SPORTS – Liverpool have confirmed the appointment of Andoni Iraola as the club’s new head coach, following the departure of Arne Slot just one season after the Dutchman guided the Reds to Premier League glory.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Iraola, who left Bournemouth after three transformative years on the south coast, joins on a reported two-year contract. The 42-year-old Spaniard becomes the 23rd permanent manager in Liverpool’s history, and only the second from his nation after Rafael Benítez.
Slot was appointed following Jürgen Klopp’s resignation and delivered Liverpool’s second Premier League title in his first campaign (2024‑25).
That achievement placed him among an elite group of managers, José Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte and Manuel Pellegrini, who won England’s top flight in their debut season.
However, the club’s title defence unravelled dramatically. Despite a £450m spending spree that brought in Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, Liverpool slumped to fifth place. They secured Champions League qualification only on the final day, finishing just three points ahead of Iraola’s Bournemouth.
Their final tally of 60 points was the lowest by any Premier League team to finish fifth or higher since Tottenham in 2006‑07 (also fifth with 60). Moreover, their 24‑point drop from the previous season was the largest by any ever‑present top‑flight side.
Iraola arrives at Anfield with a soaring reputation. Appointed in 2023 to replace Gary O’Neil, he became the first manager to lead Bournemouth to European qualification in their 127‑year history.
Across three seasons, the Cherries finished 12th (2023‑24), ninth (2024‑25) and sixth (2025‑26), breaking their Premier League points record each time, 48, 56 and finally 57 points.
Iraola inherits a squad in flux. Club legends Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson have departed, while Ibrahima Konaté has also announced his exit. Liverpool are expected to sign a new centre‑back to partner captain Virgil van Dijk.
Xabi Alonso had long been tipped as Slot’s successor, but the former Liverpool midfielder removed himself from contention by agreeing to take charge of Chelsea from July.
Speaking to the club’s website, Iraola said: “Really excited, really excited. You know that it’s a big club, a massive club, one of the biggest in the world. But feeling inside and understanding a little bit more of this club, I always thought it’s a special club. You don’t need a lot of things to get attracted by Liverpool. Liverpool is Liverpool. The atmosphere, the supporters, the players, the chance to coach top‑level players, the chance to fight for titles, it cannot be more attractive than this.”
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