Edu Gaspar announced his resignation as Arsenal’s sporting director on Monday, expressing his intention to “pursue a different challenge.” The 46-year-old, who was part of the Arsenal team that last won the Premier League title in 2003/04, had been with the club since 2019, serving as its first technical director.
Edu was instrumental in bringing Mikel Arteta to the club as manager, and reports indicate he may be moving toward a role with Greek businessman Evangelos Marinakis, owner of Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos.
In a statement on Arsenal’s website, Edu shared his emotional decision: “This was an incredibly hard decision to make,” he said. “I’ve loved working with so many great colleagues across our men’s, women’s, and academy teams, especially Mikel, who has become a great friend.
Now it is time to pursue a different challenge. Arsenal will always remain in my heart. I wish the club and its supporters only good things and all the very best.” After returning to London five years ago, Edu brought experience from his roles as sporting director at Corinthians and with the Brazilian national team.
During his tenure at Arsenal, he oversaw the departure of aging stars like Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, helping usher in a younger, more dynamic squad under Arteta’s guidance.
Despite the squad’s promising development, Arsenal has yet to claim major silverware, with their last trophy being the 2020 FA Cup. Nevertheless, the team has consistently finished as runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League over the past two seasons.