Liverpool have appointed former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as head coach on a reported two-year deal, after dismissing Arne Slot. Slot delivered the 2024-25 Premier League title, yet Liverpool’s form collapsed the following season, forcing the club to act before the 2026-27 campaign.
The change comes after a dramatic drop in domestic performance. Liverpool finished fifth in 2025-26, just three points ahead of Iraola’s Bournemouth, and needed the final day to secure Champions League football. Their 60-point tally was the lowest for any team placing fifth or higher since Tottenham matched that figure in 2006-07.
The 24-point swing between Liverpool’s title-winning 2024-25 season and the 2025-26 campaign was the biggest fall recorded by any ever-present Premier League side across those years. This decline followed a transfer window in which Liverpool spent around 450m on Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.
Slot had been seen as a strong successor to Jurgen Klopp, who resigned before the 2024-25 season. The Dutch coach then became only the fifth manager to win the Premier League in a debut campaign, after Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte with Chelsea, and Manuel Pellegrini with Manchester City.
Liverpool confirmed Iraola’s arrival after the Spaniard left Bournemouth earlier in 2026, ending a successful three-year spell on the south coast. Iraola is the 23rd permanent manager in Liverpool’s history, and the second Spaniard after Rafael Benitez, who lifted the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006.
The club announced that Iraola will lead the side into the 2026-27 season, maintaining a presence in Europe after the late push for a top-five finish. Iraola told the club’s website: [I’m] really excited, really excited.
We can confirm Andoni Iraola has agreed a deal to become the clubs new head coach ahead of the 2026-27 seasonLiverpool FC (@LFC) June 4, 2026">
Because obviously you know about Liverpool, you know that its 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 its a special club. You dont 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. Its difficult to find it. So, really excited to start.
Iraola’s reputation grew with Bournemouth, where the coach guided the club to European qualification for the first time in their 127-year history. That achievement capped three seasons of steady progress, after Iraola replaced Gary O’Neil in 2023 and reshaped the team’s approach.
Bournemouth finished 12th in the Premier League in 2023-24, climbed to ninth in 2024-25, then surged into the top six in 2025-26. Each season brought a new club points record, with 48 points in 2023-24, 56 in 2024-25 and 57 in 2025-26, highlighting consistent improvement under Iraola.
Andoni Iraola Liverpool head coach tasked with transition
Iraola now steps into a Liverpool squad entering a significant transition phase. Club legends Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson have both moved on, while Ibrahima Konate has announced an exit, increasing the need for defensive reinforcements alongside captain Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool are expected to target a new centre-back during the upcoming window, with Iraola involved in reshaping the squad. The new head coach must combine squad rebuilding with the immediate pressure of competing for major trophies in the Premier League and Champions League.
The process of replacing Slot had included strong external candidates. Xabi Alonso, widely linked with the role, removed interest before Slot’s dismissal, instead agreeing to become Chelsea head coach from the start of July, which shifted Liverpool’s focus towards Iraola.
Iraola’s appointment brings a coach with proven Premier League experience and recent European qualification to Anfield, following a season of sharp decline under Slot. Liverpool now look to stabilise results, adjust to high-profile departures and maintain competitiveness in domestic and European competitions under the Spaniard’s leadership.
Story first published: Friday, June 5, 2026, 0:23 [IST]
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