Liverpool appoint Julian Ward as sporting director for a second time after Richard Hughes departs the role. Hughes leaves Liverpool to join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, prompting the club to move quickly to fill the vacancy at Anfield.
Ward, 45, previously served as Liverpool’s sporting director for one season in 2022-23. The club also says his return continues a long-standing working relationship, and that the appointment represents continuity after recent changes in the club’s hierarchy. Other outlets note that Ward has spent the past two years as technical director for Fenway Sports Group, the owners of Liverpool, before taking up the post again. The overall coverage focuses on the timing of the replacement and Ward’s prior experience with Liverpool, rather than on any single tactical or sporting decision.
