Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group are close to appointing Benfica technical director Pedro Marques in a key role in their set-up, according to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein.
The imminent appointment of the 41-year-old is seen as a big coup given his strong reputation and huge experience, and it is close to being confirmed.
FSG’s CEO of Football Michael Edwards is overseeing the recruitment of Marques as the Liverpool owners look to use his expertise to attract global talent to their new-look football structure.
The Portuguese has ties to former Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward and was involved in the talks when the Reds signed Uruguay international striker Darwin Nunez from Benfica in 2022.
🚨 EXCL: Liverpool owners FSG working on move for Benfica technical director Pedro Marques as part of new set-up. Would be employed by FSG rather than #LFC & focus on 2nd club operation. Former Man City + highly regarded. W/ @JamesHorncastle @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/p9TbnNJtdI
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) March 16, 2024
Marques and Ward worked together at Manchester City, with the Portuguese a first-team performance analyst before he switched to a coaching and analysis lead post for City Football Group (CFG).
CFG is the multi-club model FSG are looking to emulate, with Man City, Girona, Melbourne City and eight other clubs around the globe some of the outfits they own or have major shares in.
Before joining Man City in 2010, Marques worked across the coaching, performance analysis and recruitment department at Sporting Lisbon for six years.
He spent eight years with CFG before returning to his country but could soon be on his way out to play a key role under Edwards at FSG.
Liverpool have already appointed a new sporting director in Richard Hughes and he will play a major role alongside Edwards as the Anfield club look to get the perfect successor to manager Jurgen Klopp.
It remains to be seen whether Marques will also be consulted in the search for their next manager, but he will be contributing to the growth of the club despite being set to be employed by FSG rather than Liverpool.
