1. Early Life and Background
Eduardo César Daud Gaspar was born on 16 May 1978, in São Paulo, Brazil. His early life in Brazil laid the foundation for his professional football career. He has Italian lineage on his father's side, which later assisted him in obtaining a European Union (EU) passport. During his playing career, he stood at 73 in (185 cm) and weighed 172 lb (78 kg).
2. Playing Career
Edu's professional football career spanned over a decade, marked by significant spells at top clubs in Brazil, England, and Spain, and appearances for the Brazilian national team.
2.1. Club Career
Edu's club career saw him play for three major clubs, achieving domestic and continental success.
2.1.1. Corinthians (first spell)
Edu began his professional career in Brazil with Corinthians in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. During his initial period at the club, he contributed to significant successes, winning the 1998 and 1999 Brasileiro championships. His tenure also included being part of the squad that won the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship.
2.1.2. Arsenal
Edu's move to Arsenal was initially delayed in 2000 due to issues with his Portuguese passport, which was discovered to be fake. After obtaining a legitimate EU passport through his Italian heritage, he officially signed with Arsenal on 16 January 2001, for 6.00 M GBP.
His early time at the club was challenging. His debut on 20 January 2001, against Leicester City, was cut short by an injury after just 15 minutes, having come on as a half-time substitute. He played only four more matches that season, including a match against Middlesbrough where he scored an own goal. His first goal for Arsenal came on 27 November 2001, in a League Cup match against Grimsby. Edu made a substitute appearance in the 2002 FA Cup Final, which Arsenal won, and contributed to Arsenal's 2001-02 Premier League title with 14 league appearances and a goal against Aston Villa, becoming the first Brazilian player to win the Premier League.
In the 2002-03 season, Edu made 18 Premier League appearances and played a significant role in Arsenal reaching their third consecutive FA Cup final. He scored in the fifth-round victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford, though injury prevented his participation in the 2003 FA Cup Final.
The 2003-04 season is widely considered Edu's finest in football. He was an integral part of the Arsenal team that achieved the historic feat of going 49 games unbeaten, including the entire 2003-04 Premier League season without a single defeat. During this season, he appeared in 30 league games, scoring two goals, both against Chelsea. He also scored the fourth goal in Arsenal's memorable 5-1 victory over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League in November 2003. Overall, he made a career-high 48 appearances across all competitions that season, scoring seven goals. Edu was on the pitch when Arsenal clinched the 2003-04 Premier League title at White Hart Lane on 25 April 2004, and also made his 100th appearance for the club.
The 2004-05 season presented mixed fortunes for Edu. He missed the beginning of the season due to his involvement with the Brazil national team at the 2004 Copa América. This led to speculation about his future, as he was in the final year of his contract with Arsenal. Talks for a transfer to Valencia in January 2005 did not materialize as Arsenal's asking price was not met. He scored only two goals for Arsenal that season, both in May: a chip in a 2-0 away win against West Bromwich Albion and a penalty in a 7-0 victory over Everton. He came on as an extra-time substitute in the 2005 FA Cup Final, which Arsenal won.
2.1.3. Valencia
In May 2005, it was confirmed that Edu would leave Arsenal on a Bosman ruling free transfer. After interest from clubs like Juventus, Inter Milan, and Barcelona, Valencia announced on 30 May that they had signed him to a five-year deal.
His time at Valencia was significantly impacted by recurring injuries. Shortly after signing, Edu suffered a pre-season injury to his left knee anterior cruciate ligament, which kept him out of first-team action until 4 April 2006, when he made his debut in a 5-3 victory over Cádiz. In November 2006, he suffered another severe injury, this time to his right knee anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him out for another eight months. His recovery was difficult, leading to further surgery in November 2007. Despite these setbacks, he was part of the squad that won the 2007-08 Copa del Rey. On 3 July 2009, Edu departed Valencia after his contract was mutually terminated.
2.1.4. Corinthians (second spell) and Retirement
Following his release from Valencia, Edu returned to his former club, Corinthians, signing a contract on 6 August 2009, which was set to last until 31 December 2011. However, after making only four appearances during the 2010 season, his contract was mutually terminated. Edu subsequently announced his retirement from professional football.
