Liverpool news: Julian Ward succeeds Richard Hughes as Liverpool sporting director

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Julian Ward (second left) was responsible for scouting in Spain and Portugal when he first joined Liverpool in 2012

Football reporter Published 26 September 2026, 10:08 BST Liverpool have appointed Julian Ward as the club's new sporting director.

Ward, 45, replaces Richard Hughes, who held the role for just over two years before leaving in September.

This will be Ward's second stint as sporting director at Anfield, having first done the job during the 2022-23 season. He said he was "incredibly excited" to take on the role.

Ward joined Liverpool in 2012 as European scouting manager for Spain and Portugal and was promoted to assistant sporting director in 2020.

He succeeded Michael Edwards two years later but by November 2022, it had been confirmed that Ward would leave at the end of that season.