Julian Ward is poised to make a shock return to Liverpool as technical director of owners Fenway Sports Group as the club continues their reshuffle - just 18 months after leaving the Anfield club as sporting director.
Ward is set to rejoin the club alongside Pedro Marques, who is being poached from Benfica and will be appointed as director of football development by the owners. Both hires are set to officially start on June 1.
It continues a mass overhaul at Anfield following a spree of departures, most noticeably Jurgen Klopp. Former director of football Michael Edwards has returned as CEO of Football at FSG, while Bournemouth transfer guru Richard Hughes is the new sporting director.
Ward and Marques are the latest names on the list of executive changes. Ward worked as Liverpool sporting director for one season but left in late 2022. He worked at the club for a decade, having joined from Manchester City in 2012.
The Reds have completely overhauled their hierarchy which now has Edwards at the helm, Hughes working underneath him and then a head coach, which will soon be confirmed as Feyenoord boss Arne Slot. The Dutchman will bring several coaches with him.
Marques has also spent time at the English champions, where he was part of the City Football Group’s expansion into a multi-club model. This experience is key given Liverpool are looking to dip their toes into a multi-club market in the near future.
The Portuguese has been known to Liverpool for a while but he had an influential role in talks when the Reds signed Darwin Nunez from Benfica in 2022. Ward was also central to that move and his contacts at the clubs were key.
Ward originally joined Liverpool with a focus on scouting in Portugal and Spain. As sporting director, he also signed Fabio Carvalho from Fulham and was key to tempting Mohamed Salah to extend his deal at the time.
He was promoted to loan pathways manager and also worked as assistant sporting director before taking over from Edwards when he first departed.
opetshi45
2
welcome back ynwa
besacelmpy
2
They're retuning because Klopp is leaving. Something is wrong within our staffs which we fans didn't know
It really looks like that doesn't it? Klopp was boss man, whatever he said we did. Edwards is very intelligent and it looks like there was a clash which Klopp won (we know Edwards wanted Nkunku and Klopp wanted Nunez). I'm sure their were other tensions but Edwards left leaving Klopp with full control but then we had the embarrassment of Caicedo and Laiva. Klopp announces he's leaving, Edwards returns in new ultimate power position, no more challengers to him now. With Edwards returning he bought in Hughes (they worked together at Portsmouth back in the day, he's Edward's man). Then Julian Ward also returns who was Edward's right hand man when he was at Liverpool. The team is reunited and Klopp is out. To me it looks like FSG really need Edward's, they were almost begging him to return and offered him Football Director role, which he rejected. Then they offered him, effectively, LFC CEO role (supreme power at the club) which he accepted. These are very intelligent educated people who have been in football a long time. Interesting times ahead.
ChaoCheeTot
1
This I like about the Fools: they just announce their signings. Never in the news about who they are pursuing.
Unlike Brokelona who can only sign free transfers...[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
BenGonzags
3
Am so grateful for the news #YnwaForever
Nescdilmy
4
good news.
Kristofa1
3
They're retuning because Klopp is leaving. Something is wrong within our staffs which we fans didn't know
GodCool
1
This I like about the Fools: they just announce their signings. Never in the news about who they are pursuing.
What I like about bottlerlona is they always brag about winning, but when it matters they just bottle it without any clues.
besacelmpy
3
This I like about the Fools: they just announce their signings. Never in the news about who they are pursuing.
You're about to like a lot more than that. Keep an eye on us, you'll be impressed. Trust me.
QueriisFiasi
0
the only fools are barca since they are losing everyone 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Loosing who?
nabaopy
5
This I like about the Fools: they just announce their signings. Never in the news about who they are pursuing.
the only fools are barca since they are losing everyone 🤣🤣🤣🤣
IronBorn
2
classical pool
QueriisFiasi
2
This I like about the Fools: they just announce their signings. Never in the news about who they are pursuing.