2.2. International Career
Edu initially considered playing for the England national team after obtaining a British passport, believing he might not be selected for the Brazil national team. However, he received a call-up to the Brazil national team in 2004, making his debut on 28 April 2004, in a friendly match against Hungary. He represented Brazil in both the 2004 Copa América and the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, with Brazil winning both tournaments. In the final of the 2004 Copa América, he scored one of the penalties in the shootout that saw Brazil defeat Argentina. He made a total of fifteen appearances for the Brazil national team between 2004 and 2005.
3. Post-Playing Career
After retiring as a professional footballer, Edu transitioned into administrative and technical roles within the sport, holding significant positions at both club and national team levels.
3.1. Club Administrative Roles
Edu held prominent executive positions at Sport Club Corinthians Paulista and Arsenal F.C.
3.1.1. Corinthians Director of Football
On 17 March 2011, Edu was appointed as the director of football for his former club, Corinthians, taking over from William Machado. In this capacity, he oversaw the club's football operations and strategy.
3.1.2. Arsenal Technical and Sporting Director
On 9 July 2019, Edu made a significant return to Arsenal, becoming the club's first-ever technical director. His appointment was met with enthusiasm, with then-director of football Raúl Sanllehí stating, "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." In this role, Edu was responsible for overseeing various aspects of the club's footballing strategy and recruitment.
His influence grew further when, on 18 November 2022, Edu was promoted to Arsenal's first-ever sporting director. This expanded his responsibilities beyond the first team to include oversight of both the men's and women's teams, as well as the club's academy. His work at Arsenal was recognized when he received the "Best European Director" award at the 2023 Golden Boy awards on 17 November 2023. However, on 4 November 2024, it was reported that Edu would leave his position at Arsenal to take on a senior role within the network of clubs spearheaded by Greek businessman Evangelos Marinakis, which includes Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos, and Rio Ave FC.
3.2. National Team Administrative Roles
Edu also contributed to national football teams in administrative capacities.
3.2.1. Iran National Football Team Coaching Staff Assistant
During the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Edu briefly served as an assistant to Carlos Queiroz on the coaching staff of the Iran national football team.
3.2.2. Brazil National Football Team General Coordinator
From 2016 to 2019, Edu held the position of general coordinator for the Brazil national team. In this role, he managed various logistical and organizational aspects of the national team's operations.
4. Personal Life and Episodes
Edu experienced personal challenges during his career. Early in his tenure at Arsenal, his sister was tragically killed in a car accident. In October 2006, during his time at Valencia, Edu was a victim of a break-in at his home. Following the incident, he reportedly stayed at the home of his teammate Curro Torres.
5. Achievements and Honors
Edu achieved numerous team titles and collective honors throughout his playing career.
- Corinthians
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1998, 1999
- FIFA Club World Championship: 2000
- Arsenal
- Premier League: 2001-02, 2003-04
- FA Cup: 2001-02, 2002-03, 2004-05
- FA Community Shield: 2002
- Valencia
- Copa del Rey: 2007-08
- Brazil
- Copa América: 2004
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 2005
6. Individual Awards and Recognition
Edu received individual recognition for his performances on the field and in his administrative capacity.
- Premier League Player of the Month: February 2004
- Best European Director at Golden Boy 2023: 2023
7. Career Statistics
7.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Corinthians | 1999 | Série A | - | - | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2000 | - | - | 17 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||||
| Total | - | - | - | - | 18 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| Arsenal | 2000-01 | Premier League | 5 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2001-02 | 14 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 27 | 3 | ||
| 2002-03 | 18 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 29 | 3 | ||
| 2003-04 | 30 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 48 | 7 | ||
| 2004-05 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 2 | ||
| Total | 79 | 7 | 27 | 5 | 21 | 3 | 127 | 15 | ||
| Valencia | 2005-06 | La Liga | 6 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2006-07 | 10 | 0 | - | 5 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |||
| 2007-08 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| 2008-09 | 21 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 1 | ||
| Total | 50 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 72 | 1 | ||
| Corinthians | 2009 | Série A | 11 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2010 | 4 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |||
| Total | 15 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 144 | 8 | 36 | 5 | 53 | 3 | 233 | 16 | ||
8. Media Appearances
Edu has been featured in significant media projects that offer behind-the-scenes insights into his professional life and the clubs he was involved with. He was a prominent figure in the Amazon Original sports docuseries All or Nothing: Arsenal, which documented the club's 2021-22 season by spending time with the coaching staff and players. He was also involved in All or Nothing: Brazil National Team.