Liverpool are reportedly in ‘advanced’ negoations with Andoni Iraola as they undergo the process of replacing Arne Slot as head coach at Anfield.
The Dutchman was dismissed by the Merseyside club on Saturday, with his Spanish counterpart also unattached following his departure from Bournemouth after the end of a season which saw them achieve a first-ever qualification for Europe.
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The 43-year-old is said to be ‘interested‘ in working for the Reds, and with Crystal Palace (who’d also been eyeing him as a prospective appointment) now turning their attention to Lens’ Pierre Sage, the path would seem to be clear for LFC to snap up the former Cherries boss.
Liverpool in ‘advanced’ negotiations with Iraola
On Sunday lunchtime, Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg took to X with an update on Liverpool’s pursuit of Iraola, with the Premier League club appearing to be very much in the driving seat to appoint the Spaniard.
The journalist posted: ‘Negotiations between Liverpool and Andoni Iraola are ongoing and advanced. Bayer 04 Leverkusen have been informed. However, they have not yet received a 100% rejection from Iraola. It now depends solely on Liverpool and Iraola reaching an agreement.’
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Liverpool seem to be closing in on Iraola
This would seem to be the firmest indication yet that the former Bournemouth noss is on course to take over from Slot at Anfield, with an appointment potentially not far away from being finalised.
Leverkusen still appear to be holding out lingering hope of a dramatic plot twist which’d catapult them into pole position to hire the 43-year-old, but with Liverpool apparently in ‘advanced’ talks with Iraola, it’s beginning to look highly likely that he’ll be the next man in charge on Merseyside.
As Plettenberg outlined, the relevant parties would still need to reach a full agreement on terms before we can state for certain that Iraola will be the Reds’ new head coach, but hopefully the finer points will be hammered out sooner rather than later.
If LFC are able to finalise the Spaniard’s prospective appointment in the coming days, it’d give him the entire summer transfer window and pre-season to mould the squad in his image and implement his ideas on the training ground prior to the resumption of competitive action in August.
There would be some new challenges for the 43-year-old if he comes to Anfield – expectations will be much higher than what he’s experienced at any of his previous clubs, and he’ll have to adapt to regularly managing three games a week with Champions League commitments.
We don’t doubt, though, that Iraola would relish taking that on and hopefully restoring Liverpool as contenders for major silverware after a dismal 2025/26 season on Merseyside.
Double edged sword for me, right decision to sack slot, but it’s the wrong choice to replace him.
I say the truth, I don’t sit on the fence, as the first one on here to say slot should be sacked before last December, I’ll say it’s another mistake from FSG, Edwards and Richard Hughes. The same people that brought Arne slot to Liverpool.
Iraola has done nothing of note, won nothing, finished 6th in premier league . Is he an Elite coach?
Richard Hughes thinks so , but thought slot was.
I genuinely hope I’m wrong I hope he does well. But I wouldn’t have picked him. Playing attractive football with Bournemouth and being available shouldn’t be the criteria for the Liverpool job.
Let’s hope in a few months time we are not back to square one with the club looking for the next manager. If we are then FSG need to sell up and go.
My opinion it’s the wrong manager. Same bracket as Rodgers and slot.
Wrong man sacked. Hughes should have been first out of the door – this guy is turning LFC into Chavski
You may be right, but would Gurdiola have achieved what Iraola did at Bouremouth on such a small budget and with his best players constantly sold?
Bournemouth players are fit. They press hard and attack hard – everything we’ve lost. We’ve looked unfit all season and I worried about Slot when they all went off to Ibiza with 4 games to go after we won the league. Totally unprofessional and his players seem to love him.
I’m prepared to give Iraola a go, as at least the football will be entertaining and we’ll set out to win games. Control is not being pedestrian and easy to play against and stop, and easy to play through and conceding 53 goals.
Slot’s football was turgid and Rodgers-like, pass pass pass with no urgency. And like Rodgers against Real Madrid, I lost faith with Slot completely with his PSG surrender. At least give it a go. That’s what gave us Istanbul and 4-0 v Barca with no Mo or Bobby.
Iraola will need to change his training methods. LFC will be playing twice weekly fir most of the season. Players will need more time off than at Bournemouth and will not train 7 days a week. Fitness for the season is built up during the off season but fat chance of that happening this year because of the World Cup. LFC should bring back Pep Lijnders as assistant manager.
