Former Everton star Mark Hughes has shared his profound grief after the tragic death of his son, Alex, at the age of 38. In a heartfelt statement, Hughes described himself and his wife as 'totally heartbroken' by the sudden loss of their beloved son.

Alex Hughes had a promising career in football, most recently appointed as the player recruitment lead at League Two club Grimsby Town last July. Before that, he worked alongside his father at several clubs, including Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, and Fulham. His career also included stints at AFC Fylde and Morecambe, following his time as a player with Stockport County and Wrexham.

Mark Hughes, a celebrated footballer in his own right, earned 72 caps for the Welsh national team and scored 16 international goals. His illustrious playing career saw him win multiple titles, including two Premier League championships, three FA Cups, a League Cup, and the European Cup Winners' Cup with Manchester United, where he notably scored twice in the 1991 final against Barcelona.

During his time at Everton, Hughes made 19 appearances, scoring once in a memorable 4-2 victory against Watford on April 1, 2000. Despite a brief spell at Goodison Park, he became a well-liked figure among the club's supporters.

In their statement, Mark and his wife Jill paid tribute to Alex, stating, 'Alex was a wonderful son, brother to Curtis and Xenna, devoted husband and father to Jessica and their two beautiful children, Sebastian and Leonardo. He had many good friends and colleagues, and he will be so deeply missed by us all.'

Mark Hughes has had a varied managerial career, leading teams such as Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City, Southampton, and most recently Carlisle United, from which he departed by mutual consent on May 28, 2023, following a playoff defeat.