Liverpool is preparing to open official talks with Andoni Iraola this week as they look to fill the head coach vacancy at Anfield.
The Reds parted ways with Arne Slot on Saturday, just one season after the Dutchman guided the club to a Premier League title.
Liverpool’s leadership is keen to move swiftly, with outgoing Bournemouth boss Iraola now standing out as the clear favorite for the job.
Though names like Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeneß and Lens manager Pierre Sage have been in the mix, Iraola continues to lead the pack and is widely tipped to take the reins.
At 43, the Spaniard masterminded a landmark season for Bournemouth, guiding the Cherries to a record-breaking sixth-place finish and a spot in next season’s UEFA Europa League. Remarkably, Bournemouth finished just three points and one position behind Liverpool.
Iraola revealed in April his intention to depart Bournemouth at season’s end, drawing attention from clubs such as Crystal Palace, AC Milan, and Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool’s decision to dismiss Slot was reportedly made by Fenway Sports Group chief executive Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes, who believe the team requires a more aggressive, high-intensity, front-foot style of play moving forward.
Hughes and Iraola have worked together before, with Hughes bringing Iraola to Bournemouth during his time as technical director prior to his move to Liverpool in 2024.
Although Liverpool secured qualification for next season’s Champions League, they finished the campaign with 60 points—their lowest Premier League total since 2015/16 and 25 points behind champions Arsenal.
Last summer, the club splashed out £415 million on six new players in a bold bid to defend their league crown. The spending spree featured a British record £125 million swoop for Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, hot on the heels of a then-club record £116 million deal for Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.
Once a Spain international right-back, Iraola spent the bulk of his playing days at Athletic Bilbao before stepping into management. His coaching path began at AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, followed by stints at Mirandés and Rayo Vallecano, before he took the helm at Bournemouth in 2023.
