadtke will initially enter into a short-term agreement that will be extended if everyone is happy with it. Prior to the opening of the transfer market, which starts on June 14, Liverpool was anxious to have their new player in place to ease the transition.
With Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister at the top of the Reds’ list of targets, work on Liverpool’s possible summer additions is already well under way.
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Jurgen Klopp is eager to make changes to his squad following a dismal season, and after meeting with Schmadtke on Merseyside last week, there is optimism that the club can recruit at least three important first-team players in this window.
Mason Mount of Chelsea, Matheus Nunes of Wolves, and Ryan Gravenberch of Bayern Munich have also been closely linked.