Arsenal fans were rocked by the news that their sporting director Edu had resigned from his position on Monday.
Mail Sport exclusively revealed that the Brazilian was set to leave the Emirates on Monday morning, and the news was confirmed by the north London club later in the day.
Edu leaves Arsenal after returning in 2019, having also played for the Gunners between 2001 and 2005, and been part of the iconic ‘Invincibles’ team.
He is now expected to front Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis’s multi-club operation after rejecting a lucrative new offer to stay at Arsenal, but what do we know about his life away from the boardroom?
Well, he can always rely on the support of his wife, Paula. Edu and Paula married in 2003 when he was playing for Arsenal, and have stuck together ever since.
Edu and his wife Paula (top) have been married for 21 years after tying the knot while he was still playing for Arsenal
Paula proved she is willing to defend her husband at all costs when she stuck her middle finger up at a fan during Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat by Chelsea in 2021
Edu is now leaving Arsenal after resigning from his position as sporting director on Monday
When he went back to Arsenal five years ago, the club was in a state of turmoil. Unai Emery was on the brink with an ageing squad, and he was finally put out of his misery in November 2019.
The following month, Mikel Arteta arrived on the scene, but there was no immediate progress on the pitch.
Despite winning the FA Cup in his first season, Arteta could only lead Arsenal to eighth in the Premier League, and they finished in the same position the following year.
When they went 2-0 down at home to Chelsea in their second game of the 2021-22 season, one fan had seen enough and started directing their fury at Edu. Sat alongside her husband, Paula waited for the supporter to finish making his point before flashing her middle finger at him.
While it was hardly a moment that would have endeared Edu and his family to Arsenal fans, it showed Paula’s passion and that she was willing to defend her husband at all costs.
Tensions have simmered since then with Arsenal’s performances and results improving, and Edu is proud to show off his family lifestyle on social media.
Edu and Paula have three children together – Luigi, 20, Maria, 18, and Isabelli, 11, and they appear a tight-knit family based on his Instagram posts.
Edu, his wife and their three children celebrated Christmas together at their London home last year, and then dressed in matching outfits for New Year’s Eve
Edu also enjoys treating his family with his cooking, as he loves manning the barbecue
The family-of-five were all together for Christmas at their London home last year, and then dressed in matching white outfits to celebrate the new year just days later, as Edu shared heartwarming photos to his 435,000 Instagram followers.
But it doesn’t just have to be Christmas or New Year’s Eve for the family to have a good time.
Edu is also a dab hand in the kitchen, and enjoys manning the barbecue to treat his family.
He posted pictures of himself in the garden this summer as he cooked up a storm, and had Arsenal fans dreaming that he was planning something special in the transfer window as well.
In the end, a marquee signing failed to arrive, but the 46-year-old did still get Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino through the door, while Raheem Sterling and Neto completed loan moves from Chelsea and Bournemouth, respectively.
It was a summer where Arsenal focused a little more on experience, but Edu has also been able to entice young talent to the Emirates over the years, and has a promising player in his own family.
His son, Luigi, was picked up by Corinthians – the same club Edu started at – and then joined Arsenal’s academy when his father returned to the club in 2019.
He left the Gunners in 2022 by mutual consent, but has since moved on to Watford and broken into their youth teams.
With his dad moving on to pastures new, it remains to be seen whether Luigi will remain in England, but he has time on his side to follow in Edu’s footsteps and carve out his own career as an elite footballer.
Edu’s son Luigi (pictured) spent three years in Arsenal’s academy and is looking to care out his own professional football career
Edu brought Declan Rice to Arsenal for £105m in 2023 as they beat off competition from Manchester City
He also tied William Saliba down to a long-term deal, but only has one FA Cup to show for his five years back at Arsenal, and he is now leaving the club
How successful Edu has been at Arsenal is open for debate. Only one piece of silverware has been added to the trophy cabinet, but he has been able to bring in players such as Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Declan Rice to turn the club into title contenders.
He is now set to take on a fresh challenge, and it is still to be confirmed exactly what that will be.
But wherever he ends up next, he can count on his family to be with him every step of the way.