Liverpool’s search for a new sporting director has a familiar name right at the top of the list, and this time there is a twist nobody saw coming.
Why Julian Ward Is the Frontrunner
Ward is among the internal candidates Liverpool are considering to replace Richard Hughes, and it is easy to see why he is the name generating the most buzz. He spent more than a decade at the club, rising through European scouting before becoming assistant sporting director under Michael Edwards. When Edwards left in 2022,
Ward stepped into the top job himself and played a hands-on role in landing Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister. He only lasted a season before stepping aside, but he never really left, returning in 2024 as FSG’s technical director.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein has been blunt about his chances, saying Ward stands a really good chance based on his conversations inside the building, while stressing the club is not ruling out an external option either. For a club that values continuity as much as ambition, having someone who already knows the machinery inside out is a serious advantage.
The Co-Sporting Director Twist
Here is where things get genuinely exciting. Liverpool’s hierarchy and FSG executives are reportedly working on a parallel plan to bring in a specialist to work alongside Ward in a co-sporting or technical director setup, according to a Sky Sports insider.
Brentford’s technical director Lee Dykes has emerged as one of the frontrunners for that second seat at the table, a nod to the data-driven recruitment model he helped build on a shoestring budget in west London. Pairing Ward’s institutional knowledge with a modern analytics mind like Dykes would be a fascinating hybrid structure, blending Anfield tradition with the kind of moneyball approach that has made Brentford punch well above their weight for years.
The Other Names in the Mix
Ward is not the only internal option on the table. Assistant sporting director David Woodfine has a compelling case of his own, having joined Liverpool back in 2014 and worked closely under Hughes for the past two years.
Pedro Marques, the club’s director of football development, is also being weighed as a more forward-looking pick who blends recruitment with player development. In the meantime, Liverpool believe Hughes’ day-to-day responsibilities can be shared among senior figures including Ward, Woodfine, Marques, chief scout Barry Hunter and head coach Andoni Iraola while the process plays out.
Why This Decision Matters Now
Whoever gets the job, or jobs, will inherit major calls almost immediately. Liverpool head into the winter window needing reinforcements in midfield and at full-back, and supporters have made no secret of their frustration after a summer of heavy spending that still left visible gaps in the squad. Hughes’ exit was only confirmed after the transfer window shut, leaving a tight runway to get the structure right before January business begins in earnest.
This is shaping up to be one of the most consequential boardroom decisions Liverpool have made in years, and the idea of Ward returning with a co-director by his side suggests the club is thinking bigger than a simple like-for-like replacement.
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