Fenway Sports Group’s management team is well aware of the monumental task ahead. Owners John Henry, chairman Tom Werner and chairman Sam Kennedy are aware of the scale of the challenge and know the entire football world will be watching closely. In fact, many hope the Boston group makes the wrong decision. Of course, fans of the Premier League, including Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton, will say that Jurgen Klopp’s resignation as manager will be the catalyst for Liverpool’s downfall.
Over the past eight years, Klopp has taken Liverpool from being a perennial underdog to bringing them back into Europe’s elite. A sixth European Cup, two runners-up medals, a first Premier League title and two runners-up finishes. The FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup are also included in the Anfield Cup basket.The effect of Klopp’s transformation is very low. But Liverpool were shocked by the German’s exit from the top flight at the end of the season.
This means an early search for his successor is underway. No one expects an identical replacement because there is none. Klopp is a player tailor-made for his managerial ability and charisma. But it is important that Liverpool appoint someone to ensure they do not miss out on top spot in the Premier League.Gordon manages FSG’s recruitment process. However, they also appointed a new member of the hierarchy to add experience in Theo Epstein.
The 50-year-old is set to return to FSG as a senior adviser and, according to The Athletic, his knowledge of what it takes to run a top sports team will be highly valued as FSG look to fill a key post at Anfield . Jörg Schmadtk still needs a sports consultant after his departure. Epstein’s background is baseball, but his reputation couldn’t be stronger. He was behind the success of FSG (then New England Sports Ventures), which acquired the Boston Red Sox in 2002.
Henry wanted to hire Billy Beane, whose “Moneyball” story featured Brad Pitt on screen as the general manager of the Oakland Athletics, to end the Red Sox’s wait for a World Series title. Kong refused. However, instead of hiring another, more experienced cameraman, Epstein was not promoted to the role until he was 28 years old.The first season ended with the Red Sox losing to the New York Yankees in the playoffs. But in 2004, he helped break the curse of the Bambino when the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years.
Three years later, a second piece of silver was won. But Epstein didn’t just thrive in Boston. After moving to the Chicago Cubs as President of Baseball Operations, the longer wait for an MLB title was over. In 2016, the Cubs broke the “goat curse” by winning their first World Series in 108 years. As a result, Epstein topped Fortune magazine’s 2017 list of the world’s greatest leaders, ahead of Pope Francis and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Time magazine named him one of the world’s 100 most influential people.
After working as an MLB consultant, he joined private equity firm Arctos Sports Partners, a minority stake in FSG, before returning to Henry & Co.According to The Athletic, Epstein followed Liverpool closely, was a fan of the Premier League and still played soccer on weekends near his home in Connecticut. If Epstein is really after the Reds, there’s no need to report problems asking him for wisdom.
