Jorg Schmadtke, a German, has been named Liverpool's new athletic director.

The 59-year-old will start in his position on June 1 when all work visa processes have been completed. He departed a similar position at Bundesliga team Wolfsburg at the beginning of 2023 after more than four years.

Julian Ward, who has played for the club for more than ten years, will be replaced by him.

Firstly, I would like to welcome Jorg to Liverpool Football Club with the knowledge that he will bring a lot of knowledge and experience to a post in which such attributes can only be advantageous to both him and us, Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon said on the team's website.

In keeping with our continued efforts to keep growing and strengthening the club in all areas, Jorg will work with our football operations department as it continues to support Jurgen Klopp.We must also bid a fond farewell to Julian Ward, who has served us in a number of capacities, most recently as sporting director, at the same time that we welcome Jorg. "We wish Julian and his young family the very best for the future and thank him for all that he has done for Liverpool FC during the past 11 years," the statement reads.

During his playing career, former goalie Schmadtke appeared in more than 300 Bundesliga games for Fortuna Dusseldorf, Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen, and Borussia Monchengladbach.

Before joining Wolfsburg, he spent time at Cologne, Hannover, and Alemannia Aachen.

Schmadtke joins a team that, according to compatriot Klopp, had "a bad season" in the Premier League, finishing fifth and missing out on Champions League football the next season as a result.Schmadtke will take over for Julian Ward as sporting director at Anfield from the beginning of June, the Reds said on Wednesday morning. Ward has only been in the position for a year following an internal elevation to succeed Michael Edwards last summer.

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