As they get ready for life beyond Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool announced on Wednesday that they had appointed Richard Hughes, the leaving technical director of Bournemouth, as their new sports director, effective at the end of the 2023–24 campaign.
The 44-year-old former Scotland midfielder will step down as technical director at the end of the current campaign, according to a Bournemouth announcement made earlier in March. He assumed the role in 2016.
In addition, Hughes played in the south coast twice, from 1998 to 2002 and from 2012 to 2014.
He takes Jorg Schmadtke’s place and joins Michael Edwards, who was named Chief Executive Officer of Football by Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group last week after ten extremely productive years with the team.
“I am incredibly proud to be offered this opportunity… People rightly talk about the rich history this organisation can boast, but it is the present and future which really excites me,” Hughes said in a statement.
“It will be my job, working with Michael and leading the football operations team already in place, plus the wider staff at the AXA Training Centre, to make good decisions.”
Hughes will take over responsibilities at Liverpool on June 1.
Klopp, 56, in January announced his decision to step down as Liverpool manager at the end of the current campaign after trophy-laden eight-and-a-half-years at the club, citing dwindling energy levels.
“As one very successful chapter will come to a close for Liverpool in the summer, the objective of everyone here is for another one to begin — and with Richard I am confident we have the right person in position for us to achieve this aim,” Edwards said.
