Former Köln and Wolfsburg sporting director Jörg Schmadtke is rumoured to be in talks with Liverpool and could come out of retirement to take over as the new sporting director. Currently a consultant at Paris Saint-Germain, Schmadtke has a reputation for being a successful builder and identifying talented head coaches. However, he has also been known for his confrontational style and falling out with upper management and head coaches in the past. If appointed, Schmadtke will face a significant task in overseeing Liverpool‘s rebuild, especially since the club has already confirmed the departure of Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keïta, and James Milner. Klopp has also hinted that the rebuild will be painful, and Schmadtke’s expertise in identifying the necessary talent for rebuilding teams will be highly valued.
Schmadtke’s transfer policy and lack of experience at big clubs are two factors that Liverpool fans might consider when evaluating his potential appointment. The Victor Osimhen transfer situation at Wolfsburg was considered Schmadtke’s biggest failure, and he has not had experience handling large transfer fees or signing a true star player. However, Liverpool‘s scouting team, headed by Dave Fallows and Barry Hunter, will no doubt work closely with Schmadtke to identify the necessary talent to rebuild the squad.
Ultimately, Schmadtke’s potential appointment as Liverpool‘s sporting director represents an opportunity for Klopp to find an ally in overseeing the first significant rebuild of his career. Schmadtke’s experience and success in building teams from scratch makes him an excellent candidate for the job, and he has a proven track record of identifying talented head coaches. Whether Schmadtke can work effectively with Klopp and handle the pressure of rebuilding a top-tier team remains to be seen, but Liverpool fans should be excited about the prospect of Schmadtke’s appointment and what he could bring to the club.
