Arsenal fans were shocked by the news that their sporting director Edu was stepping down from his position on Monday.
Mail Sport exclusively revealed that the Brazilian would leave the Emirates on Monday morning, with the news 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 was part of the iconic ‘Invincibles’ team.
He is now expected to take charge of Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis’ multi-club operation after turning down a lucrative new offer to stay at Arsenal, but what do we know about his life outside the boardroom?
Well, he can always count on the support of his wife Paula. Edu and Paula married in 2003 while he was playing for Arsenal and have remained together ever since.
Edu and his wife Paula (above) 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 man at all costs when she gave her middle finger to a fan during Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in 2021
Edu now leaves Arsenal after resigning from his position as sporting director on Monday
When he returned to Arsenal five years ago, the club was in turmoil. Unai Emery was on the brink with an aging 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 guide Arsenal to eighth place in the Premier League, and the following year they finished in the same position.
When they went down 2-0 at home to Chelsea in their second game of the 2021-2022 season, one fan had seen enough and started turning his anger on Edu. Paula sat next to her husband, waiting for the supporter to finish making his point before waving her middle finger at him.
While it was certainly not a moment that would have endeared Edu and his family to Arsenal fans, it did show Paula’s passion and her willingness to defend her man at all costs.
Since then, tensions have continued to rise and Arsenal’s performances and results have improved. Edu takes pride in showing off his family lifestyle on social media.
Edu and Paula have three children together: Luigi, 20, Maria, 18, and Isabelli, 11, and based on his Instagram posts, they seem like a close family.
Edu, his wife and their three children celebrated Christmas together at their London home last year, then dressed up in matching outfits for New Year’s Eve
Edu also enjoys spoiling his family with his cooking, as he enjoys manning the barbecue
The family of five were all together for Christmas at their London home last year, and just days later dressed up in matching white outfits to celebrate the New Year, as Edu shared heartwarming photos with his 435,000 Instagram followers.
But it doesn’t just have to be Christmas or New Year’s Eve to have a great time with the whole family.
Edu is also a dab hand in the kitchen and enjoys manning the barbecue to spoil his family.
He posted pictures of himself in the garden preparing up a storm this summer, leaving Arsenal fans dreaming that he was up to something special in the transfer window too.
In the end, a major signing failed to materialize, but the 46-year-old did land Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino, while Raheem Sterling and Neto completed loan moves from Chelsea and Bournemouth respectively.
It was a summer in which Arsenal focused more on experience, but Edu has also managed to attract 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 where Edu started – and then joined Arsenal’s academy when his father returned to the club in 2019.
He left the Gunners by mutual consent in 2022 but has since moved to Watford and broken into their youth teams.
With his father 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 a top footballer.
Edu’s son Luigi (pictured) spent three years in Arsenal’s academy and wants to continue 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 to a long-term contract, but has just 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 to debate. Only one piece of silverware has been added to the trophy cabinet, but he has been able to bring in the likes of Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Declan Rice to turn the club into title contenders.
He is now about to take on a new challenge, and what exactly that will be has yet to be confirmed.
But wherever he ends up, he can count on his family to be with him every step of the way.