Julian Ward and Liverpool
26 September 2026
Liverpool have formally appointed Julian Ward as their new sporting director, replacing Richard Hughes after his September departure. Ward returns to the senior football-operations position for a second spell, having previously held it during the 2022-23 season.
Ward has been back within Fenway Sports Group since 2024 as technical director, overseeing player-development pathways and the academy. He now takes leadership of Liverpool’s football operations and will support head coach Andoni Iraola in the role.