LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool have begun the process of identifying Richard Hughes’ replacement as sporting director, with three internal candidates expected to be considered.
Hughes was long known to be leaving Liverpool after the summer transfer window, and the club confirmed his exit on Saturday.
The 47-year-old is now set to take up a role with Al-Hilal while Liverpool weigh up their options for next sporting director.
Liverpool’s official statement explained that “the process of appointing a successor is under way,” with The Athletic‘s Gregg Evans reporting on their search.
Evans writes that the club, led by Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon, are “expected to look at internal candidates” but also “are not ruling out a new appointment.”
Who could replace Richard Hughes at Liverpool?
Current assistant sporting director David Woodfine (pictured right), FSG technical director Julian Ward (left) and director of football development Pedro Marques (centre) are all named as options.
However, the Guardian‘s Andy Hunter claims that “Liverpool’s football structure will otherwise remain intact,” suggesting Woodfine, Ward and Marques will retain their current roles.
The reality of the situation remains to be seen, with it almost certain that Woodfine – who returned to the club in 2024 after a year away, following a previous nine-year stint – would be open to taking the lead role.
Woodfine, who worked with both Hughes and Michael Edwards at Portsmouth, held positions as scouting and recruitment coordinator, head of football projects and scouting operations, and director of loan management between 2014 and 2023.
His experience should lend itself well to the position of sporting director, similar to the way in which Ward stepped up to the role when Edwards first left Liverpool in 2022.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 25, 2025: Fenway Sports Group technical director Julian Ward during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Ipswich Town FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 25, 2025: Fenway Sports Group technical director Julian Ward during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Ipswich Town FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Ward and Marques have been instrumental in developing Liverpool’s wider recruitment model, particularly in working with director of global talent Matt Newberry to identify and sign high-potential young players.
It is unclear whether FSG would be willing to break that setup in order to replace Hughes, whose focus was on first-team matters.
Liverpool’s sporting director history
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 7, 2010: Liverpool's owner John W. Henry and Director of Football Damien Comolli before the Premiership match against Chelsea at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 7, 2010: Liverpool's owner John W. Henry and Director of Football Damien Comolli before the Premiership match against Chelsea at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Damien Comolli – November 2010 to March 2011
Michael Edwards – November 2016 to June 2022
Julian Ward – June 2022 to May 2023
Jorg Schmadtke – June 2023 to February 2024
Richard Hughes – June 2024 to September 2026
Hughes’s departure means Liverpool have seen four different sporting directors vacate the position in four years, following Edwards (2022), Ward (2023) and Jorg Schmadtke (2024).
Like Hughes, whose ties with Edwards made him an obvious choice, Schmadtke was brought into Liverpool due to his connections with one of the club’s established leaders, Jurgen Klopp.
If Liverpool do make an outside hire, it can be argued that it would be their biggest departure as sporting director since Damien Comolli was brought in as director of football in 2010.
Football – FA Premier League – Chelsea FC v Liverpool FC
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 4, 2025: Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes during the FA Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
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Football – FA Premier League – Newcastle United FC v Liverpool FC
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)