From playing Mario Kart with Portsmouth players to masterminding Liverpool's Premier League triumph

Signings such as Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk were all made because of his influence.

Michael Edwards has forged himself a cult-like following among Kopites, with the Reds’ sporting director arguably just as key to their Premier League success as manager Jurgen Klopp.

But it wasn’t all that long ago that the Fareham-raised Edwards was playing Mario Kart with Pompey’s squad on away trips.

The former Peterborough academy defender started out as a Prozone analyst at Fratton Park in 2003, having previously worked as an IT teacher.

He spent six years wit the Blues before following Harry Redknapp to Tottenham in 2009.

While working for Pompey, Gary O’Neill revealed how Edwards would bond with the players – although he wouldn’t overstep the mark.

And the midfielder admitted he could never have imagined Edwards to be in such an influential position as he is in now.

Speaking to The Athletic, O’Neil said: ‘On the team bus, for example, he would be with the lads and we would play Mario Kart.

‘You might have an eight-person league and Ed would be in it.

‘He didn’t overstep the line, though. He wouldn’t be on lads’ nights out because he was, technically, staff.

‘We were good friends and he came to my wedding.

‘You’d never imagine the guy sat in the tiny Prozone portakabin at Portsmouth would go on to be the guy who plays such a big role at the biggest club in the world.’

Redknapp recalled a trip to Fulham during Pompey's Great Escape in 2006.

Edwards had compiled a video heading up to Craven Cottage that included making a joke out of the Blues manager.

Luckily, Redknapp took it in good heart as an O’Neil double and a strike from Lomana LuaLua inspired Pompey to a 3-1 win.

‘Michael came to Portsmouth as a very young analyst,' said Redknapp.

‘I remember a massive game, the year we stayed up, at Fulham. We were second-bottom and he put this video together to play on the coach.

‘He was scared to show it because it took the mickey out of me. I thought it was a great laugh. He was a smashing lad and when I went to Tottenham I took him with me.

‘He isn’t the most stereotypical football director. In fact, he is probably the most un-stereotypical.

‘You won’t often see him in a suit. He isn’t a go-getting, big-personality kind of guy. You look at him, he used to have this spiky hair – a very inoffensive, quiet guy.

‘You’d probably think he should be standing behind the goal.’