Jorg Schmadtke's incredible impact at Liverpool and the 4 signings he oversaw in short time

It was perhaps one of the shortest spells ever seen at Anfield but Jorg Schmadtke will go down as one of the most influential sporting directors in Liverpool's history.

The relative unknown from Germany was appointed to the role in May 2023 to replace the outgoing mainstay in , who bid farewell last summer after more than a decade at the club. Having spent more than four years in the same role with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, however, was more than equipped for the job.

The 59-year-old had also been named sporting director at three other clubs in Germany prior to his 2018 appointment at Wolfsburg, working in the role as early as 2001 when he started out at second division side Alemannia Aachen.

Twenty-two years later, however, and he would rock up at one of the biggest clubs in the world to work alongside as he prepared to assemble a squad worthy of mounting a title challenge for the 2023-24 campaign.

By January 2024, it was announced that Schmadtke would be leaving his role at the end of the month, just eight months after he had been confirmed as new sporting director. However, while the spell came to a premature end, the German's can be credited for some fine work that is still having lasting impacts today.

During his one and only summer transfer window in the role, the former Fortuna Düsseldorf, SC Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Mönchengladbach goalkeeper oversaw the signings of , , and as Klopp overhauled his midfield with four new additions.

Approximately $190.6million (£145.4m/€173m) was splashed out by the Reds - and it was certainly money well spent. Three of those signings started the in February, while all four made a combined total of 172 appearances in all competitions throughout their debut campaign.

Szoboszlai and Mac Allister settled in the best, becoming two focal points of Liverpool's midfield and important cogs in Klopp's machine throughout the season as it looked to fight on all four fronts, while Endo filled in admirably when required with a number of solid performances.

Gravenberch was perhaps the least impressive of the quartet, but he has more than made up for it with some remarkable displays already this campaign, earning himself numerous man of the match accolades and becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet since dropping into a deeper role under .

The Dutchman now starts alongside Mac Allister in a double pivot used by his manager, with Szoboszlai sitting in front of them in a more attack-minded role that sees him support attacks. So far this season, Liverpool have won seven of eight games and sit top of the Premier League.

Without those signings overseen last summer by Schmadtke, it may not have been possible. While the German came and went without many knowing he was there, he certainly made a huge impact during his short stay, and one that can still be seen eight months after he left.