Andoni Iraola: Liverpool reach deal with ex-Bournemouth boss to succeed Arne Slott | football news

Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement with Andoni Iraola to become their new head coach.

Sky Sports News Iraola is understood to want Pablo de la Torre, Tommy Elphick, Sean Cooper and Tom Webber to join him in the coaching staff at Anfield.

An official announcement from Liverpool could happen in the coming days.

The process was led by sporting director Richard Hughes, who appointed Iraola to Bournemouth in 2023 before moving to Anfield the following year.

After sacking Liverpool slot on Saturday, Sky Sports News Iraola is the first-runner and formal talks are expected to begin this week.

Liverpool’s main objective is to identify and recruit the man who best suits their preferred style of play.

Liverpool have yet to make an approach with any individual aiming to join the coaching staff. Such a decision will be taken only when discussions with Iraola reach an advanced stage.

Iraola was mentored by Hughes during his time at Bournemouth and enjoyed great success at the Vitality Stadium.

The Cherries completed an 18-game unbeaten run in the second half of the 2025/26 Premier League, which saw them finish sixth and secure Europa League football. They are only three points behind Liverpool in the table.

Carragher is unsure if Iraola can win the league for Liverpool

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher On Andoni Iraola:

“He has done a fantastic job in the Premier League, what Bournemouth have done is absolutely fantastic, but there are still huge question marks.

“The way he plays is definitely the way Liverpool want to go back: high-intensity football. We know he’s great at it, but when you’re Liverpool manager it’s not just about that.

“Off the ball was a big problem for Arne Slott, that’s what really worried me, and I’ve said all season that Liverpool were very poor off the ball.

“It’s a big part of Liverpool’s DNA, not just under Jurgen Klopp. The reason we talk about the Anfield factor, a lot of it is off the ball, not just on it, so he’s great at it.

“My concern is, can you play at that intensity when you’re playing every three days, and it was once a week with Bournemouth. It’s completely different.

“Whenever you bring in a manager for a top club in England, you think: ‘Can he win me the league?’ It’s a big question mark around him, or any manager coming in, but Liverpool had a manager who won the league, so I’m always torn.”

Redknapp: Iraola can handle Liverpool pressure

Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp On Andoni Iraola:

“I love the man. I never thought Eddie Howe (at Bournemouth) could eclipse what he did, but he did.

“The style of football is amazing – they play high pressure, they get behind teams, that’s exactly what Liverpool fans want.

“They want to see high-energy guys, whether that fits the Liverpool mould, because they play a lot more man-to-man. It will be interesting to see if that style of play in midfield suits the really high-energy – Wirtz. Everyone has to run in that team.

“There’s talk that he doesn’t like to talk to his players too much – he doesn’t want to talk to you if you’re not in the team.

“It won’t appeal to many players, but in this day and age, many players go straight to the chairman or director of football.

“But he sets up his stall early – he’ll tell you hours in advance if you’re in a group.

“The question now is going from Bournemouth to Liverpool, how do you manage that transition? I don’t see it as a problem for him.

“As long as he gets the right players he needs. You can see he’s turned a lot of Bournemouth players from okay players to great players, which seems to fit the bill.

“I have no problem if he can handle it. He was a great player and is now an elite manager. If he has to be, I have no doubt.”