---
title: "Liverpool sporting director update as Richard Hughes officially leaves"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/liverpool-sporting-director-update-as-richard-hughes-officially-leaves/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Vishal Subramanian"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2026-09-05T11:39:23Z"
modified: "2026-09-22T13:23:29Z"
---

# Liverpool sporting director update as Richard Hughes officially leaves

**Liverpool have officially confirmed that sporting director has left the club as he embarks on a new challenge.**

Having joined the club in the summer of 2024 alongside Michael Edwards following Jurgen Klopp’s departure, Hughes oversaw some big changes at Anfield as the Reds won the Premier League title in 2025.

Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon thanked Hughes for his contribution, saying via [Liverpool’s official website](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/liverpool-fc-statement-14): “Richard joined us at the start of a period of change, embracing that responsibility by leading our football operations department and overseeing recruitment while also providing valuable support to our coaching staff.

And now, The Athletic have provided an update on who his successor could be as the Reds aim to embark on a new era under Andoni Iraola.

## Liverpool could internally hire next sporting director

[Gregg Evans](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7567538/2026/09/05/liverpool-sporting-director-hughes-leaves-al-hilal/) reports that Liverpool could look internally for Hughes’s replacement, with Julian Ward, David Woodfine and Pedro Marques all among the candidates being considered.

However, they could also look elsewhere to appoint a new sporting director, with the decision expected to be made at some point before the turn of the year.

https://twitter.com/AnfieldSector/status/2096193202155925743?s=20

Edwards also left the club earlier this summer to signal a summer of change for Liverpool behind the scenes.

Hughes’ tenure will be remembered as a mixed bag, but to be fair to him, he oversaw some big deals as sporting director and leaves with the best wishes of everyone at the club.