Veteran German executive Jorg Schmadtke has emerged as a surprise front-runner to become Liverpool's next sporting director.
The Reds have been on the hunt for someone to fill the role with Julian Ward leaving the club at the end of next month having spent only 12 months in the position as successor to Michael Edwards.
A number of names have been considered, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp taking a key role in the process alongside chief executive Billy Hogan and Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon.
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And it has emerged 59-year-old Schmadtke is now the clear favourite, with a report in the Telegraph suggesting he is set to be appointed. The ECHO understands that while the German is in the frame for the job, nothing has yet been finalised.
Schmadtke, who was a goalkeeper for Fortuna Dusseldorf and Freiburg during the 1980s and 1990s, has extensive experience as an executive in Germany, having worked with Aachen, Hannover, Koln and most recent Wolfsburg as sporting director, where he remained for more than four years before leaving in February.
"There are other things in life that I want to do," Schmadtke said in an interview. "But it might be the case that, after three months, I can't take it anymore. Or even worse: my wife chases me out of the house again."
Schmadtke has long acquired a reputation in Germany for straight talking and a no-nonsense approach to the job. However, he said earlier this year: "A lot of things happen on the job. In the end, it's all about the job. I have no problems with anyone. There are even people who want to see me again and have a coffee or a beer with me. I'm not as big an ass as people might think."
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