Former Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward has emerged as clear favourite to replace the departed 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: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Julian Ward is close to being reappointed Liverpool sporting director following the departure of Richard Hughes as Fenway Sports Group oversee another restructure of their football operations.
Ward, who has spent the last two years as FSG's technical director, is now favourite to assume the role after Hughes moved to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal earlier this month.
While Liverpool have yet to conclude the process of finding a replacement, Ward is expected to return to the job for the second time.
The 45-year-old was previously sporting director during the 2022/23 season as successor to Michael Edwards only to announce six months into his tenure that he would step down at the end of the campaign due to personal reasons.
He returned to Liverpool in June 2024 having first joined in 2012, first as European scouting manager before taking over as loan and pathways manager in 2015 and the promoted to assistant sporting director to Edwards before taking over the main role.
Among the players signed during his time as sporting director were Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister, while Ward led negotiations for the capture of Luis Diaz shortly before the handover from the departing Edwards.
Edwards subsequently returned to the FSG fold in 2024 as chief executive of football, but this summer departed for a second time ahead of Hughes leaving. Liverpool have also seen two members of their recruitment department, Mark Burchill and Craig McKee, follow Hughes to Al-Hilal.
FSG president Mike Gordon has subsequently been overseeing the day-to-day operations of the club, a task which Ward is now poised to inherit.
Ward's potential appointment would come at a time of change at Liverpool, with last month the 1892 Holdings consortium - led by Amit Bhatia and including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos - buying a 38% stake in the club.