Ward ‘delighted’ as his return to Liverpool as sporting director is confirmed
Liverpool have appointed Julian Ward as the club’s new sporting director, with the former Fenway Sports Group technical director taking up the role with immediate effect.
Ward returns to a senior position at Anfield after more than 14 years of association with the club, having first joined Liverpool’s football operation in 2012.
He has previously held a number of strategic roles at the Reds, including European scouting manager, director of loan player management, assistant sporting director and sporting director.
Ward stepped down from the sporting director role in 2023 before later becoming FSG’s technical director.
FSG president Mike Gordon said Ward’s experience of both the wider football industry and Liverpool made him the ideal candidate for the position.
“We are delighted that Julian has agreed to take over leadership of our football operations department at this juncture, primarily because it is a role for which we believe he is the ideal candidate given his extensive experience of the football industry in general and Liverpool Football Club in particular,” Gordon said.
“The knowledge and expertise he brings will only enhance our football operations, while also ensuring Andoni [Iraola] is provided with the support he requires as he continues to make such a positive impression as head coach.
“Julian’s appointment also represents the continuation of a long-standing relationship which has always served Liverpool well, and we very much look forward to the next stage in its development.”
Ward worked with Manchester City and the Portugal national team before joining Liverpool and has since become a key figure in the club’s recruitment and football strategy.
The new sporting director said he was excited to return to the role and stressed the importance of building on Liverpool’s existing foundations.
“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,” Ward said.
“Having been part of Liverpool’s football operation for more than a decade, I have a full appreciation and first-hand knowledge of the challenge that comes with the position, as well as a clear understanding of the demands and ambitions of this great club.
“This is an exciting period for Liverpool – on and off the pitch – in which change and opportunity go hand in hand, but at the same time the culture, values and principles that have underpinned the club for so long remain as strong as ever.
“As a football club, we will continue to create an environment that maximises performance while promoting the continued development of our players and our people.
“Building on these strong foundations and the work overseen by our football operations in recent seasons is both a huge responsibility and a privilege.”
