Edu, the Brazilian, has joined Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia as one of five new board members just one week after stepping down as global football director at Nottingham Forest, according to The Athletic.

Edu's contract at Nottingham Forest was terminated last week, a development first reported by The Athletic.

In March, The Athletic was first to report Edu's impending departure – the former Arsenal sporting director had not attended any of the team's matches in person since February.

Edu, 48, joined Nottingham Forest in July 2023 after five years at Arsenal. During his time at the Gunners, he served first as the club's inaugural technical director and then as sporting director.

Edu's responsibilities at Nottingham Forest also extended to other clubs within owner Evangelos Marinakis's football portfolio, namely Greek club Olympiacos and Portuguese club Rio Ave.

Levski Sofia won the Bulgarian title last season, ending their domestic rival Ludogorets' record streak of 14 consecutive championships.

On Monday, Levski Sofia appointed a new five-member board, including Edu. The club stated: "His experience in sports strategy, scouting, talent development and organisational structure will be a significant asset on the club's path to building a sustainable and competitive football operation."

The Sofia-based club did not specify Edu's exact role but added that the newly formed board would elect a chairman and executive directors at its next meeting.

Edu's departure from Nottingham Forest was no surprise.

Analysis by Paul Taylor, Nottingham Forest correspondent

Edu had not been seen at the City Ground since early this year. His last in-person attendance at a Nottingham Forest home match was in February, when the team faced Liverpool. In fact, he has barely worked for the club since spring.

In that sense, the official confirmation of his departure was merely a formality. Regarding the formal end of his brief tenure as global football director, the question was never "if it would happen" but "when it would happen".

Edu's appointment to oversee recruitment, performance, squad strategy and player development was meant to demonstrate the club's ambition.

Edu had built an impressive reputation through his work at Arsenal, and Nottingham Forest believed that this appointment would take the club to the next level, particularly as they had qualified for the Europa League and were preparing for their return to European competition.

However, this appointment did not work out as expected for either party. Edu was not involved in the decision to appoint Glasner as head coach in July, and Nottingham Forest now hopes to usher in a positive new era under the Austrian.

The club does not plan to find a replacement for the Brazilian, whose role across Marinakis's three football clubs was essentially tailor-made for him.

Übersetzt von KI.

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