Arsenal club legend leads new sporting director race with Premier League title-chasers desperate to replace Edu
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TOMAS ROSICKY leads the race to become Arsenal’s new sporting director. The 44-year-old is close friends with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and academy chief Per Mertesacker. Czech Rosicky spent ten years at the club, playing alongside the pair. Arsenal have been hunting for Edu’s replacement since he joined Nottingham Forest’s owner Evangelos Marinakis’ multi-club network in November.
![[Tomas Rosicky is the frontrunner to replace Edu as Arsenal's sporting director]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/special-guest-tomas-rosicky-looks-962236226.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Edu, a former Gunner himself, had been hired in 2019 as technical director - and became the sporting director in 2022. But Rosicky wants to see his contract out at Sparta Prague, which expires in the summer. Rosicky took over as sporting director at the club in December 2018, a year after retiring from football.
![[The Brazilian quit in November to pursue a new challenge with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/edu-eduardo-cesar-daud-gaspar-962236295.jpg?strip=all&w=860)
The Czech side have reached the Champions League three times under his watch, and won a first title since 2013 last year. Sparta - who Rosicky played for in two spells - have faltered in their attempts to retain the Czech First League title. They currently trail cross-town rivals Slavia Prague by 13 points.
![[Rosicky, right, played for the Gunners for a decade]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/thomas-vermaelen-theo-walcott-aaron-5189106_1f2662.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS. Edu’s former deputy, Jason Ayto, took over at the Emirates when the Brazilian left in November. He is expected to guide the Gunners through a crucial January transfer window. But the club is keen on a more experienced head to take over in the long term.
