• Premier League

Damien Comolli leaves Liverpool

Damien Comolli has left Liverpool after less than two years at the club © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Cruyff linked with Liverpool after Comolli exit
  
• News: Jelavic bargain puts other clubs to shame - Bilic
  
• News: Dalglish takes responsibility for Liverpool transfers
  
• News: Doni to miss semi-final after appeal fails
  
• News: Gerrard warns Liverpool to keep their heads
  
• News: Liverpool chairman says Dalglish won't follow Comolli
  

In what is a huge weekend for Merseyside, Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final with Everton is live on ESPN this Saturday. Click here for details on how you can tune in to the extensive coverage

Director of football Damien Comolli has left Liverpool by mutual consent, it was confirmed on Thursday.

Comolli joined the Merseyside club as director of football strategy in late 2010, before being promoted to the more senior post of director of football in March of 2011. However, he will now return to France for 'family reasons'.

"I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to work at Liverpool and am happy to move on from the club and back to France for family reasons," Comolli said. "I wish the club all the best for the future."

A key figure in the January 2011 transfers of both Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll, after being promoted by new club owners Fenway Sports Group the Frenchman was also instrumental in the widely questioned summer signings of the likes of Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Sebastian Coates - expensive additions that have failed to prosper in a Reds side that has struggled in the Premier League this season.

Liverpool have won the Carling Cup already this season, however, with the chance to add another trophy to that haul if they can defeat Everton in the semi-finals of the FA Cup this weekend.

"We are grateful for all of Damien's efforts on behalf of Liverpool and wish him all the best for the future," club owner John W Henry said in a statement.

Chairman Tom Werner added: "The club needs to move forward and we now have a huge game on Saturday. It is important that everyone joins us in supporting the manager and gets behind Kenny and the team and focuses on a strong finish to the season."

Comolli previously spent three years as director of football at Tottenham, before leaving the club to return to France in a similar post at Saint Etienne.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.