Liverpool Sporting Director Offered A Top Position By European Club After ‘Shock’ Decision To Quit Anfield This Year

Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward is reportedly being considered for a position at Dutch powerhouse Ajax after leaving Anfield at the end of the current season. Ward had sent shock waves through the Liverpool hierarchy after announcing in late November last year that he would step down from the role he had only assumed at the start of the season at the end of the 22/23 season.

Following the departure of Michael Edwards, Ward was appointed Liverpool’s sporting director, taking on the role at the start of the current season. Given that Ward has held a number of positions at the club since joining in 2011 and played one of his first football roles at renowned performance monitoring company ProZone, he was seen as a suitable replacement for Edwards.

Ajax must address Ward’s Liverpool clause before hiring him

Julian Ward was apparently the driving force behind Liverpool’s record-breaking Darwin Nunez buy last summer. According to the Liverpool Echo, Ward used his connections in Portugal to help broker the deal that brought Darwin Nunez from Benfica to Anfield for a whopping €100m. Ward was also instrumental in working with Ajax’s bitter rivals PSV to bring Cody Gakpo to Liverpool ahead of the official transfer market opening in January.

However, his unexpected decision to leave Anfield at the end of the current season after just one season as manager is said to have “shocked” several club officials. Ward has reportedly decided to take a break after the end of the season and he is stepping down from his role at Liverpool. But Ajax are apparently keen on bringing Ward to the Johan Cruyff Arena, although he reckons he would want a sabbatical after leaving Anfield.

He is now under serious consideration by the Dutch champions to replace Marc Overmars, who resigned from his post last year after it was revealed he had sent inappropriate messages to fellow players. According to Dutch publication De Telegraaf, Ward is on the shortlist of potential candidates for the post of technical director at Ajax. Ward is also bilingual and apparently wouldn’t need an introduction to Dutch football as he works with PSV to negotiate Gakpo’s transfer.

However, Ajax may have to work out a deal with Liverpool to hire Ward as a clause in his Reds’ contract prevents him from taking a job at another club for a year after leaving Anfield, according to the Liverpool Echo. Ajax’ search for a new manager is finally over after they sacked Alfred Schreuder; at least temporarily. Johnny Heitinga, former Everton defender, has been appointed interim manager until the end of the current season.

After 20 games, Ajax are third in the Dutch Eredivisie, three points behind leaders Feyenoord. Meanwhile, Liverpool are discussing whether to keep the sporting director approach at the club, first used under Edwards in 2016. At the end of the season, Jurgen Klopp, who enjoys the sporting director structure and knew both Edwards and Ward well, will play a key role in deciding how football operations will be managed. The final choice will also be discussed with CEO Billy Hogan.