Sorry but I don’t think you understand slot won the premier league last year this year should have kicked on but things didn’t work out that way had many chances to rectify but didn’t so had to go really, as for the bournemouth manager and I’m a bournemouth supporter when you look at the players each team has Liverpool full of world class players my side bournemouth still have free transfers and championships players plus 3/4 top players and the players and manager have been outstanding unbeaten in 18 matches he a fantastic manager and you should be extremely happy if he takes the managers job just think what he can do with the players you have one thing the players will have a wake up call just get behind him give him time to get the players to play his system and when it clicks be ready to be entertained by the football Liverpool will play so if he does become your manager get behind him because I believe you have a world class manager in the making
Rodgers almost won us our first Premier League title (and played very entertaining football that season) and Slot DID win us one… Albeit with a boring style and no emotion. And LFC cannot be emotionless… It’s part of the heart of the club.
I agree that Iraola is a risk but as a Liverpool fan I do want attractive and emotive football… Otherwise what’s the point?
I personally think FSG could have made a decision that was a win-win for them which would have been sacking Slot and appointing Alonso. As even if Alonso didn’t do a good job they could have said “well, we gave you (the fans) what you wanted” but they don’t want a manager… They want a coach. Which to me creates a harder model to get right and can create many differences of opinions which can lead to a disjointed team.
I love Liverpool, always have, always will… But we’ve been hard to watch under Slot. And I would have loved Alonso back but I’m also excited about Iraola. I think he could bring us the football we need to experience.
This guy lost do many first team players and still he made it to be 6th. Chelsea with all their huge funds ended up in the dust. Slot won PL but failed because they got rid of all good players and kept n sign Dutch players. Wearing a Red shirt is no qualification…
IRAOLA PLAYS FAST ATTACKING FOOTBALL AND I REALLY THINK HE WILL DO A FANTASTIC JOB AT LIVERPOOL FC WHO DO YOU THINK IS OUT THERE AVAILABLE AT THE MOMENT
Yeah, Slot was terrible last year but the disrespect from people like you is disgraceful for a manager that won the PL in his first season, with his second season far from straight forward. Jotas death,players settling in , injuries and that little prick Salah throwing his dummy out for not getting what he wanted for the first time in 7 years
Slot wasn’t altogether a calamity…at least in two years he won us the 20th and Champions league slot for next season..The trouble was he couldn’t save the sinking ship and had no visible tactics
I beg to differ from Redmist ,in relation to wrong replacement. We have observed Iraola’s team on several occasions, performing well, under financial constraints. Arteta has failed to beat him twice, if my memory serves me well.Let us he was at LFC from June last season, I don’t feel we would be where we are now.Further more he has an identity.We can pinpoint experience at a bigger club, like LFC but no coach/ manager was born with experience. Let’s give the guy a chance.
Totally understand d Redmist21’s anxiety, but that would be true before we get any new manager (with the possible exception of Luis Enrique). The thing that gives me optimism is that most managers rely on players to make their systems work, but it’s quite rare that you get managers who use systems where players can be brought in and their is no discernible drop off in performance. Iraola has regularly lost his best players in his time at Bournemouth, but his sides have gotten better and better each season. That’s what a football philosophy should be, it’s about the team working as a unit not a dependency on the quality of the players. The gegenpressing approach by Klopp meant that he was able to drop in players, and as long as they fully understood the system and did their jobs we’d win. Hopefully we get the same with Iraola. YNWA.
Agree with most of the comments made Hughes has been the main reason why we had declined this season the press has gone out of the game,
how can we go most of the season without a right back Jones Frimpong and Sobs are not right backs we needed a right but one wasn’t brought in what did we expect to happen. Iraola is not a proven manager are we making another mistake who knows.
I think Hughes has a lot to do to prove he can do better than he has because its my opinion that he has been the main reason for Slots sacking.
I like Andoni but I want Luis Enrique.
I actually prayed for PSG to win the champions League so that he will look for new challenge. FSG should get me Luis Enrique
I myself don’t think Iraola is first choice for me. He has done well at Bournemouth, but he is not an elite manager fit to manage a massive club like Liverpool.
I would like to see Luis Enrique, see how good his managerial skills are in England/ Liverpool fc.
Iraola appears to be nailed on if he wants it. Pep Linders would make an excellent assistant, although Iraola would want his own picks. Replacement for Mo is a must – also need a entral midfielder, defensive midfielder and experienced centre-half as cover for Van Dijk, then utilise the youngsters.
Hopefully all the players can readjust quickly to heavy metal football to be able to push City, United and Gunners all the way.
As a Liverpool fan for decades, I strongly recommend Conte for LFC. He has won the Premier League with Chelsea and Serie A with Juventus, Inter Milan and Napoli, all in his first season. He is the right man and an experienced coach for Liverpool.
Survival of managers is decided on results and their handling of the players. If the players are not giving 100% for the manager, it’s going to affect results week in, week out. That’s what happened to Slot, he was unable to manage the players and had no Plan B when they were losing.