Al Hilal name former Liverpool charge as new sporting director

[p]Hughes, 47, ‌joined [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] in 2024 ‌from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bournemouth/OtpNdwrc/"]Bournemouth[/a]. He appointed Arne ‌Slot as Jurgen Klopp's successor as manager, a decision that ‌paid immediate dividends as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/urawa-reds/C8IHSxPk/"]⁠the ‌Reds[/a] claimed the Premier League title ​in 2024-25. Slot was then sacked and ​replaced by Andoni Iraola in June.[/p][p][b]"The appointment of Hughes came ⁠as ​part of Al Hilal's efforts to strengthen its football system and develop its sporting structure ‌with specialized expertise," the SPL leaders said in a statement.[/b][/p][embed guid="1e967026-25d0-49dd-9bf5-0ce73832e9fa" url="https://x.com/Alhilal_EN/status/2096671408084463735" social-type="twitter" /][p]The appointment highlights [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/al-hilal/hxxcePl9/"]Al Hilal[/a]'s drive to tap into English football expertise, with Hughes the latest former Premier League figure to join ‌the Riyadh-based club.[/p][p]Hughes follows [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinelli/dITe5M88/"]Gabriel ​Martinelli[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/summerville-crysencio/EaRET7t6/"]Crysencio Summerville[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/watkins-ollie/rHnOkDD8/"]‌Ollie Watkins[/a], who joined the Saudi club this year from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/west-ham/Cxq57r8g/"]West Ham United[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aston-villa/W00wmLO0/"]Aston Villa[/a], ⁠respectively.[/p]