Grinning Andoni Iraola leaves Liverpool’s training ground after finalising two-year deal to replace Arne Slot – as former Reds star names FIVE managers he would rather they had hired
Andoni Iraola was seen leaving Liverpool’s training ground after completing his deal to become the Premier League giants’ new head coach.
The Spaniard is expected to agree an initial two-year deal to replace Arne SlotHe parted ways with the Reds last week, just 12 months after winning the club’s 20th senior title.
Iraola spent three years at Bournemouth, leading them to the Europa League for the first time last season, finishing just three points behind his new club.
The 43-year-old actor flew from San Sebastian to Liverpool John Lennon Airport on Thursday morning to put the finishing touches on the deal.
The Embraer Phenom 300e type jet landed at the airport at 10.45 in the morning.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport posted on social media: “Arriving in Liverpool from San Sebastián on a cloudy day.”
Andoni Iraola, left, was seen leaving Liverpool’s training center on Thursday ahead of his appointment as the club’s new head coach.
Iraola was seen smiling as he was led out of the training center after completing the deal
The Spanish player arrived in Liverpool on a private jet before the opening ceremony.
Iraola was later seen leaving Liverpool’s AXA Training Center and his appointment is expected to be confirmed shortly.
The Spaniard had been followed off center by Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes.
Hughes previously played a key role in Iraola’s appointment at Bournemouth and worked as manager of the Cherries before joining Liverpool in 2024.
Iraola will take charge of a team playing in the Champions League for the first time, having gained previous experience at AEK Larnaka, Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano.
He has competitive experience as a player for Athletic Bilbao, captained by Marcelo Bielsa, and also played as a minor star during Spain’s golden era.
Iraola finished his career at New York City FC, part of Manchester City’s multi-club network, as a teammate of Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and David Villa.
An advocate of heavy pressing and quick passes, Iraola appears to fit the ‘heavy metal’ style of play introduced by Jurgen Klopp and longed for by the departed Mohamed Salah.
Despite Iraola’s imminent announcement, the former Liverpool forward has put forward five names he believes should be considered before selecting the Spaniard.
Dean Saunders, who won the FA Cup with Liverpool in 1992, insisted the club should try to bring Klopp back first.
Saunders has removed four more names from the manager’s wishlist, claiming Liverpool must focus on bringing in a ‘proven winner’.
He suggested Pep Guardiola, who recently resigned as Manchester City manager, Jose Mourinho, PSG head coach Luis Enrique and Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti as other names Liverpool should try to attract to the club.
The former Bournemouth boss is expected to agree an initial two-year deal to replace Arne Slot
Iraola will replace Slot, who was sacked as Liverpool head coach last week
‘You think about people who know how to win football matches and know how to take the game to the opposition. They know how to prevent bus parking every week. “They know how to do it,” Saunders said. talkSPORT.
‘Liverpool can pay their manager whatever they want. They are not the richest club, the richest club, but they get the highest salaries. So I’m thinking if we’re going to fire Slot, who can we get? Do you think we will be able to get Jurgen Klopp back? Let’s try that.
‘We can’t get Jurgen Klopp, what about Pep Guardiola? Can we get Pep? That’s what I’m going to start thinking about. If we get any of these we will win. We will win matches and leagues.
‘I can’t have them, they said no. “No, I’m taking a few years off,” says Pep. What about Enrique? No, he doesn’t want to leave PSG.
‘What about Mourinho? What will happen to Mourinho? Proven winner. Would you buy Mourinho? He is not Bournemouth’s manager, a proven winner. He could never manage Bournemouth.
‘None of these managers can manage clubs in the middle of the league. So I was going to take a look at the list. Would Ancelotti leave Brazil at the end of the World Cup and come coach us?
‘I’d go through that list before I went in [Xabi] Alonso, [Steven] Gerrard, Iraola, young coaches. ‘I’ll start with the people who know how to win football matches.’
