Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have reportedly been impressed by a Spanish head coach if they were to dismiss Arne Slot…and it’s not Xabi Alonso.
The Dutchman’s future has been the subject of intense scrutiny amid a dreadful season at Anfield, and failure to qualify for the Champions League in the coming weeks could plausibly prompt the club’s hierarchy to make a change in the dugout.
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Our former midfielder – who’s been out of work since getting the sack at Real Madrid three months ago – has been strongly earmarked as a leading candidate to take over from the incumbent boss if FSG were to pull the trigger on the 47-year-old, but Liverpool chiefs could reportedly overlook him in favour of a younger compatriot.
FSG have been impressed by Andoni Iraola
According to sources for Football FanCast, Andoni Iraola is the preferred target for LFC sporting director Richard Hughes if Slot were to be sacked.
FSG have reportedly been impressed by the 43-year-old’s ‘consistency and philosophy’ at Bournemouth, who he’ll depart at the end of this season after three years at the Vitality Stadium.
The Spaniard is believed to be keen on remaining in the Premier League with a view to ‘stepping up’ to a high-profile club such as Liverpool, if the Reds were to be on the lookout for a new head coach in the summer.
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Would Iraola be a good fit for Liverpool if they were to sack Slot?
As then-technical director at Bournemouth, Hughes was instrumental in Iraola’s appointment on the south coast in 2023, so it’s unsurprising that he’d be in favour of hiring him at Anfield if there were to be a change in the dugout in L4 over the next few months.
The Cherries have finished 12th and ninth in the Premier League in his two full seasons in charge thus far, and they remain in the hunt for European football going into the home stretch of the current campaign, with the 43-year-old’s stock rising considerably during his time in England.
Football data writer Thom Harris outlined (via The Athletic) that the Spaniard’s ideas ‘have helped to alter the tactical landscape of the Premier League that we see today’ and also ‘transformed Bournemouth into an aggressive, high-pressing side’ who beat Liverpool earlier this season and won at top-flight leaders Arsenal last weekend.
Bournemouth have become renowned for their high-pressing intensity under Iraola, something which was a standout feature of the Reds under Jurgen Klopp and would surely be welcomed by Kopites who’ve grown disillusioned with Slot’s more patient style of play.
The departing Cherries boss would appear to tick a few important boxes for Liverpool if they were to make a change in the dugout, and he’ll surely be a much sought-after coach over the summer, though it remains to be seen whether FSG will keep faith with the incumbent boss into next season.
When will FSG ever learn from past mistakes.
Have they forgotten what happened with Brendan Rodgers. You do now have to question who’s running Liverpool football club? FSG or Richard Hughes.
It’s clueless ownership from FSG, no doubt Richard Hughes has already completed another 64 page dossier and lots of analytical data showing that Iraola is the man for Liverpool. This from Hughes who endorsed wirtz frimpong Kirkez ect.
It will end in tears, pick a manager who’s actually achieved something of note at the highest level.
So many clubs keep making so many mistakes on manager appointments. Manchester United, Chelsea, spurs, ect. The only thing FSG have ever got right at Liverpool was Jurgen klopp, and then they didn’t back him.
We deserve to sink, and if the next manager is from Bournemouth sink we will. Fsg out. Charlatan owners FSG.
Couldn’t agree more – bring back Gillett and Hicks, or the previous ownership without the money needed to compete or sell to a royal family and become City or Chelsea.. all great ideas once again from people who sit at home with an opinion without putting any real thought into it.
You know your stuff!
Liverpool FC are confused! Why bring in Iraola when Nagelsman and Alonso are available??! LFC had Klopp as manager who did very well without superstar players. Today LFC has a cluych of superstar players, and all they need is a proven manager who’s won trophies to match their spend on quality players!!! They are in that moment and they are ignoring the obvious perfect storm.
I have to agree. Spot on. Hughes don’t care, his off. They are going to leave my team in a poor state. They don’t know what they are doing 😞
That redmist 21 opinion were so dark and gloomy.. I feel very different. of Anfoni Iraola. You dont have To be won something To win something. No no. I think he would bring intensity and fighting spirit back To Anfield. He is like Klopp… Theres no need To be any negativity. He would be great.. Lets go for him!
I agree , Bournemouth are good to watch & very close to how we played under Klopp. Rather than the slow/boring build up we do now. If Slot is to be sacked I for one would not be against Iraola taking over
Iraola isn’t a bad manager compared to Slot. if he can bring that aggressive football Bournemouth are playing, then he is welcome
My god that amount of negativity.. I can tell you Hughes cares!!!! The problem this season is Salah Declined and Luis Diaz sold. Both mistakes. And Slots football is all about keeping the Ball…. And no plan what happen when we lose the Ball.. Thats the problem. Iraola is the solution.
