Ward returns to Liverpool as Technical Director for owners FSG
Julian Ward: Worked for Liverpool for more than a decade before leaving last summer
Written by Training Ground Guru — May 13, 2024
Former Liverpool Sporting Director Julian Ward is returning to the club as Technical Director for owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG).
Ward stepped down as Sporting Director last summer and has taken a break from football for the last year. However, Michael Edwards, who has also made a comeback as FSG CEO of Football, has persuaded his former colleague to return.
Ward initially joined Liverpool from Manchester City in October 2012 as European Scouting Manager for Spain and Portugal. He was promoted to Loan Pathways and Football Partnership Manager in 2015 and then to Assistant Sporting Director in December 2020.
Ward then stepped up to replace Edwards as Sporting Director when he left the club in summer of 2022.
In his new role, Ward will oversee player development across FSG’s football operations. This will include oversight of Liverpool’s Academy, loans, elite player development and the establishment of a new football innovation department. FSG are looking to add at least one more football club to their portfolio.
Meanwhile, Benfica’s Pedro Marques has been appointed Director of Football Development for FSG. The Portuguese, who was our guest on Episode #49 of the TGG Podcast (which you can listen to below), has been Technical Director of Benfica’s Academy since July 2018.
He was previously Global Lead for Football Performance for City Football Group from 2014.
Marques is regarded as an industry leader in player development, pathways, coaching methodology and performance analysis. Both Ward and Marques will begin their new roles on June 1st.
Liverpool have revamped their football executive since the return of Edwards in March. Richard Hughes is joining at the end of the season from Bournemouth to become the club’s new Sporting Director.
He will have responsibility for coaching, recruitment, negotiations, medical, sport science and the running of the Kirkby training complex.
David Woodfine is returning as his assistant, having previously worked at Anfield for nine years before leaving last summer. His last role at the club was Director of Loan Management. The final piece in the jigsaw is Feyenoord manager Arne Slot, who will be confirmed as Jurgen Klopp’s successor as manager at the end of the season.
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