Liverpool have confirmed the appointment of Andoni Iraola as their new manager following the dismissal of Arne Slot after a disastrous Premier League title defence.
The former Bournemouth head coach emerged as the Reds’ primary target to replace Slot, whose two-year tenure came to an abrupt end last Saturday. While Liverpool did not disclose the length of the 43-year-old Spaniard’s contract, British media reports indicate he has signed a two-year deal.
“Really excited – because you know Liverpool is a massive club, one of the biggest in the world,” Iraola told the club’s official website. “The atmosphere, the supporters, the players, the chance to fight for titles – it cannot be more attractive than this.”
Iraola is expected to restore a high-energy, aggressive style of football at Anfield, responding to widespread criticism of Liverpool’s lacklustre displays under Slot. That approach mirrors the ‘heavy metal football’ championed by beloved former manager Jurgen Klopp – a style recently called for by Mohamed Salah as pressure mounted on the beleaguered Dutchman.
During his three seasons at Bournemouth, Iraola transformed the south-coast side, guiding them to sixth place in the Premier League this term – a club-record finish that secured a maiden Europa League qualification. He arrived at the Cherries from Rayo Vallecano in 2023, having previously managed Mirandés and AEK Larnaca. A former defender who made over 500 appearances for Athletic Bilbao, Iraola also played in Major League Soccer for New York City alongside Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo.
Iraola replaces Slot, who inherited an unenviable task succeeding Klopp in 2024. The Dutchman enjoyed a stellar debut season, leading Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th English league title with Salah scoring 29 goals. However, the 2025/26 campaign unravelled dramatically. The death of forward Diogo Jota in a car crash last July profoundly affected the squad, while a £450 million outlay on new signings failed to yield results. Slot’s relationship with Salah deteriorated, and fans grew disillusioned with lifeless performances. Liverpool limped to a fifth-place finish – 25 points adrift of champions Arsenal – though that did secure Champions League qualification.
“I want to become one more of you,” Iraola told supporters. “I want to earn the right to be one of you, so we can enjoy it all together.”
The Basque coach arrives at a club at a crossroads, tasked with reigniting a team that has fallen from the summit of English football.
