Julian Ward returns as Liverpool sporting director after Richard Hughes heads to Al-Hilal

Liverpool have confirmed the return of Julian Ward as sporting director, a position he previously held during the 2022-23 campaign and one he now takes up again after Richard Hughes left for Saudi side Al-Hilal. The move, pushed through by Fenway Sports Group, comes at a time of significant change in the club's football leadership at Anfield.

Julian Ward's return to Liverpool

Ward, 45, knows the club inside out. Across the past 14 years he has worked in a range of roles at Liverpool, from European scouting manager to assistant sporting director, before stepping up to the top job in 2022. In that first spell he replaced Michael Edwards and played a part in the signings of Luis Díaz, Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Núñez, although Jürgen Klopp held greater influence over transfers after Edwards departed.

For the past two years, Ward has served as technical director for Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's ownership group. From that role he oversaw the global talent strategy that has allowed Liverpool to sign several highly rated young prospects during this calendar year.

How Liverpool moved to replace Richard Hughes

Hughes's move to the Saudi Pro League, completed once the summer transfer window had closed, forced Liverpool to act quickly. The process of finding his successor was led by FSG president Mike Gordon, who had resumed the day-to-day running of the club after the sporting director's exit.

Gordon has never hidden how highly FSG rate Ward. His deep knowledge of the club and its squad planning proved decisive in the American group's decision to go with an internal appointment rather than look elsewhere.

What the appointment means amid Anfield hierarchy changes

The appointment offers continuity at a time of upheaval in the Liverpool hierarchy.

Liverpool are going through a transitional period off the pitch. Along with Hughes's departure, the club have also seen Michael Edwards, the former chief executive of football at FSG, leave this year. On top of that, the owners are in the process of selling a 38% stake to 1892 Holdings for £2bn, a consortium fronted by Amit Bhatia and including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, with an option for a full takeover should FSG decide to sell.

Liverpool's new football operations structure

Ward will not lead the project alone. The sporting director will run the football operation alongside assistant sporting director David Woodfine, chief scout Barry Hunter, FSG's director of football development Pedro Marques and the senior leadership team headed by head coach Andoni Iraola.

His inside knowledge, combined with the experience built at FSG as technical director, puts Liverpool in position to approach the next transfer windows with a settled structure in place and no lengthy adaptation period required.

Julian Ward's immediate challenges at Anfield

The new sporting director picks up the role with several open fronts. The first is to consolidate squad planning ahead of the next January window and to lay the foundations for the medium-term project. With Iraola in the dugout, coordination between the boardroom and the coaching staff will be key in setting market priorities.

The focus on young talent, central to his work as FSG technical director, looks set to remain a Liverpool hallmark in the years ahead. Ward will be responsible for keeping that strategy on track and for completing the moves that strengthen the first team in the positions the coaching staff identify as priorities.

Frequently asked questions about Julian Ward's return