Liverpool seeks new technical director after Hughes' departure
Liverpool said goodbye to technical director Richard Hughes a few days after the transfer window closed, the Englishman who had worked at The Reds for more than two years. The departure was confirmed by the club and follows a period of mixed success under the partnership with manager Arne Slot.
Appointment and first season
Richard Hughes was appointed in March 2024 as the successor to Jörg Schmadtke. In his first months he worked closely with manager Arne Slot. The duo was quickly seen as the driving force behind the club's sporting direction.
Under their leadership Liverpool secured the English championship title in Slot’s first season. It was the first major success since the arrival of the new coaching staff. The partnership between Slot and Hughes was later often referred to as Slot’s partnership. The victory enhanced the reputation of both Slot and Hughes.
The summer transfer window, however, remained modest. The main signings were goalkeeper Giorgi Mamashvili and forward Federico Chiesa. These two players were praised as quality additions despite the limited budget.
Transfer policy and aftermath
A year later Hughes shifted the transfer policy to a much more aggressive course. Liverpool brought Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong to Anfield, for fees that together amounted to hundreds of millions of euros. These expenditures marked a clear shift in the club’s financial strategy.
The results, however, fell short of the high expectations and the club finished in fifth place. After the disappointing season Arne Slot left the club. His departure was followed by a period of uncertainty within the coaching staff.
Richard Hughes initially remained in his post, but under the new manager Andoni Iraola the transfer policy continued. Jérémy Jacquet and Victor Muñoz were secured for sizable fees, while Bradley Barcola arrived from Paris Saint‑Germain to Liverpool for €125 million. This latest major signing was seen as Hughes’ final signature.
Liverpool now needs to find a successor for Hughes. According to earlier reports the Englishman will soon take up a role at Saudi Al‑Hilal. The search for a new technical director is now high on the club’s agenda.