Andoni Iraola currently leads the odds to replace Arne Slot as Liverpool’s next head coach.
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The Spaniard is set to depart Bournemouth at the end of 2025/26 season and has reportedly yet to commit to his next role.
His Anfield counterpart’s current contract is set to run until the summer of 2027.
Next permanent Liverpool manager odds
The Spaniard is, according to various odds collated by Oddschecker, the leading option to take over as the Reds’ next permanent manager.
- Andoni Iraola (2/1)
- Luis Enrique (3/1)
- Sebastian Hoeness (9/2)
- Julian Nagelsmann (11/2)
- Steven Gerrard (6/1)
- Oliver Glasner (8/1)
- Jurgen Klopp (9/1)
- Unai Emery (10/1)
- Simone Inzaghi (11/1)
- Francesco Farioli (16/1)
- Diego Simeone (16/1)
Odds correct as of 20/05/26, courtesy of Oddschecker
Publicly, Iraola has kept schtum over his next move in football. Privately, however, it’s understood that the 43-year-old would welcome the opportunity to continue coaching in the Premier League.
His style of football has already earned a thumbs-up from the man he’d be potentially replacing on Merseyside, with Slot having described Bournemouth’s style of play as: “I think Bournemouth is one of the most intense teams in the league.
“In every running stat, they are either on top or in the top two, three or four. So you know if you go there, you have to be intense yourself.”
Iraola, Enrique & Hoeness: Liverpool’s top three to replace Arne Slot?
Luis Enrique’s inclusion in the list speaks for itself. The PSG head coach has transformed the Ligue 1 outfit’s fortunes in Europe, having delivered a first Champions League trophy in the club’s history last term and steered them to a second consecutive final in 2025/26.
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The football the French top-flight leaders play is attractive, and there’s a clear commitment to the kind of high-octane, aggressive pressing system that went down a treat during Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield reign.
With Enrique’s pedigree in the sport, he’d have to be considered a clear favourite. But it seems unlikely that the ex-Barcelona boss will be available on the market this summer.
Andoni Iraola and Sebastian Hoeness are more realistic targets
That leaves us with first and third, according to the odds.
From a footballing philosophy perspective, both represent potentially compatible options at L4.
Hoeness style of play:
- 4-2-3-1/4-4-2
- High pressing
- Rangy fullbacks
- Inverted wingers
Iraola style of play:
- 4-2-3-1/4-3-3
- Hybrid press system (zonal structure before morphing into aggressive man-to-man press)
- Fast breaks
- High physical output
- Rangy fullbacks
You have to admit that Iraola has done a brilliant job with Bournemouth. They are the smallest club in the premier league and probably the championship as well.
Avarage 11,000 attendances, remarkable when you think about it. They outplayed Many city last night, they have pace aggression, team spirit, and all fight for each other. The recruitment has been outstanding as well.
For me considering how much they have to spend, how much supporters they get, Iraola should be manager of the year. They play good attacking football as well.
Difficult to say would Iraola do well at Liverpool?
More pressure, would need to improve his defensive record. But if you was to ask me who has a better track record of deserving the Liverpool manager, achieved more at the highest level, it would be Iraola before slot, who did nothing of note in a weak Dutch league
Sack slot for Iraola? Right now with the way we are heading, yes change. Give him a chance. Slot has failed, with 450 million.
Something has seriously gone bad behind the scenes. Salah had his problems with Klopp but never voiced it in the media, in fact none of the players who had a problem with Klopp said anything publicly. Now we have Mo openly talking to the press, and cancelling the last year of his contract, Allison wanting to leave, talks VVD is also considering cancelling his contract, a born and bred scouser in Curtis wanting to go and then the new guys (that Slott brought in) Wirtz and Etitke actually liking MO’s heavy metal post (and they never played for Klopp). If the owners keep Slott then they will be making a rod for their back, they have already upset the supporters with wanting to raise prices (OK they have since stopped this) but I think keeping Slott will be one step too far. Get IRAOLA now.
Klopp is always the boss and manager. Now we have a puppet or Muppet whichever you like to call him. Big names like Enrique, guardiola will never become our manager as we do not have such a role. Mo did kick up a fuss with klopp but who never argues with their boss? Klopp continues to stamp his authority and he will remediate any issue when he sees it. Players can throw tantrums but they will still respect klopp. You see new players like wirtz, ekitike, kerkez and frimpong liking the post because they joined Liverpool to play football to win! Not sure if Iraola is tough enough to stand up against hughes/edwards if required. As well as the poor defensive set piece record bournemouth has, not sure if he can patch that hole. I do believe he will earn the respect of players with his football philosophy especially from our attacking players. I like watching bournemouth attack. Imagine our Frontline terrorizing the epl next season, definitely mouthwatering. Either hoeness or iraola is good for me for now. Slot just has to go. His boring football is unfit for purpose at Liverpool football club.
Bournemouth does have a very bad defensive set piece record, probably as bad as us. However they made up for it for their attacking prowess and this is where arne slot has failed miserably.
Sincerely, let FSG bring in Iraola to save our beloved club or else must face the music from LFC fans before we sink into the bottom half of the Premier League table.