Liverpool have confirmed the appointment of Jorg Schmadtke as the club's new sporting director.
A no-nonsense, straight-talking former goalkeeper, Schmadtke has been out of work since leaving his post at Wolfsburg in January. The 59-year-old spent five years at the Volkswagen Arena - one of which resulted in Champions League qualification.
Liverpool chiefs have hunted far and wide for a director of football since news broke that Julian Ward would leave this summer. The 41-year-old will depart just 12 months after replacing Michael Edwards.