JAKARTA – Liverpool has appointed Andoni Iraola as their new manager after the dismissal of Arne Slot.
Iraola moved to Anfield after a successful three years at AFC Bournemouth, which he led to finish sixth in the English League in the 2025/2026 season.
The 43-year-old has signed a two-year deal, which is in keeping with his preference throughout his coaching career to sign short-term contracts.
“You don’t need a lot of things to be attracted to Liverpool. Liverpool is Liverpool. But obviously the atmosphere, the fans, the club, the players, the opportunity for me to coach top players, the opportunity to fight for titles.”
“I think there’s nothing more exciting than this. It’s hard to find. So, very excited to start,” Iraola said on the club’s official website.
Iraola’s appointment comes after Arne Slot was removed from his post on Saturday, May 30, 2026, after two seasons in office.
The former Feyenoord coach led Liverpool to the English League title in his first season in 2024/2025, but failed to repeat that success in the 2025/2026 season, with the club finishing in fifth place.
Iraola then quickly emerged as the leading candidate to replace Arne Slot. Therefore, he was the only person interviewed for the job.
Liverpool have tried to sign the Basque coach and have admired his career from afar, having previously rated him as a long-term successor to Jurgen Klopp four years ago when he was at Rayo Vallecano.
The Reds have also been impressed by Iraola’s ability to turn Bournemouth into one of the best and most exciting teams in the Premier League despite not having the same resources as most of their competitors.
He also has a strong track record of improving players’ abilities, especially in the attacking line, with his style of play that emphasizes high intensity, which has also been the foundation of Liverpool’s success over the past decade.
“I think I have an advantage because I’ve been here for three years in the Premier League. People have definitely seen Bournemouth play.”
“Obviously there are some things we need to change, train Liverpool, but I don’t want to lose our identity – intensity, aggressiveness, organization. Some things I always want to have in my team.”
“You have to adapt to the players you have. It’s not the same at one club to another, but there are basic things that I think are also quite suitable, what has been the hallmark of Liverpool for years, and I think we can make it happen,” said Iraola.
The former Spain national team player started his coaching career at Cypriot club AEK Larnaca, before coaching Spanish clubs Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano.
He was appointed as Bournemouth’s coach in the summer of 2023 by Richard Hughes, who became Liverpool’s sporting director in 2024 and had overseen Iraola’s move to Anfield.
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