Liverpool have appointed Julian Ward as sporting director with immediate effect, the club confirmed on Saturday. Ward returns to the Anfield football-operations role after most recently serving as Fenway Sports Group’s technical director.
Why Liverpool turned back to Ward
Ward’s association with Liverpool stretches back more than 14 years. He joined the club’s football operation in 2012 after earlier work with Manchester City and the Portugal national team, and later held senior posts including European scouting manager, director of loan player management and assistant sporting director.
He previously served as Liverpool’s sporting director earlier this decade before stepping down from that post in 2023. His return fills the vacancy left after Richard Hughes left for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, a departure reported by BBC Sport before Saturday’s official confirmation from the club.
What Ward and FSG said
FSG president Mike Gordon said the club was delighted Ward had agreed to lead football operations, calling him “the ideal candidate given his extensive experience of the football industry in general and Liverpool Football Club in particular.” Gordon said Ward’s expertise would enhance football operations and support head coach Andoni Iraola.
Ward said: “I am incredibly excited to take on this role and it goes without saying that I am hugely grateful for the trust that has been placed in me by ownership.” He said more than a decade inside Liverpool’s football operation gave him “a full appreciation and first-hand knowledge of the challenge that comes with the position,” and pointed to Iraola and staff across the AXA Training Centre, the Academy and AXA Melwood as the base from which the club would keep driving forward.
What happens next
Ward takes up the sporting director role immediately. On the pitch Iraola remains head coach, while Ward leads the wider football-operations department through the international break and into the next phase of Liverpool’s season.