Jorg Schmadtke has been confirmed as Liverpool's new sporting director, taking over from the outgoing Julian Ward.
The length of his initial contract has not been disclosed, but is believed to extend beyond the forthcoming transfer window. He will officially begin his new role with the Reds on Thursday.
The 59-year-old has previously held similar positions in his native Germany, playing a key role in transfers at Hannover 96, FC Koln and Wolfsburg. Responsible for a number of astute signings during this period, Liverpool will be hoping this trend can continue.
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Listed below are examples of successful recruitment overseen by Schmadtke at each of the aforementioned clubs he represented in a professional capacity.
Anthony Modeste (Hoffenheim to FC Köln in June 2015, €4.5m)
Snapped up from fellow Bundesliga side Hoffenheim, Köln struck gold with the addition of the French forward.
Scoring 18 goals in all competitions during his maiden campaign and 27 the following year as the first-team secured a fifth-placed league finish, it was little wonder that clubs were queuing up to sign Modeste after witnessing him tear apart the German top-flight.
His performances resulted in a €35.7 million deal to join Chinese side Tianjin Quanjian, banking Köln a significant profit on the 35-year-old. Modeste returned to Köln after only one year away and last season bagged 20 league goals before agreeing a move to Borussia Dortmund.
Mame Biram Diouf (Manchester United to Hannover in January 2012, undisclosed fee)
After failing to make the grade at Manchester United, Hannover took a chance on the Senegalese striker during the winter transfer window of 2012.
It proved to be a beneficial decision for the Bundesliga club after a return of 10 goals in 15 appearances during the second half of the 2011/12 campaign. Showing up for the big occasions, Diouf scored in both legs of Hannover's Europa League quarter-final clash with Atletico Madrid and against the Belgian duo of Club Brugge and Standard Liege in the two previous rounds of the competition.
Diouf left the club at the end of the 2013/14 season with a total of 51 goal contributions from his 71 outings in all competitions.
Maxence Lacroix (Sochaux to Wolfsburg in 2020, €5m fee)
Arriving as somewhat of an unknown quantity from Ligue 2 side Sochaux three years ago, the French centre-back has since established himself as a consistent performer at the top level.
Lacroix's displays have resulted in transfer interest from elsewhere, although he remains under contract until 2025. RB Leipzig attempted to sign him during the 2021 summer transfer window but saw two offers for the defender turned down as Wolfsburg held firm. More recently, both Leicester City and Southampton have also been linked with the 23-year-old, who will command a sizeable fee should his current employers decide to cash in.
Leonardo Bittencourt (Hannover to FC Köln in July 2015, €2.5m fee)
Bittencourt built up a strong reputation during his Borussia Dortmund days, but soon moved on from the German giants due to a lack of playing time. Hannover were the first club to take a chance on the attacking midfielder, also capable of featuring on the wing, before an agreement was struck in 2015 to become a Köln player.
Finishing fifth in the league during his second season at the club, the 29-year-old helped the club secure Europa League football for the first time since 1993.
He would remain a key player for the Billy Goats until his exit in 2018. Bittencourt made a total of 76 appearances, scoring 12 goals and registering 17 assists.
Lars Stindl (Karlsruher to Hannover in July 2010, free transfer)
The versatile attacker starred for Hannover over 150 times over a five-year period and would go on to become club captain toward the end of his time at the club.
Things began brightly after finishing fourth during his debut campaign with the Reds, although his most productive year came in his final season after notching 11 goals and providing four assists.
Hannover twice qualified for the Europa League during his time at the club before agreeing a deal to sign for Borussia Monchengladbach. Stindl was linked to Liverpool prior to this transfer being finalised. However, a move for the 34-year-old failed to materialise.
Ron-Robert Zieler (Manchester United to Hannover in July 2010, free transfer)
Unable to rise up the ranks at Manchester United, Zieler returned to his native country in 2010 for Hannover and quickly became an important figure.
After making 15 league appearances during his first season, the goalkeeper was then an ever-present for the following five campaigns and became club captain in 2015 after the aforementioned exit of Stindl.
Zieler was instrumental in the club claiming four top-10 finishes and a run to the Europa League quarter-finals during his six-year stay. A move to Leicester City was confirmed in 2016, though he re-joined Hannover in 2019 and remains at the club.
Wout Weghorst (AZ Alkmaar to Wolfsburg in June 2018, €10.5m fee)
The towering striker did not disappoint during his Bundesliga days, having made a name for himself in the Netherlands prior to this deal being sanctioned.
Weghorst, who is currently on loan at Manchester United, surpassed the 15-goal mark in each of his first two German top-flight terms before scoring 20 in his third season. The 30-year-old was eventually sold for a profit to Burnley midway through 2021/22 and remains Wolfsburg's second-highest league scorer (59) - a tally bettered only by Edin Dzeko (66).
Jerome Roussillon - (Montpellier to Wolfsburg in August 2018, €5million fee)
A long-serving left-back who rarely disappointed, Roussillon rarely disappointed while wearing a Wolfsburg shirt.
One of the first names on the teamsheet from 2018 onwards, the Frenchman played over 140 times for the club across all competitions and never once received a red card.
Capable of also taking up a left midfield role, the versatile nature of the 30-year-old made him an invaluable assert before his departure to fellow Bundesliga club Union Berlin was authorised.
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