Andoni Iraola is set to become Liverpool’s new head coach after reaching a verbal agreement with the club.
The 43-year-old is expected to sign a two-year contract and could put pen to paper as early as Thursday, with his flight from San Sebastian due to land in Liverpool later this morning.
Iraola quickly emerged as Liverpool’s preferred candidate after Arne Slot was sacked on Saturday following two years in charge.
The Spaniard left Bournemouth at the end of the 2025-26 season after guiding the club to European qualification for the first time in its history.
Talks with Andoni Iraola and his representatives have been ongoing, and while Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and Lens boss Pierre Sage were also considered, Liverpool identified Iraola as their leading choice.
At Anfield, he will reunite with sporting director Richard Hughes, who appointed him at Bournemouth before moving to Liverpool.
The club wanted the appointment completed before the World Cup begins on June 11, with a busy summer ahead. Iraola will be eager to get to work before players return for pre-season training in early July.
There has been speculation that former Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcântara could join the coaching staff, while recently retired James Milner also has admirers within the club.
No decisions have been made, however, and Andoni Iraola will have the final say on any additions. The Basque coach leaves Bournemouth after guiding the club into European competition for the first time in their history.
His focus now turns to Liverpool and a squad rebuild that could see several changes this summer. The Reds have been linked with Inter Milan wing-back Denzel Dumfries, although the Dutch international now appears destined for Real Madrid, while RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande remains a target.
The appointment represents a significant moment for Hughes and FSG chief executive of football Michael Edwards, who have been tasked with shaping Liverpool’s future.
Following an end-of-season review after the club finished 24 points and 23 goals worse off than their 2024-25 title-winning campaign, the expectation is that Iraola will quickly transform Liverpool into one of the Premier League’s most formidable sides.
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Andoni Iraola agrees to replace Arne Slot as Liverpool head coach