Liverpool has officially confirmed the appointment of Richard Hughes as their new sporting director. Hughes previously worked his way up to technical director of fellow <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> side <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/bournemouth-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Bournemouth</a>. The Cherries, however, recently announced that Hughes would depart the club at the end of the current campaign.



The pending arrival of Hughes at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/liverpool-tv-schedule/">Liverpool</a> was certainly impacted by his relationship with Michael Edwards. Fenway Sports Group, the current ownership group of the club, recently hired Edwards as their new CEO of football. Hughes and Edwards have a friendship that goes back to their time together at Portsmouth in the early 2000s.



Upon agreeing to the move, Hughes admitted that he understands the magnitude of the role. The new Sporting Director is also cognizant that he will now have to make several good decisions heading into the summer. “I am fully aware of the expectations and responsibilities that come with taking this position,” Hughes <a href="https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/richard-hughes-appointed-lfcs-new-sporting-director" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proclaimed</a>. 



“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.”



<h2>Sporting Director must help find a new head coach at Liverpool</h2>



One of these big decisions will be finding a replacement for legendary manager Jurgen Klopp. The German is set to leave the Merseyside club at the end of the current campaign. As a result, the Reds must be diligent in their search for a successor at the helm.



Liverpool can now essentially accelerate their approach to bring in a new manager. As sporting director, Hughes will be a key figure in this process. Current <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/bayer-leverkusen-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Bayer Leverkusen</a> head coach Xabi Alonso is undoubtedly the main target for the position. The former Red has the German side surprisingly atop the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/bundesliga-tv-schedule/">Bundesliga</a> standings at the moment. Not only is Leverkusen dominating the league, but they are also undefeated in the entire campaign.



Alonso, however, is also thought to be the frontrunner to take over at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/bayern-munich-tv-schedule/">Bayern Munich</a> as well. The German giants are also looking for a new manager after announcing that Thomas Tuchel will part ways with the team in June. As a result, Alonso may be able to pick his preferred destination between the two top teams.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240320_WST_496210_De-Zerbi-Liverpool-1200x670_3d479161.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-496234" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/De-Zerbi-Liverpool-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/De-Zerbi-Liverpool-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/De-Zerbi-Liverpool-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/De-Zerbi-Liverpool.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Brighton boss previously linked with Hughes</h2>



Assuming the former midfielder opts to remain in Germany, Liverpool will have to go to plan B. This contingency could then lead straight to Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi. Despite being born in Scotland Hughes grew up in Italy and began his playing career with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/serie-a-tv-schedule/">Serie A</a> outfit <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/atalanta-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Atalanta</a>. 



Hughes is fluent in Italian and knows De Zerbi quite well. <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13218609/Liverpool-confirm-sporting-director-Richard-Hughes-Jurgen-Klopp-Michael-Edwards.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mail Sport</a> claims that Hughes previously attempted to bring the Italian manager to Bournemouth before the coach signed with fellow South Coast side <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/brighton-tv-schedule-where-to-watch-the-seagulls/">Brighton</a>. De Zerbi is currently one of the more sought-after young soccer coaches in all of Europe. After all, the Italian previously helped the Seagulls qualify for their first-ever European competition this season.



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Liverpool hires new sporting director to narrow managerial search

New Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has previous links to Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi. Is he the right fit at Anfield?

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Liverpool hires new sporting director to narrow managerial search