Richard Hughes Implements New Sporting Director Model at Liverpool

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has put his new plan into full effect with the appointment of Andoni Iraola as head coach, confirmed on 4 June.

The sporting director role, introduced in early 2024, differs from the previous structures overseen by Michael Edwards, Julian Ward and Jorg Schmadtke. Hughes now signs players, builds the squad and sets the overall direction, while the head coach handles match tactics.

Hughes’ first summer saw a decision to limit changes, keeping the new director, coach and setup intact without altering playing personnel. In the following season, Arne Slot delivered a Premier League title and participated in player recruitment, but the club’s summer spending was later described as excessive, leading to a fifth‑place finish and no trophies.

After a performance review led by FSG’s CEO of Football Michael Edwards, Hughes oversaw the sacking of Arne Slot on 30 May. He then negotiated a two‑year contract for Andoni Iraola, drawing on a professional relationship that began when he appointed the Basque tactician at Bournemouth in 2023.

With the transfer window open, Hughes must deliver a precise squad overhaul to justify his continued authority after a £450 million investment that produced a fifth‑place Premier League finish and a trophy‑less campaign.