LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 19, 2025: Former Liverpool player Ian Rush (L) with Liverpool's Sporting Directors Julian Ward (C) and Richard Hughes (R) before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC at Anfield. Man Utd won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 19, 2025: Former Liverpool player Ian Rush (L) with Liverpool's Sporting Directors Julian Ward (C) and Richard Hughes (R) before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC at Anfield. Man Utd won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Former Liverpool sporting director and current FSG technical director, Julian Ward, has been thrust to the top of the internal candidate list to replace Richard Hughes.
Hughes’ exit was announced last week, and his new role at Al-Hilal has already been confirmed, leaving a significant vacancy for the club to fill.
Current assistant sporting director David Woodfine, FSG technical director Ward and director of football development Pedro Marques have all been named as internal options.
And according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Ward is a strong contender to take over the duties vacated by Hughes.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's Sporting Director Julian Ward during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 16, 2026: Liverpool's Sporting Director Julian Ward during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Como 1907 at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
In his latest update in a recent Q&A, Ornstein noted he is among the leading options, though stressed an external candidate is still possible:
“I think Ward stands a really good chance, from the conversations I’m having, but it’s important for us not to discount external possibilities.”
The consideration, however, will be whether Ward wants to return to the position after his brief initial stint, or whether he remains content with the role he currently occupies.
Ornstein notes that the 45-year-old is “coveted elsewhere” and has “been wanted by a number of Premier League clubs and clubs on the continent.”
When was Julian Ward sporting director at Liverpool?
Ward first served as Liverpool’s sporting director in 2022, taking over from Michael Edwards after serving as his assistant.
He was expected to lead the next era of recruitment but months into his tenure, it was announced he would only stay in his post for a single season, leaving in the summer of 2023.
There has been little consistency since, with Jorg Schmadtke taking temporary charge before Hughes was appointed in 2024.
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During his year in the role, Ward oversaw the additions of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, and was influential in Alexis Mac Allister’s arrival and the earlier signing of Luis Diaz.
He returned in June 2024 when FSG appointed him as their technical director, working alongside Edwards across the ownership group’s broader operations.
Ward currently oversees player development pathways and the academy, but his return as sporting director would establish consistency and a return to the identity lost since he first stepped down.
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