Liverpool Chairman: Edwards may be the biggest contributor to Fenway; will buy a second team

Hupu reported on November 20 that TheAthleticUK Liverpool and team reporter Pi Xijin wrote a new book - "Moving On: The Inside Story of Arne Slott's Coaching of Liverpool".

In the first-person excerpt from the book below, Liverpool chairman Tom Werner recalls the glorious moment when the team won the league championship trophy again after 35 years.

"For me, the strongest feeling is immense pride. You know better than me how difficult it is to win the Premier League. Although we won it once five years ago, because of the impact of the new crown epidemic, fans could not be in attendance, and the feeling of winning that championship was completely different from this one.

The relationship between Liverpool fans and the club is unique. It is unique in professional sports. This connection is very special. When Virgil (Van Dijk, captain) lifted the trophy, the fans sang and sang. Dance, you realize how important that moment was for them - it's an achievement they'll never forget

When everyone walks up to the Kop and sings "You'll Never Walk Alone" in unison, it's hard to believe. People will definitely get goosebumps."

The 75-year-old, who is the second largest individual shareholder of Liverpool's parent company Fenway Sports Group, took an open-top bus with the players and staff to participate in the four-hour trophy parade.

"I was privileged to witness the joy of millions of football fans. It's hard to fully express that feeling in words. When you see a boy and his grandfather excitedly pointing to head coach Arne Slaughter holding the Premier League trophy, you understand that, for all of them, It was a dream come true at that moment. "

I took Werner's mind back to November 2023, when head coach Jurgen Klopp first informed Fenway Sports Group that he would step down at the end of the season. At the time, everyone was definitely feeling uneasy about the future.

"First of all, Jurgen is an outstanding coach and an outstanding person. I feel very privileged to call him a friend.

When he told us he was leaving, my first reaction was: 'You are a great addition to Liverpool. Transformational manager, thank you for everything and we will respect your decision moving forward. 'The job never ends and for almost nine years you have to deal with a variety of people, from players to medical. The department, the physios, the recruitment staff, the academy, the media, the governing bodies and most importantly - the fans.

Looking back at that period, John Henry, Mike Gordon, Billy Hogan and I all saw this as an opportunity to find the right person... not to replace Klopp, but to find someone who could start a new chapter for Liverpool."

How important is it to usher in a new era with the return of former Liverpool sporting director Edwards as FSG's first football chief executive?

"You met Michael and you know he was talented and accomplished. His achievements were unparalleled. He played a key role in rebuilding the structure of the club, which not only included the appointment of Richard Hughes as sporting director, but also the establishment of the teams under his command, such as the scout team.

It is often said that success has thousands of fathers, and failure has no one to claim it. I think Michael is probably the biggest contributor to Liverpool's success.

Without his leadership, we wouldn't be where we are today. It was his leadership that led to the discovery of Richard and the discovery of many players who were crucial to our success."

Does he need some convincing from us? You can say yes, you can say no. He's very talented and I'm sure he's got offers from a lot of other clubs, but Liverpool is Liverpool.

The key for Michael is that we are committed to acquiring a second club. That's still our plan, but the timing has to be right. We looked at a lot of clubs but haven't found the right one yet. I believe it will eventually happen. "

Fenway trusted Edwards' judgment on the Hughes matter and the bosses have been impressed with the way the Scot has handled matters, particularly when it came to dealing with the contract renewal turmoil involving Salah, Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. "I'm delighted to say that Richard is a friend of mine. I appreciate his qualities as a friend, which is what makes him a good leader. He's friendly, thoughtful, and doesn't get overwhelmed by work. His previous experience as technical director at Bournemouth has been invaluable and the knowledge he displayed there has been of great benefit to me.

My impatience was offset by his patience. I often call him and ask him: 'Richard, how is Salah's contract going? '

He always replied: 'Tom, everything is going to be okay. ’

I think all agents who have dealt with him will say that he is very respectful in his work. He has a plan and he carries it out.

We are delighted that new contracts for Salah and Van Dijk have been finalized. But you know what? If Richard called and said: '(The difference in expectations between the two parties) is too big,' I would respect his decision.

John, Mike, and I work hard to find people who are outstanding in their fields and then let them do their jobs. We don't intervene, we just provide support and advice from our perspective. There is a lot of trust between us. I can't say enough good things about Richard. "