FSG employee hailed genius has to be retained regardless of Liverpool appointment | OneFootball

Hughes Successor Ready Made In House?

Liverpool’s search for a new sporting director inevitably encourages a discussion about promotion. Find the smartest person within the building, give them greater responsibility and allow them to climb.

Pedro Marques presents Liverpool with a rather different question. What happens when somebody is already regarded as exceptional at precisely the job they are doing?

Speaking to Trev Downey on Anfield Index, Dave Davis discussed the FSG director of football development as one of the internal figures who could potentially come into consideration following Richard Hughes’ departure.

Davis was emphatic about one thing.

“For me, whatever happens, we’ve got to keep this guy at the club.”

That may ultimately prove more important than the title written underneath Marques’ name.

Pedro Marques Has Built an Impressive Reputation

Davis described Marques’ CV as “astonishing”, pointing towards experience across Sporting Lisbon, Manchester City, City Football Group and Benfica before his arrival within the FSG structure.

His reputation, according to Davis, has been built around youth development and creating pathways towards senior football.

“A lot of it’s in technical director, as in youth programmes, multi club models and that skill,” Davis explained.

“This guy is seen as a bit of a genius of how can you buy youth products and get them into your first team.”

Davis also highlighted Marques’ work at Benfica and his involvement in bringing Enzo Fernandez to the Portuguese club, while emphasising the regard in which he is held within football.

“When you speak to analysts and people in the game, this is the guy,” Davis said. “This is the guy to set up your youth into senior football.”

He went further, saying: “Genuine analysts use the word genius for him as well.”

Liverpool Sporting Director Role Creates Different Demands

That reputation creates an intriguing dilemma.

Liverpool need a sporting director following Hughes’ departure, with Marques among the senior figures remaining within the football structure alongside Julian Ward and David Woodfine.

Yet Davis questioned whether moving Marques into that position would actually represent the best use of his abilities.

“You haven’t got any sporting director experience,” Davis said. “It’s a huge step up to go from FSG technical director to sporting director, isn’t it, of Liverpool.”

His concern centred on the different demands involved.

“Yes, he’s got all contacts, he’s respected, but it’s a completely different job.”

Marques’ existing position focuses on an area where, according to Davis, his reputation is already considerable. Changing his responsibilities could therefore come with a cost.

“If you put him in this role, you might lose his specialist edge because that’s not what he’s like the guy for.”

FSG Face Risk of Losing Marques’ Specialist Expertise

Downey shared that concern, particularly given the idea of Liverpool seeking “best in class” individuals throughout their football operation.

“Currently he is very much that when it comes to youth football and the things that he’s earned all those plaudits for,” Downey said.

That leads to perhaps the most important question surrounding Marques.

Promotion traditionally implies progress. Within a football operation, however, expertise can sometimes matter more than hierarchy.

Davis asked: “Don’t we want him doing the role that he is the genius at?”

It does not mean Marques could not succeed as Liverpool sporting director. Davis explicitly acknowledged that possibility.

“Because of his experience, he might be brilliant at sporting director role.”

Downey similarly refused to place limitations on what Marques might eventually become, describing him as “a very competent man” who could potentially “blossom into the perfect sporting director”.

Liverpool Must Keep Marques Regardless of Appointment

Liverpool therefore have two separate decisions to make. One concerns who replaces Hughes. Another concerns how they retain and utilise Marques.

Those decisions do not necessarily require the same answer.

Davis summed up the situation succinctly: “Either way, you want Pedro Marques in the football club, the role is maybe a different question going forward.”

Marques could become sporting director. Ward could return to the position. Woodfine could receive his opportunity. Liverpool could eventually look elsewhere.

For Marques, however, the fundamental point remains unchanged.

Liverpool appear to have an employee whose specialist work has earned extraordinary praise within football. Whatever happens with the sporting director appointment, retaining that expertise should be among FSG’s priorities.