Meet the Arsenal board including Stan Kroenke, Raul Sanllehi and Edu as Mikel Arteta calls for big summer spending
IT could be a summer of big change at Arsenal.
Following the 2-1 win over Liverpool at the Emirates, boss Mikel Arteta pleaded with the Arsenal board to back him in what could be a crucial transfer window.
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Mikel Arteta’s team are unbeaten at the Emirates in 2020Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Arteta is keen to be given the cash to help the Gunners finally compete for the title again, but fears the gap between his side and champions Liverpool will remain ‘enormous’.
Former chairman Sir Chips Keswick stood down in May 2020 and has not yet been replaced, so just who are the men now in the Emirates directors box?
THE DIRECTORS
KEN FRIAR
A managing director and secretary, Friar has remarkably been with the club for over 60 years.
He actually began working part-time as a 12-year-old, is from Islington and is steeped in the traditions of Arsenal FC.
Through the years, Friar as taken an active role in negotiating manager and player contracts as well as fostering Arsenal’s links with the community and supporter groups.
In 2011, a bronze bust was unveiled celebrating Friar’s time at the club.
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Ken Friar, left, has been with the club for over 60 yearsCredit: Getty – Contributor
LORD HARRIS OF PECKHAM
Appointed non-executive director in 2005, Philip Harris is a businessman worth a reported £110m.
He earned his fortune after setting up Carpetright, and is a Conservative party donor, as well as a member of the House of Lords.
Harris is also co-owner of Olympic gold medal-winning horse Hello Sanctos who won a gold medal with Scott Brash in the team show jumping event at London 2012.
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Lord Harris made his £110m fortune with CarpetrightCredit: Reuters
STAN KROENKE
Known as ‘Silent Stan’, he is the owner of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment – which is the holding company of Arsenal.
They also own teams including the LA Rams of the NFL, Denver Nuggets of the NBA, Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, and Colorado Rapids of the MLS.
With an estimated fortune of around £5bn, thanks to owning retail chain Walmart, he is one of the Premier League’s wealthiest owners.
He would’ve had the final say on Kroenke’s dismissal.
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Silent Stan would’ve had the final say on Unai Emery’s futureCredit: Rex Features
JOSH KROENKE
Stan’s son Josh, 40, was appointed to the club’s board of directors in 2013 to keep a closer eye on the team’s proceedings.
It was he who conducted a major review of the club that saw Arsene Wenger’s days at the club become numbered.
There were reports then that he wanted Thierry Henry to take over team affairs from ‘The Professor.’
However, with Henry now signing a deal with Montreal Impact after flopping at Monaco, that now looks increasingly unlikely.
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Josh Kroenke reportedly pushed for Thierry Henry to take over from Arsene WengerCredit: Getty – Contributor
MANAGING DIRECTOR
VINAI VENKATESHAM
Vinai has been with the Gunners in a variety of roles since 2010.
In 2018, when Ivan Gazidis left North London to go to AC Milan, he was appointed managing director.
He has spoken openly about his plans for driving revenue, signing new players and expansion in China.
Previously, Vinai worked on London 2012, and is currently a non-executive director of the British Olympic Association.
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Vinai Venkatesham with Raul Sanllehi in 2018Credit: Getty – Contributor
HEAD OF FOOTBALL
RAUL SANLLEHI
Raul is very well connected in the world of football, and is reportedly mates with the biggest agents in the game.
Previously the director of football at Barcelona, he was credited with brokering deals for the likes of Neymar, Alexis Sanchez and Luis Suarez to the Camp Nou.
Before joining Barca, he worked for Nike on the commercial side.
Last week he spoke in favour of Emery, urging fans to give the battered manager more time to turn things around.
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Raul Sanllehi was responsible for brokering deals for Neymar and Luis Suarez to BarcelonaCredit: Getty – Contributor
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
EDU GASPAR
A former Arsenal ‘Invincible’, Brazilian Edu knows the club inside out.
He arrived in North London back in July 2019 and is clearly on good terms with Sanllehi.
“We’re very excited that Edu is joining the team,” he cooed when the appointment was made.
“He has great experience and technical football knowledge and most importantly is a true Arsenal man.
“He understands the club and what we stand for to our millions of fans around the world.”
Previously, Edu was working with the Brazilian national team after a successful stint as Corinthians club director of football.
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Edu joined the club back in July after a stint with the Brazilian national teamCredit: Getty – Contributor
ACADEMY MANAGER
PER MERTESACKER
Another former player, Mertesacker is a winner – having lifted the World Cup with Germany.
He is currently overseeing a complete overhaul of the Gunners academy, a role he took on in 2018.
Staff have been stream-lined on Mertesacker’s advice – with Steve Morrow being the biggest casualty.
In September 2019 the BFG revealed: “The amount of staff we have in academies is, I’ve never seen anything like it.
“On one hand it’s good to take care of the players but I don’t know, sometimes I get confused by the number of people who have an impact on one kid.
“We’re talking 100 people or more have an influence on one kid over years. It’s quite a heavy load.” More
