James Pearce in The Athletic writes on Friday afternoon that Julian Ward has decided to return to Liverpool, or more precisely FSG. It is Michael Edwards, who is now “CEO of football” at FSG, who is bringing his former colleague back. Ward took over as sporting director at Liverpool from Edwards, but resigned after just one season.
Now he is taking on a role as technical director at FSG, and he will be responsible for player development across FSG’s football department. It is known that FSG wants to become owners of a new club next to Liverpool FC.
Pearce writes that Pedro Marques has also been brought in. He will work as director of football development. He comes from Benfica, where he has worked as technical director.
From before, Edwards arranged to hire Richard Hughes as sporting director, with David Woodfine as assistant. Soon, Arne Slot will also be confirmed as Jürgen Klopp’s successor, and the sporting apparatus is starting to look very strong.
Was tempted to work with Edwards again
Ward chose to take a break from football when he resigned at Liverpool last year. By then he had been at the club for eleven years. In the last year, he is said to have received offers from several clubs, but turned them all down until now. Working with Michael Edwards again was too tempting, as were FSG’s plans to expand its business. Like Edwards, Ward will have the same responsibilities in the next club FSG buys.
On the ladder, Edwards will be at the top and manage the store, while newcomer Marques will answer to Ward as his immediate superior. Marques is a man Edwards holds in high esteem and the work he has done at Benfica has been noticed. He has had overall responsibility for the club’s youth and development department, and we can see the result in the form of players such as Joao Felix, Ruben Dias, Antonio Silva and Joao Neves. He has previously also worked for, among others, Sporting and Manchester City.
Both Ward and Marques will begin their new positions on June 1. Hughes should already be well underway, as he has led the work to bring Arne Slot to the club.
It looks like Liverpool FC will be in safe hands even if Jürgen Klopp leaves after the season.
