Liverpool are once again searching for a new sporting director after Richard Hughes’ move to Al-Hilal was confirmed.
Hughes joined the club in the summer of 2024 and played a central role in the appointments of Arne Slot and later Andoni Iraola. He told Liverpool earlier this year that he wanted to take on a fresh challenge in Saudi Arabia.
His departure means Liverpool are now looking for their fifth sporting director since 2022.
Mike Gordon, president of Fenway Sports Group (FSG), is leading the search for Hughes’ successor. Liverpool want to move quickly, but the club are also keen to find someone who can provide long-term stability.
Internal candidates will be considered, although FSG have not ruled out bringing in an experienced figure from outside the organisation.
The new sporting director will inherit a number of important decisions, from contract renewals involving key senior players to the club’s future recruitment strategy.
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Who Could Become Liverpool’s New Sporting Director?
One potential option is David Woodfine, who worked as Hughes’ assistant and previously held the role of Liverpool’s director of loans.
Woodfine was pictured showing Iraola around the AXA Training Centre following the manager’s arrival in June, underlining his continued involvement within the football structure.
Another possibility is Julian Ward, who already has extensive experience at Liverpool.
Ward served as sporting director between 2022 and 2023 and was involved in the recruitment of players including Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Nunez.
He is now FSG’s technical director, meaning he already understands the organisation and its approach to football operations.
Pedro Marques is another internal candidate who could come into consideration.
Marques currently works as FSG’s director of football development. Before that, he was technical director at Benfica, where he helped oversee the signing of Enzo Fernandez for £10m. Earlier in his career, he worked as a first-team performance analyst at Manchester City.
Outside the existing Liverpool and FSG structure, Luis Campos of Paris St-Germain would represent one of the strongest possible appointments.
However, Campos is considered unlikely to leave the European champions in the immediate future.
Whoever eventually succeeds Hughes will have an extensive workload. Hughes has also taken Liverpool recruitment staff members Mark Burchill and Craig McKee with him to the Middle East, increasing the importance of finding the right replacement.
Should Liverpool Retain Alisson?
One of the first major decisions for the incoming sporting director will concern goalkeeper Alisson.
The Brazil international’s current contract expires at the end of the season. Juventus showed interest in him during the summer, but Liverpool were not prepared to allow their long-serving goalkeeper to leave.
Iraola has already shown his confidence in the 33-year-old by naming him one of his vice-captains.
Alisson has started all three of Liverpool’s league matches so far and remains comfortably the club’s leading goalkeeper, even if he is no longer at the peak of his career.
Liverpool do have alternatives.
Giorgi Mamardashvili remains part of the goalkeeping group, although he has yet to completely convince. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Lucca Brughmans is scheduled to arrive from Genk next summer in a transfer that could eventually be worth £30m.
However, Brughmans is unlikely to be regarded as an immediate first-choice goalkeeper.
That leaves the new sporting director with an important decision to make over whether Liverpool should extend Alisson’s stay.
The goalkeeper has been an important part of one of the most successful periods in the club’s modern history, helping Liverpool win two Premier League titles and a Champions League.
Losing him at the same time as another senior figure could create a significant leadership gap.
Van Dijk Presents Another Contract Decision
Liverpool face a similar situation with captain Virgil van Dijk, whose contract also expires next summer.
The timing is particularly important because Liverpool have already lost experienced figures Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson at the end of last season.
Van Dijk therefore remains an important source of experience within the squad.
Following an extended break after the World Cup, the 35-year-old has played every minute of Liverpool’s league campaign so far.
While he may not possess exactly the same level of influence he had during his peak years, Van Dijk remains regarded as one of Europe’s leading centre-backs.
Liverpool also have several highly rated young defenders coming through.
Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni, Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye all have significant potential, and Van Dijk could provide an ideal mentor for those younger players.
The next sporting director will therefore have to balance Liverpool’s desire to develop the next generation with the benefits of retaining experienced leaders.
Allowing both Alisson and Van Dijk to depart in the same summer would represent a significant change to the squad’s leadership structure.
