Liverpool and FSG are undergoing another major upheaval this summer, with Michael Edwards and Arne Slot both leaving their roles, while Richard Hughes is expected to follow
12:00, 11 Jul 2026
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 25: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Barry Hunter, Julian Ward, Michael Edwards, Richard Hughes and David Woodfine pose for a photograph with the Premier League trophy, as Liverpool are crowned the Champions of the Premier League for the 2024/25 Season, following Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield on May 25, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Barry Hunter, Julian Ward, Michael Edwards, Richard Hughes and David Woodfine after Liverpool's Premier League title win in 2025(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool is undergoing another major revamp this summer, just two years after undergoing a major restructuring in the wake of Jurgen Klopp’s departure as manager.
The German’s exit saw a number of key figures return as Arne Slot was appointed as his successor, and the changes seemed to have worked when the Reds romped to the Premier League title lat year.
Just 12 months later though, and it’s all change once again, with Slot fired after a poor second season in charge while more changes are afoot. Michael Edwards has now left as FSG’s CEO of Football, while sporting director Richard Hughes is expected to follow him soon.
No further exits are expected at this time, but it is another dramatic change for Liverpool following the restructure of just a couple of years ago. Here’s a look at the key roles at the club and FSG now, and how they’ve changed since 2024…
FSG
In terms of the three most important figures for Liverpool’s owners, nothing has really changed. John W. Henry remains the owner, Tom Werner is the club’s chairman and Mike Gordon continues as FSG president.
With Edwards leaving though, Gordon is set to take back responsibilities on soccer operations within the group. In his role as CEO of Football, Edwards had overseen the club’s restructure amid Klopp’s departure, making a number of key appointments so far, as well as leading FSG’s plans for a multi-club model - something which now looks to have been shelved.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 04: Liverpool's chief executive of football Michael Edwards during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on October 04, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
FSG is not expected to appoint a direct replacement for Michael Edwards(Image: Getty Images)
Julian Ward remains in place though after joining Edwards in returning two years ago. The former sporting director is now technical director for Liverpool’s owners, with his role seeing him take charge of the development of players, which he was also expected to do within the proposed new portfolio of clubs.
Pedro Marques joined FSG from Benfica as director of football development. He previously led the Lisbon club’s coaching recruitment and youth structure, helping it to develop players in order to make a huge profit when selling the likes of Joao Felix and Darwin Nunez.
One of the other new roles created at FSG in 2024 saw Hans Leitert appointed as the new head of goalkeeping. The 51-year-old had worked as a scouting consultant for Liverpool over the previous six years, and now oversees the development of goalkeeper coaches and specific pathways for goalkeepers, including introducing a specific training programme for them.
Liverpool FC
The biggest change this summer of course sees Andoni Iraola replace Arne Slot at the helm at Anfield. Like Slot, Iraola has been given the title of head coach, which saw a departure from Jurgen Klopp's previous title as manager.
With Iraola coming in, Slot's previous backroom staff has also been replaced, with Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper arriving as first-team coaches, Pablo de la Torre coming in as an assistant, while Tom Webber was appointed as first-team tactical analyst, with all four having previously worked with Iraola at Bournemouth.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JULY 09: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Academy director Alex Inglethorpe, sporting director Richard Hughes and head coach Andoni Iraola of Liverpool during an U21 training session at AXA Training Centre on July 09, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola with sporting director Richard Hughes and the club's academy director Alex Inglethorpe(Image: Getty Images)
Richard Hughes remains the club’s sporting director for now, although he is expected to leave after this summer's transfer window in order to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, where he will work with former Bournemouth colleague Simon Francis.
David Woodfine returned to Liverpool in 2024, a year after his departure as head of loan pathways to become Hughes’ assistant. He could well be in the running to take on Hughes' role once the current sporting director departs.
Barry Hunter remains the club’s chief scout, a role he has held since 2012 after being brought in by former manager Brendan Rodgers. He will follow up recommendations from regional scouts and draw up reports on players.
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Mark Burchill followed Hughes to Anfield having served as Bournemouth’s chief scout, taking up the same role at Liverpool.
Finally, Will Spearman remains the club’s director of research, having replaced Ian Graham in 2023. The American leads a team primarily charged with identifying the right transfers to target.
An original version of this article was first published on June 3, 2024.