5 things you should know about Julian Ward who will become LFC sporting director in 2022

Liverpool have confirmed that Michael Edwards will quit his job as the club's sporting director at the end of the season.

His current assistant Julian Ward will replace him. Here is everything we know about the 40-year-old.

Career before Liverpool

Ward combined work in football development with playing for non-league sides Morecambe and Southport, as well as Northern Irish side Larne.

He graduated with a Sports Science degree from the John Moores University in Liverpool.

Ward's first big football job was at Preston, where he worked as a performance analyst.

In 2008, Ward joined the Portuguese national team as a Head of analysis and technical scouting.

He was a part of a four-man scouting team who supplied then-manager Carlos Quieroz with information about their next opponents, as well as their own players.

Here is a picture of Ward with Cristiano Ronaldo around 2010, via the West Morland Gazette

After leaving Portugal in 2010, Ward was appointed Man City's South American scout. He worked at City for two years until 2012, when he was hired by Liverpool.

Liverpool career

Ward worked for three years as a Liverpool scout in Spain and Portugal.

In October 2015, he was promoted to a Loan and Pathways manager position, taking charge of the club's loanees.

He sent reports about their development to Klopp and Edwards, while also keeping track of players on whom Liverpool had buy-back clauses.

In December last year, Ward became assistant sporting director, working directly under Michael Edwards.

Good standing at Liverpool

The assistant sporting director position was created specifically for Ward as Edwards, as well as FSG president Mike Gordon, hold him in high regard.

They wanted to reward Ward for his job as a Loan and Pathways manager, the Liverpool Echo reported.

Here is what Edwards thinks of Ward:

"[As a loan and pathways manager, Ward] not only laid the groundwork for a long-term process that continues to provide significant benefit to players and club, he also accelerated his learning on many of the aspects you deal with as a sporting director," the departing sporting director wrote in his letter to fans.

Jurgen Klopp is a fan of Ward, too.

"If you have to go on loan, the best thing that can happen to you is that you have a contract with Liverpool because then Jules is looking after you," the boss said in October 2020.

Ward's achievements as loans manager

Liverpool carefully decide where they send their young players, studying the potential loan club before lending their talent.

Rhian Brewster, who joined Swansea on a season-long loan back in 2020, is a good example of Ward's work as a Loans and pathways manager.

He scored 10 goals in 20 Championship games and Sheffield United agreed to pay £23.5m for him. Quite a lot for a player who had not made a single Premier League appearance at that time!

Another case is Harvey Elliott. The midfielder was sent to Blackburn last season as their manager Tony Mowbray is known for his ability to develop young players.

Elliott and Blackburn were a perfect match as Harvey scored 7 goals and provided 11 assists in 41 Championship games.

He returned to Liverpool this season and showed he is ready to play for the Reds' first team after a season on loan with Blackburn.

Edwards succession plan

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Reds tried to keep Michael Edwards at the club but the sporting director set his sights on leaving Anfield. So, FSG identified Ward as a natural successor to Edwards some time ago.

A transition phase will take place between now and the end of the season so Ward learns from Edwards.

"Julian has been building up the skill set for this role for many years," Edwards wrote in his open letter to Liverpool fans.

"Last year, he took on the role of assistant sporting director and over the past 12 months he has been introduced to other facets of the role that are vital to its success.

"Over the remainder of this season, I will continue to support him as we complete the leadership transition."#sportsNews