Midfield Could Become a Priority
Andoni Iraola believes Liverpool already have sufficient numbers in midfield, despite the club not making a major addition to the position during the summer.
That decision came after Curtis Jones moved to Inter Milan.
Liverpool have instead placed greater faith in Trey Nyoni, who is expected to play a more prominent role this season.
The 19-year-old impressed during Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States and could be given further opportunities as the campaign develops.
However, the demands on the established midfielders will increase as the fixture schedule becomes more intense.
Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are expected to carry much of the workload.
An injury to any of those three could quickly expose a lack of depth.
Liverpool have previously looked at Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, although the club were not prepared to invest in another midfielder during the summer.
That could change when the transfer window reopens in January or ahead of next summer.
Mac Allister’s contract situation could also influence the club’s plans. His current agreement runs until 2028, but there are currently no negotiations over an extension.
That is another issue the incoming sporting director will eventually need to address.
Liverpool Look Well Stocked in Attack
The situation is more positive in the attacking department.
During his time at Liverpool, Hughes oversaw the arrivals of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola, giving the club considerable depth in forward positions.
There is also optimism surrounding academy prospect Rio Ngumoha, who is expected to agree a long-term contract.
Liverpool therefore appear well equipped in attack for the foreseeable future.
One player whose future could still become an interesting issue is Cody Gakpo.
Liverpool rejected the opportunity to allow the Netherlands international to join Manchester City during the summer.
Gakpo has already made an impressive start to the season, contributing one goal and three assists.
However, if Liverpool were able to recruit another winger and subsequently received another substantial offer for Gakpo, the club could reconsider his situation.
For now, though, Liverpool’s attacking depth appears to be one of the strongest areas of the squad.
The New Sporting Director Must Build a Strong Relationship with Iraola
Perhaps the most important responsibility for Hughes’ successor will be establishing a successful working relationship with Iraola.
Liverpool have experienced considerable change during the summer.
Billy Hogan, the club’s chief executive, previously insisted that the organisation remained in a healthy and stable position, with strong leadership from FSG and confidence about the future.
However, the scale of change has been considerable.
Liverpool have changed managers, welcomed new investors, lost several senior players and now have a sporting director leaving earlier than expected.
Michael Edwards, who originally appointed Hughes, has also stepped down from his position as FSG’s CEO of Football.
Hughes’ departure is understood to have been influenced in part by Edwards’ exit.
Hughes was also central to the decision-making process surrounding the managerial change from Slot to Iraola. As a result, his replacement will have an important influence on the club’s future direction and Iraola’s long-term position.
Iraola’s Future Will Be Closely Linked to the New Sporting Director
When Iraola arrived at Liverpool, he explained that he had agreed to only a two-year contract because he did not want to remain at a club simply because a longer contract tied him to it.
His previous relationship with Hughes from their time together at Bournemouth was one factor that helped him secure the Liverpool position.
That existing connection will now disappear, leaving a new sporting director to establish a fresh partnership with the manager.
This relationship could prove crucial.
The sporting director and head coach must agree on recruitment priorities, squad development and the club’s broader football strategy.
Liverpool have significant decisions ahead.
The futures of Alisson and Van Dijk need to be resolved. The midfield may require additional investment, particularly if Mac Allister’s contract situation remains unchanged. The club must also determine how best to develop a group of promising young defenders.
At the same time, Liverpool have considerable strength in attack and a number of players capable of forming the core of the team for years to come.
A Crucial Appointment for Liverpool
The search for Liverpool’s next sporting director comes at a particularly important moment.
The club have the resources and squad quality to challenge again, but there are several decisions that will shape the next stage of the project.
David Woodfine, Julian Ward and Pedro Marques all understand the internal workings of FSG and Liverpool, while Luis Campos represents a high-profile external possibility if he were to become available.
Whoever gets the job will inherit a club undergoing significant change.
Their first challenge will be to provide continuity after Hughes’ departure while developing a strong working relationship with Iraola.
They will also need to make difficult calls over ageing stars, emerging youngsters, contract renewals and future recruitment.
With Liverpool looking to compete at the highest level again, the appointment of the next sporting director could have a major influence on the direction of the club in the coming seasons.