Liverpool have officially confirmed that former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has signed a two-year contract with the club to become the new head coach at Anfield, succeeding Dutch boss Arne Slot, who left after just one season in charge despite leading the team to the Premier League title.
The appointment was driven by sporting director Richard Hughes, who brought Iraola to Bournemouth in 2023 and has now reunited with him on Merseyside with the aim of rebuilding Liverpool's competitiveness.
From Vitality Stadium to Anfield
After his contract expired, Iraola left Bournemouth at the end of the season. The Cherries secured a Europa League place for the first time in their 127-year history by finishing sixth in the league, ending the campaign just one place and three points behind Liverpool, and closing out with an 18-match unbeaten run. The Spanish coach previously managed AEK Larnaca in Cyprus before spells at Mirandés and Rayo Vallecano; after moving to England he earned praise for his high-pressing, fast-transition style, which closely mirrors the intense approach of Klopp-era Liverpool. Salah had also called for the team to return to that way of playing before his departure.
"I'm really excited," Iraola said at his unveiling. "You don't need many reasons to be drawn to Liverpool—Liverpool is Liverpool. The atmosphere, the fans, the players, and the chance to fight for titles—it's hard to find a more attractive platform than this."
Fifth place and a departed top scorer
Iraola is not inheriting a championship-winning side. Liverpool slipped to fifth in the Premier League last season, well short of expectations after their title-winning campaign; on the final day they drew 1-1 with Bournemouth, and the narrow gap between the two sides underlined the quality of Iraola's work last season. The bigger variable is Salah—the club's leading scorer over the past decade has left, and the entire attack needs to be rebuilt.
For Iraola personally, this is also the biggest appointment of his managerial career to date. Turning a mid-table side into regular European contenders is a very different challenge from delivering silverware at Anfield in front of 61,276. Whether he can quickly restore Liverpool's pressing rhythm without their key striker will be the first test of the new season.
