Liverpool are looking for a new sporting director for the fourth time in four years after confirming that Richard Hughes has left the club. Hughes, 47, is understood to be in line for a similar role at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
Why Hughes left
Hughes informed Liverpool of his intention to depart earlier this year, a decision closely linked to the exit of his friend Michael Edwards, who had served as chief executive of football for Fenway Sports Group (FSG). Without that working relationship at the top of the structure, Hughes decided his time at the club was done.
The timing of his formal departure, however, was managed carefully. With the summer transfer window open and work already progressing on signings — most notably the £123m acquisition of Bradley Barcola — it was agreed that Hughes would remain in post until the window closed. Liverpool say no approach was made by Al-Hilal for Hughes to begin work with them during that period, and the club are satisfied he worked exclusively for them throughout.
A rapid turnover at the top
The numbers tell the story here. Since Edwards vacated the sporting director role in 2022, Liverpool have now cycled through Julian Ward, Jörg Schmadtke and Hughes in the same position — three appointments in roughly three years, and a fourth search now under way. For a club that built its modern success on structural stability under Edwards and the late transfer committee model, that is a notable rate of churn.
FSG president Mike Gordon is leading the recruitment process. Gordon stepped back into day-to-day oversight of the club following Edwards' departure from his FSG chief executive of football role, and he will effectively be hiring the person who will sit beneath him in the football structure.
What stays the same
Liverpool are keen to stress that the wider football operation remains intact. Julian Ward continues as technical director for FSG, while Pedro Marques serves as director of football development. Below them, David Woodfine remains as assistant sporting director, and Barry Hunter stays in post as chief scout. The senior leadership team at the training centre is also unchanged.
New head coach Andoni Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot in the dugout, is said to have enjoyed a close working relationship with Hughes during his short tenure. Whether the next sporting director can build something similar quickly will matter — Iraola is still bedding in, and continuity behind the scenes would help (though the market for elite sporting directors is competitive enough that FSG may need time to land the right candidate).
The Al-Hilal question
Hughes moving to Saudi Arabia would follow a pattern the Premier League is increasingly familiar with — senior football executives as well as players are being drawn by the financial pull of the Saudi Pro League. Al-Hilal, one of the division's biggest clubs, have been aggressive in building their off-pitch infrastructure alongside their squad investment. Hughes would fit a profile they appear to be targeting.
For Liverpool, the priority is straightforward even if the execution is not: find a fourth sporting director who can actually stay long enough to shape the club's direction. The transfer window is shut, the structure below the top role is settled, and Iraola is in charge of the first team. FSG now need someone to sit above all of that and make it cohere.
Frequently asked
- Why did Richard Hughes leave Liverpool?
- Hughes informed Liverpool earlier in 2026 that he intended to leave, a decision linked to the departure of his close friend Michael Edwards from FSG. He stayed on until the end of the summer transfer window before formally stepping down.
- How many sporting directors have Liverpool had since 2022?
- Liverpool are now on their fourth sporting director search since Michael Edwards left the role in 2022. Julian Ward, Jörg Schmadtke and Richard Hughes have all held the position in that time.
- Who is leading Liverpool's search for a new sporting director?
- FSG president Mike Gordon is overseeing the recruitment process. Gordon has been running the club's day-to-day football operations since Edwards left his role as FSG chief executive of football.