Liverpool have benefitted from having strong leadership at sporting director level this summer, with Richard Hughes delivering a superb transfer window.
The Reds’ spend of more than £400m may be yet to bear proper fruit, but there is little doubting Hughes’ work in the role.
The former Portsmouth midfielder had some big shoes to fill at Anfield, having seen the success delivered by Michael Edwards during his six years at the helm.
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Edwards became a superstar at Liverpool after stepping up to sporting director in 2016. After some upheaval following his initial exit in 2022, the Reds are now back with some of the best in the business in charge.
Before Edwards, Liverpool owners FSG had been flailing around to find the right formula. The only previous sporting director they hired had been Damien Comolli, who lasted only four months at Anfield, leaving in March 2011.
The reason Liverpool went more than five years without anyone in the position was not because of a decision by the owners themselves, but rather of one from former manager Brendan Rodgers, who blocked a move to hire legendary Dutch coach Louis van Gaal in 2012.
Louis van Gaal attends a press conference with captain Virgil van Dijk during the 2022 Qatar World Cup for the Netherlands.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Brendan Rodgers blocked Louis van Gaal joining Liverpool
Although Rodgers was hired by FSG in 2012, the Northern Irishman often found himself at loggerheads with the way the Americans wanted to run Liverpool.
The most public part of this was relating to transfers. While the owners did want a sporting director, Rodgers did not. This led to the forming of the infamous ‘transfer committee.’
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The establishing of this collaborative approach to transfers began in the summer of 2012, when The Athletic report that FSG had initially wanted to hire Rodgers alongside a sporting director.
Van Gaal is said to have been the man ‘lined up’, in what would have been a first non-managerial role for him.
However, Rodgers is said to have ‘voiced his opposition’ to the idea, with the now Celtic manager winning the day.
This led to the formation of the transfer committee, with Rodgers ultimately claimed to have seen Edwards and former head of research Ian Graham as a ‘threat to his job.’
Van Gaal joined the Netherlands instead, before a spell at Manchester United later in the 2010s.
Rodgers was wrong to block Van Gaal move
When Liverpool hired Rodgers, he was one of the foremost young coaches in the game. FSG likely saw a long-term plan with the Ulsterman.
However, Rodgers’ refusal to work with someone such as Van Gaal should have been an immediate red flag that he was not the man the Reds were looking for.
Team Years Trophies
Ajax 1991-1997 Eredivisie x3, Dutch Cup, Champions League, UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup
Barcelona 1997-2000 La Liga x2, Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup
Netherlands 2000-2001
Barcelona 2002-2003
AZ Alkmaar 2005-2009 Eredivisie
Bayern Munich 2009-2011 Bundesliga, DFB Pokal, German Super Cup
Netherlands 2012-2014
Manchester United 2014-2016 FA Cup
Netherlands 2021-2022
Louis van Gaal coaching career
Jurgen Klopp saw the benefits a good sporting director could bring at Anfield and was ultimately far better off for it. Had Rodgers done the same, he could have lasted much longer in the dugout.
Some of his doubts were no doubt legitimate, Van Gaal is known to be a headstrong character and the two would likely have clashed.
But his experience as a Champions League-winner with Ajax and big-club knowhow with Barcelona and Bayern Munich could have helped Rodgers steer the ship with more success.