With Arsenal needing to fill the vacancy to be left by Edu’s departure from the sporting director position, a familiar face has been mentioned as a “leading candidate” for the role.
According to Ed Aarons and Nick Ames of The Guardian, former midfielder Tomas Rosicky is a top option to become Arsenal’s next sporting director — a move which likely would not materialise until the end of the 2024/25 season.
Edu was appointed Arsenal’s first-ever sporting director in 2022, having been hired initially as technical director in the summer of 2019. He is largely credited with leading the rebuild of the club to its current stature.
With his impending exit to fill a senior role at the network of clubs that includes Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos, the Gunners may be turning to an old friend to make a heralded return.
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Who is Tomas Rosicky?
Tomas Rosicky, now 44, is a former Czechia international who made 170 senior appearances for Arsenal as part of his 19-year playing career.
Beginning his youth career at Sparta Prague where he would make his senior debut in 1998, Rosicky moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2001 where he spent five years, winning a Bundesliga title and reaching the UEFA Europa League (then known as the UEFA Cup) final as well. Rosicky still ranks as Sparta Prague’s most profitable outgoing transfer to this day, garnering nearly €15 million for his boyhood club.
Rosicky signed for Arsenal in 2006 and would spend the next 10 years at the London club. While he was not always a first-choice player, Rosicky became a fan favourite for his high work rate in midfield and dedication to the club regardless of position within the squad. He came on as a substitute in the 2014 FA Cup final as Arsenal defeated Hull City 3-2 — the sole major trophy they won during his time at the club.
Eventually, Rosicky returned to Sparta Prague to play the final season of his career before retiring in 2017.
On the international stage, Rosicky earned 105 caps for the Czechia (known as the Czech Republic during his playing days), scoring 23 goals. He is third all-time in international caps for the country and fourth in goals scored.
Why is Tomas Rosicky a candidate for Arsenal sporting director?
Since retirement, Rosicky has stayed at his boyhood club Sparta Prague to work on his post-playing career as a club executive.
He started in January of 2018 as the club’s assistant sporting director, working under Zdenek Scasny. When Scasny became the club’s head coach that December, Rosicky took over as the club’s lead sporting director.
He has been in that role ever since, building the club back to domestic dominance with back-to-back Czechia league championships in 2022/23 and 2023/24, the latter as part of a cup double.
They have improved gradually in European performances as well, reaching the Europa League group stage in 2020/21 and taking part in the first expanded Champions League league phase this season. It’s the first time since 2005 that they have played in the competition beyond the qualifying stages.
In the transfer market, while Rosicky himself still holds the Sparta Prague record for highest outgoing transfer fee, the last two summers have seen the club sell players who have netted the second- and third-highest fees in their history.
Rosicky oversaw the departure of 19-year-old Adam Hlozek, a Sparta Prague youth product, to Bayer Leverkusen in July of 2022 for €13 million ($13.5m / £10.8m). In 2024, 22-year-old Tomas Cvancara netted €10.5m ($10.9m / £8.7m) with his sale to Borussia Monchengladbach.
The same transfer window also saw the club’s most expensive signing as they secured the services of 23-year-old striker Albion Rrahmani from Rapid Wien for €5m ($5.2m / £4.2m), breaking the mark held for seven years by Nicolae Stanciu.
Will Tomas Rosicky be the next Arsenal sporting director?
It’s unclear at this point what Rosicky’s viability as a candidate for the position is, other than the Guardian article calling him a “leading candidate.”
The report states that Rosicky “has been in regular contact with members of the club’s hierarchy” throughout the Arsenal search for Edu’s successor.
Rosicky was a teammate at Arsenal of both first-team manager Mikel Arteta and academy director Per Mertesacker. Both arrived at Arsenal as players in 2011 when Rosicky was already at the club, and all three remained until Rosicky and Arteta both departed in 2016.
According to The Guardian report, all three individuals “remain close” to this day.
Other candidates seem to include Jason Ayto, who has taken over for Edu on a temporary basis and is at least being considered. The Guardian report states that there are “reservations” about Ayto’s candidacy due to his relative lack of experience, whereas Rosicky is seen as a “more suitable” option.
The report also names Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Luis Campos as an option, considering the club’s French connections and the expiration of Campos’ PSG contract this summer. Brentford director of football Phil Giles is also mentioned.
