Edu Gaspar, a Brazilian former professional footballer, is in the spotlight for resigning as a sports director of Premier League club Arsenal on November 4.
During his twelve-year career, he was an attacking and central midfielder for Arsenal, Corinthians, and Valencia.
Highlights
- Edu Gaspar left Arsenal to work with Evangelos Marinakis’s multi-club group, where he could earn three times more than he earned at Arsenal.
- He was Arsenal’s first-ever technical director and first-ever technical director.
- While at the Emirates Stadium, he had aspirations of becoming CEO, and Evangelos is open to making him one.
Eduardo Cesar Daud Gaspar began his football career by joining Serie A with Corinthians and won the 1998 and 1999 Brasileiro championships. Likewise, he also won the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship.
Later, on January 16, 2001, he signed with Arsenal and made a substitute appearance in the 2002 FA Cup Final as Arsenal emerged victorious.
He was the first Brazilian to win the Premier League, as Arsenal won the 2001–02 Premier League. Similarly, he was awarded the Premier League Player of the Month in February 2004.
Edu became an extra-time substitute for Arsenal and won the 2005 FA Cup Final.
Afterward, he signed a five-year deal with Valencia on May 30, 2005, but left the team through contractual termination on July 3, 2009.
He signed with his former club, Corinthians, on August 6, 2009, until December 31, 2011, but announced his retirement from professional football and became the club’s director of football in March 2011.
Edu Gaspar Amassed A Fortune From His Athleticism
The Brazilian former professional footballer Edu Gaspar has earned a decent sum through his successful football career and later as a sporting director at Arsenal.
However, he hasn’t disclosed his earnings and net worth to the tabloids. He addressed leaving the sporting director to have a senior role at the network of clubs led by Greek businessman Evangelos Marinakis.
A reminder that Edu Gaspar was responsible for every signing in this photo as Arsenal’s sporting director besides academy graduate Bukayo Saka 👀 pic.twitter.com/y1b98PBPkA
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) November 4, 2024
Some sources have estimated Edu Gaspar’s net worth to be between $2 million and $5 million.
According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a sporting director in the United States is $77k per year. Thus, depending on his athletic experience, he earned the same or more.
During the club career, the Brazilian former midfielder signed a £6 million deal with Arsenal.
He didn’t think he could play for the Brazilian national football team and considered gaining a British passport.
Later, he got a call and helped his national team win the 2004 Copa America and 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup for Brazil.
After retiring, he assisted Carlos Queiroz’s Iranian national team during the 2014 FIFA World Cup and became the general coordinator of the Brazil national team from 2016 to 2019.
Edu joined Arsenal as their first-ever technical director in July 2019 and was later appointed sporting director in November 2022.
We’re very excited that Edu is joining the team. He has excellent experience and technical football knowledge, and most importantly, he is a true Arsenal man. He understands the club and what we represent to millions of fans worldwide.
Raul Sanllehi commented on Edu.
Evangelos Marinakis approached Edu about leading their multi-club group and offered him a considerably increased salary. His group includes Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos, and Rio Ave FC.
Therefore, the former sporting director is keen to take up the position.
This was an incredibly hard decision to make. Arsenal has allowed me to work with so many amazing people and be a part of something special in the club’s history.
Edu Gaspar addressed this while leaving Arsenal.
I’ve loved working with many great colleagues, but now it’s time to take on a different challenge. Arsenal will always remain in my heart.
According to The Independent, Edu’s salary is set to be around three times higher than what he earned at Arsenal.
Nonetheless, Evangelos is open to making him a CEO, something he had aspirations of achieving while at the Emirates Stadium.
Additional Information
- 46-year-old Edu Gaspar was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on May 16, 1978. He is the son of Edmundo Gaspar.
- His sister, Fabricia Daude Gaspar, lost her life due to a car accident on December 17, 2000.
- He married Paula, and they have three children, Luigi, Maria, and Isabelli.
- He appeared in the Amazon Original sports docuseries All or Nothing: Arsenal and All or Nothing: Brazil National Team.
