Liverpool Sporting Director Richard Hughes Steps Down Amid Overhaul

Liverpool are bracing for yet another overhaul at the top of their football operation after confirming Richard Hughes has stepped down as sporting director – the club’s fourth change in the role in as many years.

Hughes’s exit has been on the horizon for months. The 47-year-old is expected to take up a similar position at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal and informed Liverpool early in the year that he intended to move on. His decision came in the wake of close ally Michael Edwards leaving his post as chief executive of football for Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the club’s owners.

Rather than cut ties immediately, Liverpool chose continuity through a crucial summer. With transfer plans already deep in motion – including the headline £123m capture of Bradley Barcola – and Hughes working closely with new head coach Andoni Iraola, all parties agreed he would remain in place until the end of the transfer window.

Liverpool are adamant there was no overlap of loyalties. The club insist Al-Hilal made no approach for Hughes to begin work this summer and are satisfied he operated solely on Liverpool’s behalf throughout the window.

The hunt for his successor has already started. FSG president Mike Gordon, who returned to hands-on control of Liverpool’s day-to-day running after Edwards’ departure, is leading the process. Whoever comes in will be the latest to inherit a demanding brief that has passed from Edwards to Julian Ward, then Jörg Schmadtke, and most recently Hughes since 2022.

Despite the churn at the top, Liverpool insist the wider football structure remains stable. Ward continues as technical director for FSG, with Pedro Marques in place as director of football development. Assistant sporting director David Woodfine stays on, as do chief scout Barry Hunter and the senior leadership team at the training centre.

The framework is there. The question now is who FSG trust to step into one of the most scrutinised jobs in European football – and how long the next sporting director will last on Merseyside.