Liverpool appoint Andoni Iraola as new head coach after Arne Slot sacking

Liverpool Following the dismissal of Arne Slot, they appointed Andoni Iraola as head coach on a two-year contract.

The Reds announced Slot’s departure on Saturday, a year after the Dutchman guided them to the Premier League title.

Iraola, 43, the former Bournemouth manager, joins the Cherries after finishing sixth in their best-ever season.

This left them just one place and three points behind Liverpool and guaranteed Bournemouth a place in next season’s Europa League.

The Spaniard announced in April that he would leave Bournemouth this summer and was linked with Crystal Palace and AC Milan.

He has now transferred to Merseyside; Liverpool have qualified for next season’s Champions League despite ending the Premier League season on 60 points – their lowest points since 2015-16 and 25 points behind winners Arsenal.

“Really excited, really excited,” Iraola said. “Because obviously you know Liverpool, you know it’s a big club, a very big club, one of the biggest clubs in the world.

“But from my gut feeling and understanding this club a little more, I always thought it was a special club.

“You don’t need much to attract Liverpool’s attention. Liverpool is Liverpool.

“But of course the atmosphere, the fans, the club, the players, for me the chance to coach top players, the chance to fight for titles. I think it doesn’t get more attractive than that. It’s hard to find. So I’m really excited to get started.”

Iraola is understood to want to bring Bournemouth assistants Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper to Anfield as part of his coaching staff.