Liverpool named Andoni Iraola as their new supervisor on Thursday after sacking Arne Slot following a calamitous Premier League title defence.
Iraola rapidly emerged as Liverpool’s high goal to switch Slot, whose two-year reign got here to a shock finish when he was dismissed final Saturday.
Liverpool gave no indication as to the size of the 43-year-old Spaniard’s contract however British media have reported that he has signed a two-year deal.
“Actually excited, actually excited, as a result of clearly about Liverpool, that it is a large membership, an enormous membership, one of many greatest on the planet,” Iraola, who known as time on his spectacular spell with Bournemouth on the finish of this season, stated on Liverpool’s official web site.
“However feeling inside and understanding a bit bit extra of this membership, I all the time thought it is a particular membership.
“You do not want loads of issues to get attracted by Liverpool. Liverpool is Liverpool.”
We are able to verify Andoni Iraola has agreed a deal to turn into the membership’s new head coach forward of the 2026-27 season 🤝
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 4, 2026
After criticism of Liverpool’s lacklustre performances in Slot’s second season at Anfield, Iraola is anticipated to ship a extra pressing, aggressive type of soccer, which characterised the staff underneath beloved former supervisor Jurgen Klopp.
Iraola earned rave opinions for Bournemouth’s sixth-place end within the Premier League this season, which secured the membership’s first qualification for Europe, within the Europa League.
He arrived on the south coast membership from Raya Vallecano in 2023, having beforehand managed Mirandes and AEK Larnaca in Cyprus.
Bournemouth improved annually underneath Iraola, ending twelfth, ninth and sixth.
The previous defender was praised for his astute techniques and growth of children together with Eli Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott.
Limp Fifth-placed end
Previous to leaving Liverpool on the finish of the season, Egypt star Mohamed Salah not too long ago known as for a return to the “heavy metallic soccer” that led to a lot success underneath Klopp, heaping strain on the beleaguered Slot.
Iraola has beforehand talked about his need for his groups to play with an attacking, high-pressing type, in distinction to Slot’s extra managed strategy.
Born in Spain’s Basque Nation, Iraola performed greater than 500 video games for Athletic Bilbao earlier than a stint in Main League Soccer with New York Metropolis, the place he teamed up with Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo.
He’ll arrive on Merseyside with Liverpool at a crossroads after Slot’s failure to keep up the membership’s place on the summit of English soccer.
Slot had the powerful job of changing Klopp, who left in 2024 after profitable the Premier League and Champions League throughout a golden nine-year spell at Anfield.
The previous Feyenoord boss made a powerful begin, main Liverpool to a record-equalling twentieth English league title in his debut season, spearheaded by Salah’s 29 targets.
However Slot was unable to halt Liverpool’s slide within the 2025/26 season because the Reds collapsed from late September, ending a turbulent season and not using a trophy.
The dying of Liverpool ahead Diogo Jota in a automobile crash final July had an immeasurable affect on the squad, whereas the membership’s £450 million ($605 million) splurge on new signings didn’t repay.
Slot’s relationship with Salah additionally deteriorated, whereas Liverpool followers turned on the supervisor as a consequence of his staff’s lifeless shows and poor outcomes.
The membership limped to a fifth-place end, 25 factors behind champions Arsenal, which a minimum of assured qualification for subsequent season’s Champions League.
