Michael Edwards' multi-million-pound Liverpool salary similar to 'top coach'

Michael Edwards return to Liverpool after a two-year absence was confirmed on Tuesday.

After weeks of speculation, the popular former sporting director was announced as FSG's new CEO of Football, a role that will see him take control of sporting operations for Liverpool and oversee the transition following Jurgen Klopp's exit.

The 44-year-old officially starts his new job on 1 June, but there is work to be done before that with the expected appointment of Richard Hughes as the new sporting director the first order of business.

The two worked together at Portsmouth earlier in their careers and will lead recruitment and strategy for the Reds into a new age.

The return of Edwards is seen as a coup for FSG and Liverpool, with the man once dismissively described as a 'laptop guru' coveted by a host of clubs in the same years since his Anfield departure.

According to widespread reports, Edwards turned down both Chelsea and Manchester United during his time out.

The Athletic adds that Everton's prospective owners also were interested as well, as Edwards turned down as many as '10 jobs' in between leaving and re-joining Liverpool.

The Reds' chiefs were initially knocked back too, before Edwards was made an offer in America of a more senior position as part of a structural shake-up.

In an announcement released by FSG on Tuesday, Edwards — who will no longer work as a consultant for Ludonautics, the company he set up in 2023 — revealed his motivations for returning to Anfield.

He said: “I am very grateful to Mike, John, Tom and the ownership group for offering me the opportunity to take on this new leadership role within FSG. I was humbled by the desire and persistence they showed in wanting to work with me again. This is definitely not something that I take for granted given their track record across sport and business.

“It was vital for me that, if I did return, it had to be with renewed vigour and energy. In practice, this means having fresh challenges and opportunities. As such, one of the biggest factors in my decision is the commitment to acquire and oversee an additional club, growing this area of their organisation. I believe that to remain competitive, investment and expansion of the current football portfolio is necessary.

“With Liverpool FC, I will oversee the required reinforcement of football operations, with a number of essential leadership positions needing urgent attention.

“Going forward I’m looking forward to working with FSG’s board of managers. Also, in assuming this role, I fully understand that it comes with great expectations, and I therefore intend to identify, hire, and subsequently empower leaders who meet and embody the club’s values and ambitions.”

Edwards' big-money salary

The statement reveals FSG's intentions to begin the process of moving towards a multi-club model, something which will have a significant long-term impact for Liverpool and a key reason for Edwards' decision to come back into the fold.

Along with the senior role at FSG and a broader remit than last time, Edwards will receive a a multi-million-pound salary, according to the Athletic's report.

While the exact numbers of Edwards' pay packet are not specified, it is claimed that he will be on terms "akin to top coach".

For context, Jurgen Klopp is widely reported be on around £15m per year before tax, or close to £300k a week. That is somewhat less than Liverpool's highest-earning player, Mohamed Salah, whose pre-tax basic wage is regularly cited as £350k a week.

Klopp is the Premier League's second-highest paid manager after Pep Guardiola (supposedly on £20m a year), while Mikel Arteta and Erik Ten Hag are speculated to be on around £10m annually.