Grimsby Town head coach David Artell has spoken publicly for the first time about the death of Alex Hughes, the son of Manchester United legend Mark Hughes. Alex Hughes, 38, who served as player recruitment lead for the League Two club, passed away in June, leaving a significant void among staff and players.
Artell, speaking to BBC Humberside, appeared emotional as he described Hughes as a "lovely guy, top guy" who was "good at his job, very humble." He noted that unlike some in recruitment roles, Hughes was receptive to input from others in meetings. "Life can be really cruel. He's a good guy," Artell said.
When asked about his own feelings, Artell acknowledged the difficulty, stating, "It's not easy. You have to pull your big boy pants on and get on with it." He emphasized the greater suffering of the Hughes family, saying, "You have to understand that whatever I'm feeling, the family's going through it 1000 times worse. I still miss him, obviously. It's just sad. Really sad."
Alex Hughes' funeral in Prestbury was attended by hundreds of mourners, including prominent figures from Manchester United's history such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Mike Phelan, Martin Edwards, Bryan Robson, and Ryan Giggs. The League Managers Association (LMA) had announced his death in June with a statement on behalf of his parents, Mark and Jill Hughes.
"Jill and I are totally heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected loss of our beloved son Alex," the LMA statement read. "Alex was a wonderful son, brother to Curtis and Xenna, devoted husband and father to Jessica and their two beautiful children Sebastian and Leonardo. Alex was Player Recruitment Lead at Grimsby Town FC, and had many good friends and colleagues. He will be so deeply missed by us all. We ask for privacy during this sad time as we come to terms with our family's loss. The Hughes family."
Following a brief playing career in Wales, Alex Hughes became a licensed agent. He worked alongside his father as an analyst at clubs including Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, and Fulham. Prior to joining Grimsby Town, he also served as director of football at AFC Fylde.