Liverpool have reappointed Julian Ward as their sporting director, the club announced on Friday, as they seek continuity in the football operation following the departure of Richard Hughes to Saudi Pro League side Al‑Hilal.
Ward returns to steady sporting structure
Ward, 45, previously held the sporting director role at Anfield during the 2022–23 season and has spent the past two years as technical director for the club owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG). His return comes amid a period of significant change in Liverpool’s hierarchy after a summer that saw several senior figures leave and a major deal agreed to sell a stake in the club.
FSG president Mike Gordon led the search for Hughes’s successor after Hughes departed following two and a half years at the club. Those recruitment efforts concluded with the appointment of Ward, whose long association with Liverpool stretches back 14 years and includes roles such as European scouting manager, assistant sporting director and, previously, sporting director.
- Role continuity: Ward will lead the club’s football operation alongside assistant sporting director David Woodfine.
- Ownership context: FSG are in the process of selling a 38% stake to 1892 Holdings for £2bn, a consortium fronted by Amit Bhatia with Jeff Bezos among the backers.
- Management turnover: The appointment follows the departures of Hughes and Michael Edwards, the former chief executive of football at FSG.
The club’s statement underlined that Ward’s experience and familiarity with Liverpool’s recruitment and squad planning were central to the decision. During his earlier spell in the sporting director post, signings included Luis Díaz, Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Núñez, moves that helped shape the current squad.
Past role and present responsibilities
After stepping away from the sporting director job in 2022 for personal reasons a few months into the role, Ward remained in the FSG family as technical director. In that capacity he oversaw the global talent strategy that contributed to recent acquisitions of highly rated young players — a remit that appears to have prepared him to resume day‑to‑day oversight of Liverpool’s football operations.
The club indicated Ward will work closely with the existing recruitment team, with David Woodfine continuing as assistant sporting director.
| Year / Period | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2012–2026 (various) | European scouting manager, assistant sporting director | Progressed through Liverpool’s recruitment structure |
| 2022–23 season | Sporting director | Led transfers including Díaz, Gakpo, Mac Allister, Núñez |
| 2024–26 | Technical director at FSG | Oversaw global talent strategy |
| 2026 (current) | Sporting director (reappointed) | Tasked with stabilising football operations after Hughes’s exit |
The appointment represents a pragmatic choice by FSG at a time when the club is experiencing executive churn and negotiating a large minority sale. Gordon, who resumed day‑to‑day responsibilities after Hughes’s exit, was directly involved in recruiting Ward back into the role.
For supporters and observers, the move signals an intent to preserve institutional knowledge and maintain a coherent recruitment philosophy while Liverpool navigates the commercial and leadership changes that have marked the last year.
With Ward installed in the sporting director seat, attention will turn swiftly to the transfer strategy and how the recruitment team aligns with the manager’s plans for the squad amid a season in which on‑field performance and off‑field stability will be watched closely.
