Liverpool have announced Richard Hughes as their new sporting director to usher in a new era at Anfield as part of Michael Edwards' shake up.
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Liverpool undergoing a revamp of sporting structureHughes comes in to aid EdwardsLeaves Bournemouth to move to MerseysideWHAT HAPPENED?
The Reds officially announced Hughes as the club's new sporting director on Wednesday. This move comes as part of a comprehensive shake-up orchestrated by Michael Edwards, the former sporting director who is set to return to the club as CEO.
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Hughes, a former Scotland international, will depart from his current role as Bournemouth's sporting director to join Liverpool at the conclusion of the season. His journey in football administration began after retiring from the game, initially joining Bournemouth's recruitment team under the tutelage of Eddie Howe. Hughes's astute contributions led to his promotion to technical director during the club's tenure in the Premier League.
DID YOU KNOW?
Liverpool have been without a permanent sporting director since the departure of Julian Ward last summer. In the interim, the club enlisted the support of German football executive Jordi Schmadtke to assist Klopp during the summer transfer window, which saw notable signings including Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch.
Meanwhile, Hughes's illustrious career in football spans both playing and administrative roles. He commenced his professional journey at Arsenal, although he never made a senior appearance for the club. Hughes later joined Bournemouth in 1998, where he spent four years before making a move to Portsmouth on the south coast.
During his tenure at Fratton Park, Hughes earned five caps for the Scotland national team and made a notable 114 appearances in the Premier League over nine years. He eventually returned to Bournemouth in 2012 before retiring from professional football two years later, marking the conclusion of a distinguished career.
WHAT HUGHES HAS SAID
He told the club's official website: “I am incredibly proud to be offered this opportunity. Liverpool FC is a unique club and I’m grateful to be given a chance to serve it in this capacity.
“People rightly talk about the rich history this organisation can boast, but it is the present and future which really excites me. Jürgen Klopp is leading an outstanding team and squad and alongside that the commitment to young players and their pathway to the first team is also outstanding.
“I am fully aware of the expectations and responsibilities that come with taking this position. It will be my job, working with Michael [Edwards] and leading the football operations team already in place, plus the wider staff at the AXA Training Centre, to make good decisions.
“That’s really what the job entails: you have to make the kind of good decisions which enhance the prospects of having a team that wins and excites the supporters. It is what Liverpool have done well for a very long time and the benefits are there for everyone to see.”