Ex-Arsenal chief Edu lands new role at League Two side after move fails to work out

· Mirror

Edu's stint at Nottingham Forest ended prematurely with the ex-Arsenal chief now taking on a surprise advisory role at Northampton, who are second bottom of the Football League

Former Arsenal sporting director Edu has landed himself a new role with Northampton Town, who are sitting 23rd in League Two.

The Brazilian was crucial in beginning the recent rise of the Gunners during his time at the Emirates, choosing to hire Mikel Arteta and then backing the Spaniard in the market. However he left north London to join Evangelos Marinakis‘ group of clubs, including Nottingham Forest, last year.

That move has not worked out for Edu, who cited a desire to work in a multi-club model, and he was quickly moved on from the City Ground.

He's since become a member of the board of directors at Bulgarian side Levski Sofia and will now combine that with becoming a senior advisor to Northampton - a role that was confirmed by the club's co-chair Joao Xavier.

The Cobblers have recently been taken over by a Brazilian consortium including former Chelsea and AC Milan star Alexandre Pato. Xavier said an open forum on Thursday:

> “We are very proud to have Alex [Pato] with us and Edu with us too. We became friends as he had a role at Nottingham Forest and I asked him to help me learn more about English football.”

> “Edu is a senior advisor for one of our partners, acting as an advisor for Levski Sofia and also here, helping us navigate the sporting questions here at the club, not day to day, just when we ask him and when we need him.”

Edu's decision to quit Arsenal came as a surprise to the club, who had become serial challengers for honours towards the end of his tenure. He presided over several landmark deals, including the club-record signing of Declan Rice from West Ham.

Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber were also signed under his watch as Arsenal morphed into one of the best teams in Europe. Their upward trajectory has continued despite his departure.

Now he faces new challenges, with clubs of a far lesser stature than Arsenal. It may only be early in the season but Northampton face the prospect of relegation to the National League. The club have jumped between the third and fourth tiers of the pyramid for years but haven't been a non-league outfit for more than a century.

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