Liverpool officially reappointed technical director Julian Ward as its sporting director..

Liverpool announced on their official website on Saturday that the club has reappointed technical director Julian Ward as its sporting director.

According to the Liverpool's official statement, Ward will take over the role from Richard Hughes, who stepped down earlier this month to work in Saudi Arabia, though no announcement was made regarding who would fill Ward's previous position.

Additionally, Tthe Athletic's resident renowned English Liverpool team correspondent James Pearce reported that before deciding on Ward, the club had considered external candidates but ultimately concluded that no one was more suitable than Ward, given his prior experience in the role and his deep familiarity with the club's operational model. 

Following the confirmation of his reappointment, Ward, who was interviewed by the Liverpool official website again, said: "I am thrilled to take on this role and deeply grateful for the trust the club's owners have placed in me."

"Having worked in Liverpool's football operations department for over a decade, I am well aware of the challenges this position entails and have a thorough understanding of the development needs and ambitious vision of this great club."

"This is an exciting time of opportunity and transformation for Liverpool, both on and off the pitch; at the same time, the culture, values, and principles that underpin the club's long-term success remain rock-solid."

"As a professional football club, we will continue to foster an environment that maximizes competitive performance while promoting the ongoing growth of our players and staff."

"The arrival of Andoni Iraola (Head Coach), combined with the collaborative efforts across the AXA Training Centre, the Academy, and AXA Melwood, provides us with the expertise, talent, and resources needed to drive the club forward."

"Building upon this strong foundation to continue the work undertaken by the football operations team in recent years is both a huge responsibility and a tremendous honor for me."

About Julian Ward

The 45-year-old Ward was born on June 17, 1981. He is a Liverpool native of Irish descent who played for various lower-league clubs in England and Northern Ireland during his youth.

After retiring as a player, Ward worked as a data analyst for the England U20s national team starting in 2001, before moving to a role as Head of Data Analysis for the Portugal senior national team between 2008 and 2010. 

In 2012, Ward joined Manchester City as Head of Scouting for the South America region. However, frustrated by the club's long-standing failure to promote academy players to the first-team, he accepted an offer to move to Liverpool.

During his ten-year tenure at Liverpool, Ward served in roles including scout and loan pathways manager, eventually being promoted to Assistant Sporting Director in the summer of 2020.

Working closely with Michael Edwards, he played a key role in recruiting star players such as Luis Díaz, Diogo Jota, Thiago, Harvey Elliott, and Darwin Núñez for the club.

In November 2022, Ward unexpectedly announced his intention to leave the club at the end of the season to spend more time with his family, pledging not to take a job with another Premier League club.

The following September, the Liverpool ECHO revealed a surprise development: Ward had returned to the club on a voluntary, part-time basis to assist with player recruitment during the recently concluded summer transfer window.

He was credited with making a significant contribution to the signings of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ryan Gravenberch.

In the summer of 2024, Ward returns to Liverpool, taking on the role of Technical Director for Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the club's majority owner.

In this capacity, he helped appoint Arne Slot as head coach, contributing to a campaign that saw the team win its second Premier League title in history during Slot's debut season, achieved with minimal new signings.

Image source: Internet / Liverpool FC official website