Julian Ward has emerged as a surprise candidate being considered for the role of sporting director at Manchester United.
Ward has been discussed along with a number of other experienced directors of football, headed by Newcastle United’s Dan Ashworth, as United look to overhaul their football operation after full control was finally handed to Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Ward spent 11 years at Liverpool, latterly as the club’s sporting director but decided to step down only months after succeeding Michael Edwards.
The decision, in November 2022, shocked Liverpool with Ward having been Edwards’ long-term deputy before taking over and expected to provide a period of continuity. He oversaw Liverpool’s recruitment of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez and his departure led to Liverpool changing the way they operate.
Ward is still highly rated and officially left Liverpool in May. Since then he has turned down the chance to become the director of football at Ajax and is understood to have been considered for a number of other roles.
It is thought that the 42-year-old is in no rush to return to football and it remains to be seen, having worked so long at Liverpool, whether he would even be interested in a role at United if they decide to make a move. United have also considered Edwards but it is believed he is not looking for a director of football or sporting director’s role at a club at present.
Restructuring the way United operate, after a decade of expensive under-performance, is the key task facing Ratcliffe and his team from Ineos following the £1.27 billion investment in the club – taking a 25 per cent stake – finally being announced on Christmas Eve. Ratcliffe has paid £1.03billion for his shares plus £237 million to go towards infrastructure at the club.
The deal is subject to Premier League approval, which will take a number of weeks, but Ratcliffe is working closely with Sir Dave Brailsford, Ineos’ director of sport, and another associate Rob Nevin to examine how to re-organise the structure and personnel at United.
Audit on transfers and accountability for Ten Hag
The Ratcliffe deal will obviously not be completed until after the January transfer window has closed and no changes can be made until then but the football part of the business will be his domain.
Ratcliffe will undergo the classic information gathering exercise once his team is inside the club but it would be remarkable that they have not already formulated their plans so they can hit next summer hard.
Recruitment is a vital area, and there will be an audit on transfers and accountability for under-pressure manager Erik ten Hag, who has welcomed the investment. But Ratcliffe understands that United’s infrastructure needs changing and it is likely he is looking for not just an over-arching sporting director but a head of recruitment to work under that person.
Football director John Murtough is keen to stay and he may be offered another role as part of the changes and will remain, in any case, during the handover period. But he is highly unlikely to continue in his current capacity given the level of chronic under-performance he has overseen.
Sources suggest that Ashworth would be Ratcliffe’s ideal appointment but it is understood it will be extremely difficult to extricate him from his contract even if he is interested.
Ashworth has huge experience in restructuring clubs and was also technical director at the Football Association, but there are other candidates beyond him and Ward.
United have been considering – possibly as the recruitment head – Crystal Palace’s Dougie Freedman, former Tottenham Hotspur recruitment chief Paul Mitchell, who is pushing for the role and has a good relationship with Ineos, Atalanta’s Lee Congerton, the former AC Milan duo Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara and Andrea Berti of Atletico Madrid.
That is an extensive and diverse list and Ineos have suggested they will not move quickly but do want to fully assess what is required.