Liverpool to open formal talks with Iraola

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Andoni Iraola announced he would leave Bournemouth in April By Aadam Patel Football reporter Published 31 May 2026, 17:54 BST Updated 49 minutes ago Liverpool will open formal talks with Andoni Iraola this week over becoming their new head coach. The Reds sacked Arne Slot on Saturday, just a year after the Dutchman guided them to the Premier League title. The club hope to have a successor in place as soon as possible, with departing Bournemouth manager Iraola the leading contender. The 43-year-old delivered the Cherries' finest season to date with a sixth-placed finish - only one spot and three points behind Liverpool in the table - to qualify for next season's Europa League. Spaniard Iraola announced in April that he would leave the club this summer and has also been linked with Crystal Palace and AC Milan. The decision to sack Slot was made by Michael Edwards, Fenway Sports Group chief executive, and Richard Hughes, Liverpool 's sporting director, who believe the club needs a more front-foot, aggressive and urgent style of football. Iraola was appointed at Bournemouth when Hughes was technical director at the Cherries, a role he left in 2024 to join the Reds. Liverpool have qualified for next season's Champions League despite finishing the Premier League season with 60 points - their lowest tally since the 2015-16 campaign and 25 points behind champions Arsenal . The Anfield club spent £415m last summer on six players - the highest outlay in a window by a British club - in a bid to retain their title. They broke the British transfer record to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a fee of £125m having previously bought Bayer Leverkusen and Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz for a then-club record £116m. Iraola, a former Spain right-back who spent the majority of his playing career at Athletic Bilbao, started out in management in Cyprus with AEK Larnaca. Spells with Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano in his homeland followed before joining Bournemouth in 2023. 'A risk worth taking' or 'a backwards step'? Fans on Iraola approach Carl: If he doesn't have us playing like crabs going side to side again for another season and understands that central midfielders don't play right-back then he'll be an improvement that's for sure. It would be a gamble but his style of football at Bournemouth is much closer to what we loved under Jurgen Klopp than anything Slot could bring. A risk worth taking. Mike: Very happy with the Iraola approach. His attitude and work-rate, and that of his teams, is a better fit for Liverpool and what we need to right the wrongs of this season. Mez: No-brainer. He's been the manager of the season. Mark: I have always enjoyed how Bournemouth played under Iraola and feel a similar excitement to when we announced Klopp. Thanks, Arne, we will never forget the 20th title, but a change is needed. Alex: Iraola would be a gamble. Do Liverpool have the squad for heavy metal football now? We're in a bit