Julian Ward role with FSG explained as former Liverpool transfer chief set for surprise return

Liverpool is undergoing a transformation this summer. Jürgen Klopp is set to leave the club in the coming weeks after nine years at the helm, and Arne Slot is likely to be named as his successor ahead of the 2024/25 season. Although still not official, the Dutchman will be tasked with leading Liverpool in the post-Klopp era.

However, Liverpool owners FSG have decided to prepare themselves as much as they can and avoid a post-Klopp hangover, like we've seen with Manchester United post-Sir Alex Ferguson. Liverpool's American owners have brought back Michael Edwards, but with greater responsibility within FSG and not merely overseeing Liverpool's operations.

Richard Hughes has been signed from Bournemouth as the club's new sporting director, replacing Jörg Schmadtke, who left after the January 2024 transfer window. Hughes had been with the Cherries for over a decade and is fluent in both French and Italian, having grown up in Atalanta's youth system in the 1990s.

READ MORE: Every Julian Ward signing as former Liverpool transfer chief set for FSG return

READ MORE: Liverpool injury latest and return dates including Diogo Jota and Andy Robertson

In another shock return, it was reported by The Athletic this week that FSG is also bringing back Julian Ward, less than a year after he quit Liverpool. Like Edwards, Ward will have more responsibility than just Liverpool, and will operate along all of FSG's football network.

As per James Pearce, Ward will be tasked with “overseeing player development across FSG’s football operations,” which will eventually include a second club once the right target has been found and acquired sometime in the future.

Ward's new-and-revised responsibilities will also include “oversight of Liverpool’s academy, FSG’s loan department, group-wide elite player development strategies and the establishment of FSG’s new football innovation department.”

Ward had taken over from Edwards as Liverpool's sporting director in the summer of 2022, but left after only a year in the job. He took a sabbatical this season, but was convinced to return to the fold by Edwards and offered greater duties rather than just focusing on Liverpool.

Ward previously worked as a South American scouting strategist for Man City, and at Liverpool was once the scouting manager for Spain and Portugal, and then the loan pathways and football partnerships manager before replacing Edwards two years ago.

Ward is also fluent in Portuguese, and this was instrumental in helping Liverpool sign Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz in 2022 from Benfica and Porto respectively.

Liverpool.com says: FSG are doing everything they can to put the right pieces in place so the club don't go down the same path of stagnation that Man Utd have traversed since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. Bringing both Edwards and Ward back is a shrewd move on FSG's behalf, and Liverpool will reap the benefits of it in the coming years.