Mate, has Liverpool played Salah the same as the title winning season? Look here, he is still as fit as a bull but he loses his support and playing style in the new 4231. You cannot simply expect your best player to perform as he did last season when you cannot offer him the same environment. Come offer Messi or Ronaldo new playing styles and positions minus the same support and see what they can churn up for the team. To put it bluntly, slot has thoroughly destroyed Salah this season. Our best player signed a 2 year extension to break more records and to chase Ian rush’s goal tally but he is totally disappointed with what’s going on and he decides to leave. Can you really put the blame on mo salah? Think again.
FSG MUST APPOINT AN ELITE MANAGER IN THE SUMMER
Klopp or Alonso are the only answer to this its just that simple, slots out of his depth by a country mile and its just going to get worse
Hughes and Slot messed up this side…2 low-level guys from small clubs
We need to scrap the current structure. Get a manager and not a head coach. A real football manager who has the authority on transfers like Jurgen klopp. Even the computer games tell you football manager, not football head coach. Arne slot was poached from feyenoord from Dutch league, simply based on statistics and computer analysis. Remember, computer Ai and whatever statistics can never replace the human touch. What Jurgen klopp brought to anfield was more than statistics. Andoni iraola looks good on statistics and so did slot. In the end what happened? Today, in today’s market, only Xabi Alonso is the best fit. He has the experience and stature both as a player and comes from a football coaching family. Get him before we lose out to a rival. If fsg continues to fiddle around with trial and errors, you will not just lose the revenue from inability to compete in ucl and epl. You will lose fans, that is 1 of the most important asset of a football club.
I agree with you.
Liverpool needs a new coach but not low-profile material. Liverpool is a big club and as such, should and must appoint a seasoned achiever and not the low-grade, fly-by-night type.
All i can say is this, Don’t leave it too long!!!!!
Grab him b4 some other team does,
example 1 n 2
THFC
Chelski
Slot out and Alonso in. He is the man.
I am undecided on this. At Leverkusen Alonso got the best out of Wirtz and Frimpong – At Bournemouth Irola got the best out of kerkez (Also Senesi linked as a free transfer) so there are advantages on both managers. The only difference is that Irola’s has managerial experience in the prem. His teams have always been difficult to beat and played attractive football, whereas Alonso only has managerial experience in Germany to draw on (which is a lesser overall league) given his time at Rm was short lived. If I had to make a decision, I think Irola would be the best option.
Mate, Alonso went through his title winning season unbeaten. This is a feat considering leverkusen was never 1 of the top teams in Bundesliga. You know bayern and dortmund have dominated the scene and Alonso totally stopped their dominance. Roberto de zerbi played aggressive and attacking football and Brighton was once very nice to watch. Would you have considered de zerbi? I have provided a list of points why Alonso is the best choice today. I don’t know if anyone read my post previously. I’ll just try to recall what I posted.
1) Alonso won the world cup, euro cup, la liga, bundesliga, ucl and who can forget that famous 2005 victory with us. He has that aura and connection with fans and his achievements alone can lift the morale of our players if he comes in
2) he is endorsed by Jurgen klopp
3) he transformed wirtz and frimpong at leverkusen and they would excel under him again
4) he comes from a football family who are coaches. Even when he was playing as a player, you can already see his football brain as a manager
5) he is available immediately and no compensation required
6) even when he was sacked by real, his winning % is around 70%
7) he is not necessarily a 343 manager as he played 2 centre backs at real
I don’t know what fsg is waiting for. If he signs for our rivals, we will be crying over spilt milk again like how we let Luis Diaz go to bayern…
Alonso has experience of the Prem as a player, has a real love for the club from playing for us (he’s part of the Liverpool family) and is a big enough name to attract top level players. He’s the man for the job
any coach who has a game plan, and immediately! Because Slot has none
We need a manager that plays aggressive and high pressing football that’s our DNA..not this kind of keeping the ball & not aggressive when it comes to attack opponents…..Have proven winning mentality..Trophies!
IRAOLA would be out of his depth, just like Roy Hodgson was. Are you listening John Henry?
The fans DON’T WANT IRAOLA.
THE ONLY PERSON WHO DOES, IS HIS BUDDY, BUDDY, MATE RICHARD HUGHES.
WELL RICHARD HUGHES, CAN GO OFF TO SAUDI ARABIA, WHERE HE MIGHT BE WANTED.
HE HAS BEEN AS DISASTER AT LIVERPOOL.
THE FANS WANT XAVI ALONSO. END OF!
SO JOHN HENRY, LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO BRING IN YOUR FORTUNE, EVERY WEEK.
LFC, BELONGS TO THE FANS! SO LISTEN PLEASE!
I wonder if FSG should think about sacking Slot. The team performance is awful, injuries are escalating, players are running away. FSG must be held accountable; it’s been a disaster.