Jorg Schmadtke has been confirmed to be taking over as Liverpool's new sporting director, with his arrival having been formally announced on Tuesday.
The 59-year-old had been in a similar role with Bundesliga club Wolfsburg until this February, with his arrival coming following the departure of Julian Ward from Anfield. He will now be charged with overseeing a summer overhaul, with midfield reinforcements expected to be the priority.
His expected arrival had been reported in recent weeks, but was only announced on Tuesday with his appointment confirmed in a statement. The role is believed to be initially on a short-term basis, with a view towards a long-term appointment.
The German has expressed also how his role will be that of executing Jurgen Klopp's wishes, with their working relationship expected to be assessed throughout the course of the summer, starting with his arrival on June 1st.
Speaking about his new role, Schmadtke told Sport1 : “The input of the coach in transfers is greater in England than in Germany, where a sports board or a sports director holds everything in one hand. Klopp sets the priorities,”
“We then work with data analysts and scouts, he will then choose from a list of players who he’d like to work with. After that, I will approach the targets and clubs. And in the end, the owners must also be satisfied with the investments.
“I’ll start on 1 June. If we like each other, the cooperation can go beyond the transfer window. Let’s see. Then we will continue this or not.”
A goalkeeper in his playing days, Schmadtke arrives with a strong reputation for his positive work during spells in the Bundesliga with Hannover 96, Koln and Wolfsburg. He and Klopp have crossed paths, with their playing careers and roles off the pitch both providing a platform for a strong relationship.
He faces a challenge, with Liverpool competing outside of the Champions League for the first time since 2016/17, meaning that securing big name targets will be harder than previous seasons. In recent weeks, their targets for the summer have shifted, with the signing of Manuel Ugarte believed to be prioritised as interest in Jude Bellingham fades.
The role of sporting director has become increasingly prominent in modern football, with Liverpool's appointment of Schmadtke drawing plenty of interest. The importance of the role has been highlighted this season, with majority shareholder Todd Boehly having taken the role at Chelsea during a chaotic season at Stamford Bridge.
Traditionally, a role such as the one which Schmadtke will take would provide a link between the head coach and club ownership, with his details of his role being outlined by the club in a statement as his arrival was announce on Tuesday.
The statement read: "Jorg will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience into a role in which such qualities can only be beneficial both to him and us,"
"Jorg will work with our football operations department as it continues to provide support for [manager] Jurgen Klopp, in keeping with our ongoing endeavour to keep growing and developing the club in all areas."
