Liverpool is set to reappoint Julian Ward as the club's sporting director, just over three years on from last holding the position as he succeeds Richard Hughes
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 02: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) U18 manager Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, academy director Alex Inglethorpe, technical director Julian Ward and Sir Kenny Dalglish of Liverpool watch the action during the UEFA Youth Champions League match at AXA Melwood Training Centre on October 02, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Julian Ward is set to be reappointed as Liverpool's sporting director(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool looks set to reappoint Julian Ward as the club’s sporting director, with the former transfer chief expected to return to the role just over three years on from his initial spell.
Having considered both internal and external candidates, including Brentford technical director Lee Dykes, FSG president Mike Gordon has decided upon Ward as Richard Hughes’ successor, with the Scot having left Anfield earlier this month to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
Ward has had a long association with Liverpool, and returned to work with the club’s owners just a couple of years ago. Now, with a major overhaul having occurred during the summer, he’s set to be placed back in charge of the Reds’ transfer business.
Here’s everything you need to know about Liverpool’s returning sporting director…
Who is Julian Ward?
Ward will, of course, be a familiar figure to Liverpool fans and possibly to plenty of others from the city.
He was born in Aintree before growing up further north in Cumbria, although he would return to Merseyside to study for a degree in science and football at Liverpool John Moores University in 1999.
While studying for his course, he also played for non-league club Morecambe as a midfielder, before going on to work for The FA as a performance analyst and data company Prozone as a consultant.
Content Image
Content Image
Having moved to Northern Ireland for his PhD in 2005, Ward was appointed by former Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz to become the Portugal national team’s head of analysis and technical scouting. He learned the language, moved to Lisbon and was part of Queiroz’s backroom staff at the 2010 World Cup, where he would have worked with, among others, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Later that same year, he joined Manchester City as the club’s South American scouting strategist and was there when it won its first Premier League title in 2012.
Ward would then be snapped up by Liverpool, where he was placed in charge of the club’s Spanish and Portuguese scouting network. Three years later, he was appointed as the Reds’ loan pathways and football partnerships manager, a role which saw him arrange temporary moves for players including Harvey Elliott and Harry Wilson.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - APRIL 28: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool signing a contract extension with Michael Gordon President of Fenway Sports Group and Julian Ward assistant sporting director of Liverpool at AXA Training Centre on April 28, 2022 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Julian Ward (right) with FSG president Mike Gordon and former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp in 2022(Image: Getty Images)
He would end up working with Michael Edwards on squad planning and managing training groups, with a particular focus on recruitment and contracts for the club’s U23s before being promoted to assistant sporting director in December 2020.
He would, of course, succeed Edwards as the club’s transfer chief in 2022, although he would only be in the role for a year before leaving the club. During his time at the helm, Liverpool signed the likes of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, while the arrival of Alexis Mac Allister was also completed before his departure.
Just a year after his exit, Ward returned to work with FSG as technical director as part of the shake-up following Jurgen Klopp’s departure as manager. He was responsible for overseeing player development pathways and the academy, and had been expected to oversee operations at another team before Liverpool’s owners shelved plans to enter multi-club ownership.
Now, with Hughes departing the club, FSG president Mike Gordon has turned back to Ward for a second spell as Liverpool’s sporting director, with the 45-year-old set to work with head coach Andoni Iraola on strengthening his squad going forward.