Liverpool loses another top executive as sporting director steps down

Richard Hughes has stepped down from his role as Liverpool sporting director, becoming the latest high-ranking executive to depart the Premier League club recent months.

Hughes, who is reportedly set to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, is leaving less than two months after Michael Edwards exited as CEO of football for Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group.

Liverpool said Saturday that Hughes wanted to “seek a fresh challenge.”

Hughes had joined the club in 2024 and oversaw the appointment of head coach Arne Slot after iconic manager Jurgen Klopp stepped down.

Liverpool went on to win the Premier League title the following season but endured a disappointing campaign last term despite spending around $500 million on new signings. Slot was fired at the end of the season and replaced by Andoni Iraola.

“Richard joined us at the start of a period of change, embracing that responsibility by leading our football operations department and overseeing recruitment while also providing valuable support to our coaching staff," FSG president Mike Gordon said. “The results we achieved in these areas during this period are testament to this contribution. Nevertheless, we respect Richard’s life choices and wish him and his family well in their next venture.”

Edwards left in July, bringing to an end his second spell at the club. During his first stint at Liverpool, he was heavily credited with the club's success in the transfer market when players like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk were key figures in a trophy-laden run for Klopp's team, including the Premier League and Champions League.

Liverpool said the process had already begun to find a new sporting director.

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

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FILE - A general view of the Anfield stadium ahead of the Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Liverpool, England, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

BERLIN (AP) — Mali pulled off the first stunner of the Women's Basketball World Cup by shocking Spain 82-73 on Saturday.

It was only the second win ever in tournament history for the African country, which previously beat Senegal in overtime in the 2010 edition.

Mali was down two at the half, but outscored Spain 31-19 in the third quarter to take the lead. Mali went on a 16-4 run in that period after it was down 45-44 to take command for good. Sika Kone, who finished with 19 points, had two 3-pointers during that game-changing burst. Kone, who plays for the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA, also had 10 rebounds.

Mali (1-1) scored the first five points of the fourth quarter, including another 3-pointer by Kone, to put the game away as Spain could get no closer than nine the rest of the way.

Djeneba N'Diaye also had 19 points for Mali, which is now 2-10 in its World Cup history.

Iyana Martin scored 20 for Spain (1-1), which was one of the top teams in the world.

Other games on Saturday were Nigeria vs Hungary; Germany against Japan and France playing Korea.

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Mali's Sika Kone vies for the ball with Spain's Maite Cazorla, left, during the women's World Cup basketball match between Mali and Spain, in Berlin, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)