Iraola Joins Liverpool
Liverpool Confirms Andoni Iraola as New Head Coach After Arne Slot Dismissal
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Liverpool have confirmed Andoni Iraola as their new head coach, signing the 43-year-old Basque manager on a two-year contract. The announcement came on June 4, 2026 — just six days after Arne Slot was sacked — making it one of the fastest high-profile managerial replacements in Premier League history, according to The Guardian.
Iraola arrives after three seasons at Bournemouth, where he guided the club to a record 6th-place finish and Europa League qualification in 2025–26. Liverpool, meanwhile, finished 5th — just three points ahead of his Bournemouth side. "You know that Liverpool is a massive club, one of the biggest in the world," Iraola said. "The chance to fight for titles cannot be more attractive than this."
Slot Sacked After One Bad Season Following Title Win
Arne Slot won Liverpool's record-tying 20th league title in his debut season in 2024–25. But the 2025–26 campaign fell apart. The squad was hit hard by the sudden death of forward Diogo Jota in the summer of 2025. Liverpool scraped into the Champions League only by finishing 5th, aided by UEFA's coefficient slots, according to The Guardian.
FSG's CEO of Football Michael Edwards led the review that ended Slot's tenure. The club paid Slot a reported £7 million settlement to cover the final year of his deal, according to Sports Illustrated. Slot said in an open letter: "Change is part of football... I leave with complete confidence in what the club can achieve."
Richard Hughes Drove the Iraola Deal in Six Days
Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes was the key figure in landing Iraola. Hughes had previously hired Iraola at Bournemouth in 2023 and has a close relationship with Iraola's agent, Iñaki Ibáñez. That existing bond made negotiations smooth and fast, according to The Guardian. A deal in principle was reached by June 2 — just three days after Slot's sacking.
Other coaches were considered. The shortlist included candidates linked to Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, and Crystal Palace, along with Stuttgart's Sebastian Hoeness and Pierre Sage of Lens. But The Guardian reported that Iraola was effectively the "only" candidate the club seriously engaged with. His contract at Bournemouth had already expired, which removed any buyout complications.
Iraola's High-Press Style Marks a Return to Klopp DNA
Under Slot, Liverpool played a patient, possession-based game. Iraola's approach is the opposite. He favors aggressive, high-pressing, transitional football — the same style that defined the Jürgen Klopp era at Anfield. Bournemouth finished their 2025–26 season on an 18-game unbeaten run under Iraola, according to The Guardian.
Iraola is expected to shift Liverpool to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system immediately. He is bringing his own backroom staff, including Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper. Transfer targets are already shifting toward high-energy players. The Liverpool Echo reported that Bradley Barcola of PSG and Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig are among the names being linked to fit Iraola's front-footed style, according to Liverpool Echo.
Squad Questions Loom as Iraola Takes Charge
The future of key veterans is now a pressing question. Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah could struggle if Iraola's system demands extreme physical output from every player. Ibrahima Konaté is reportedly close to joining Real Madrid after failing to agree a contract extension, according to The Guardian.
FSG has committed to backing the new era despite a £450 million transfer spend the previous summer that produced a 5th-place finish. ESPN FC analyst Steve Nicol noted that "players will be eager to be coached by Iraola" given his high-intensity style. But some pundits, including Simon Jordan of TalkSPORT, called the sacking of a title-winning manager after one poor season "brutal." Iraola's first real test begins when pre-season opens this summer.
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