It's official: Iraola takes over Liverpool
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 04.06.26. | 22:40
Former Bournemouth boss will be in charge until 2028
It happened quite suddenly, but Liverpool dismissed their coach Arne Slot after only two seasons and even quicker appointed his successor - Andoni Iraola. The Spaniard announced he was leaving Bournemouth even before the end of the season and talked with various clubs, from Crystal Palace, to Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan but when the Reds sacked Klopp, things finished quickly. Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director worked in Bournemouth for years and knows Iraola well. So, the decision was very logical and the former Cherries boss has signed a two-year contract.
Needles to say, he was excited to sign for such a big club.
“Really excited, really excited. Because obviously you know about Liverpool, you know that it’s a big club, a massive club, one of the biggest in the world. But feeling inside and understanding a little bit more of this club, I always thought it’s a special club. You don’t need a lot of things to get attracted by Liverpool. Liverpool is Liverpool. But obviously the atmosphere, the supporters, the club, the players, the chance for me to coach top-level players, the chance to fight for titles. I think it cannot be more attractive than this. It’s difficult to find it. So, really excited to start” he said to the club’s website.
Iraola took deserved credit for Bournemouth's sixth-place finish in the Premier League this season, which secured the club's first qualification for Europe, in the Europa League. He arrived at the south coast club from Raya Vallecano in 2023, having previously managed Mirandes and AEK Larnaca in Cyprus. Bournemouth improved each year under Iraola, finishing 12th, ninth and sixth. The former defender was praised for his astute tactics and development of youngsters including Eli Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott.