Liverpool has made one of two major appointments that will shape the club’s future once Jürgen Klopp departs this summer. Amid the search for Klopp’s successor, Liverpool had also been on the lookout for a new sporting director.
The Reds confirmed Richard Hughes’ arrival from Bournemouth on Wednesday as the Scot takes over following Jörg Schmadtke’s departure at the end of the January transfer window. Hughes, who will officially start work in the summer, is Liverpool’s fourth sporting director in just over two years, having struggled to nail down a long-term option since Michael Edwards’ exit in 2022.
Edwards reunited with FSG last week and he drove the appointment for Hughes. The pair have known each other for over 20 years, in a professional and personal capacity, having worked together at Portsmouth.
The focus will now be on appointing Klopp’s successor, with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso remaining the leading candidate to take over. Bayern Munich remains interested in the Spaniard though and will battle Liverpool for his services.
But now the first piece of the jigsaw is in place at Anfield, FSG chiefs can step up their plans to make the most appointment of their tenure. Here is how the past few weeks have panned out and what has been said, as Liverpool looks ahead to the post-Klopp era.
