Jorg Schmadtke has been confirmed as Liverpool's new sporting director as he replaces the departing Julian Ward.
Schmadtke will be tasked with overseeing the transfer operation on Merseyside as they look to build successfully during the summer
The German will oversee the operations alongside fellow countryman Jurgen Klopp from June 1.
Dietmar Hamann on Jorg Schmadtke
"He won’t be taken for a ride. He’s a very capable man, but it’s a big job because in a short space of time you need to bring players in.
"You need the money for one, and while Liverpool is still a big pull, you are competing with the likes of Manchester City, Newcastle, Real Madrid, Barcelona. It will be interesting but it won’t be easy.
"He’s done a great job wherever he was. The last few years he was at Wolfsburg and he said he wants to pack it in [and retire]. He said that’s it, he had somebody else in place, but did say well maybe in six months’ time the missus kicks me out the house because I’m at home too often, and then it might be a different story.
"If you get the opportunity to go to Liverpool you have to take it. He’s a very likeable guy and he knows his stuff. But he’s got to get to know the club now.
The area, the people. He will know the players, but he’s got to get these deals over the line which won’t be easy because the competition is strong."
Jurgen Klopp on Jorg Schmadtke
As talks accelerated and it became clear that the former sporting director was the frontrunner to replace Ward and the Reds manager spoke of Schmadtke's quality.
"If it happens, it would not be a Jurgen Klopp signing because we are both German or both know each other," said the Liverpool boss. "That would have nothing to do with it. I can say that.
"Jorg Schmadtke I have known a long, long time. He knows me probably not as long as I know him, because he was a much better player.
"But we started in a similar moment our second career, I became a coach at Mainz and he became sporting director at Aachen. Two teams of similar status, so from there we know each other a little bit.
Oh
"I know he is a good guy and a smart guy. Very good at what he did in Germany, definitely, very successful. His character is good, his personality is good, his humour is good. I know that from a few moments next to the pitch."
Comments