New Delhi: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been dealt with a huge blow after the club’s sporting director and former player, Edu Gaspar, handed in his resignation on Monday. The Brazilian had been occupying the role since 2022, when he became the club’s first ever sporting director, after he rejoined the Gunners in 2019 as their first ever Technical Director. The former midfielder was a huge ally for Arteta during his tenure.
Edu was working closely with Arteta and helped in snapping up the Spaniard’s main transfer targets while also getting rid of the players he felt were surplus. Even going by this summer’s transfer window, Arsenal snapped up both of their main transfer targets, Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino, with relative ease while the club also managed to move on some academy products who weren’t featuring in the manager’s plans.
Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Aaron Ramsdale and Mohamed Elneny all departed from the club for decent fees, all thanks to Edu’s good work. The Brazilian’s departure leaves some big boots behind to fill after his successful tenure and Arsenal would need to look hard to find a suitable replacement for him. Here’s a look at five potential options that could replace the 46-year-old at Arsenal.
5) Txiki Begiristain
Txiki Begiristain has worked with Mikel Arteta before. (Image via Wolfgang Usher Thutmose II’s X)
The man who helped transform Manchester City along with Pep Guardiola, has recently announced his decision to leave the Cityzens. While this isn’t a thought out prediction, but Begiristain joining Arsenal would be the best upgrade the Gunners can ask for at the Emirates stadium. He has a long standing connection with Pep so it doesn’t seem likely that he will leave City to join their title rivals but that’s exactly what Arsenal’s current manager did, so it’s not outside the realms of possibility.
With a wealth of experience that has seen him shape one of the most successful squads in Premier League history, Begiristain’s deep understanding of player development and strategic recruitment aligns well with Arsenal’s current ambitions. A move to Arsenal might seem and probably is highly unlikely but it would be one that makes a lot of sense for both the parties.
4) Ralf Rangnick
Ralf Rangnick, Head Coach of Austria, speaks to the media in a post match press conference after the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Netherlands and Austria (Photo by Tullio Puglia – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
The German is currently in charge of the Austrian National Team and is widely regarded as one of the best footballing minds in the world. He has been a huge influence for some of the best German managers and would bring a wealth of wisdom and experience to Arsenal, if he were to be appointed in this role. While his stint at Manchester United interim manager didn’t pan out well enough, he was brought into the club with a view to transition his role into a consulting one.
Had he not taken up the Austrian job, Rangnick would’ve overseen Manchester United’s recruitment and coaching as part of his role, something that sporting directors are expected to do. He has previously served as manager of sports and development at Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow and also served as head of sports and development for Red Bull, overseeing the development of all of Red Bull’s clubs.
3) Michael Zorc
Michael Zorc is another promising option for Arsenal to appoint. (Image via Borussia Dortmund’s ‘X’)
Borussia Dortmund are a club that are synonymous with buying exciting young players and turning them into world beaters. Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze, Marco Reus, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland and many more, all joined the club as highly rated youngsters and the club made them into superstars of the game. One man was behind all these moves, former Dortmund captain, Michael Zorc. A one club man, he joined the club as it’s sporting director once his playing days were behind him in 1998 and served in his role till 2022.
The 62-year-old hasn’t taken up any other role since leaving BVB but Arsenal should do everything in their power to convince the German to join the London-based club. While he has retired from the sport, Arsenal will relish another chance to try and get the German to the club once again, after failing to do so in 2017. Getting in someone with Zorc’s experience could be the best move towards replacing Edu at the club.
2) Arsene Wenger
Can Wenger return to Arsenal in a new role? (Image via Red-White Army’s ‘X’)
Arsene Wenger’s name may seem an unlikely choice for Arsenal’s sporting director role, but few understand the club like the legendary Frenchman. Wenger’s tenure saw him perform the functions of a sporting director while excelling in multiple areas of club management. Known for his keen eye in the transfer market, Wenger was instrumental in recruiting and developing talent, a skill Arsenal could benefit from as they aim to build a consistent title-challenging squad.
Although Wenger left under turbulent circumstances in 2018 and might hesitate to return at 75, his unparalleled knowledge of the club and long-standing commitment to the Arsenal ethos make him a uniquely qualified candidate. Wenger’s experience in balancing financial limitations with competitive demands, and his deep understanding of the club’s values, could make him the ideal person to bridge Arsenal’s historic foundations with their ambitious future. For Arsenal, bringing Wenger back could mean unlocking a wealth of invaluable insights.
1) Jason Ayto
Jason Ayto could be the one to replace Edu at the club. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
The most likely choice to be Edu Gaspar’s successor at the club seems to be assistant director Jason Ayto, according to The Telegraph. It is said that Mikel Arteta will play a huge role in determining who will replace Edu in his role and it seems that the club are motivated to have someone rise up the ranks of the club, rather than hiring someone from outside. While this could be a risky move for the club, considering Edu’s success, Ayto has worked closely with the Brazilian and has also been the club’s Chief Scout which could work in his favour.
It’s not yet sure whether Ayto will be given the job permanently or only for a short period, till the club can find a suitable, full-time successor for Edu. They might look at bringing in someone, who has experience in the role and can be a high-profile sporting director, to work alongside Ayto. The future regarding this position will be interesting but it seems like that the 39-year-old might be the one to replace Edu, even if on a short-term basis.
Former Arsenal player Edu Gaspar had been serving as the club’s sporting director for the past five seasons but handed in his resignation this past Monday, shocking everyone associated with the Gunners. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
