June 2026

Image credit: AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) / Twitter (X)

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Liverpool have found their man. After the sacking of Arne Slot and a swift, focused search, the club are set to confirm Andoni Iraola as their new head coach — with multiple sources including Fabrizio Romano confirming the appointment is done, and Liverpool aiming to make a formal announcement before the World Cup begins on June 11, 2026.

The Spaniard arrives at Anfield having turned down interest from Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen, choosing Liverpool as his next challenge. It is the biggest job of his managerial career, and after what he achieved at Bournemouth, almost nobody doubts he is ready for it.

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Who Is Andoni Iraola?

Andoni Iraola Sagarna was born on June 22, 1982, in the Basque Country of Spain. Long before he became one of Europe’s most sought-after coaches, he was one of the most dependable, combative right-backs in Spanish football.

The Player: A One-Club Man at Athletic Bilbao

Iraola spent the vast majority of his playing career at Athletic Bilbao, making a remarkable 510 competitive appearances across 12 seasons — a figure that speaks to his consistency, durability, and the enormous respect the club had for him. He was Athletic’s first-choice right-back for over a decade, a player known for his intensity, technical quality, and deep understanding of defensive structure.

During his time at Athletic, he helped the club reach the Copa del Rey final twice and notably the UEFA Europa League final in 2012 — one of the finest runs by a Spanish club outside the top two in European competition in recent memory.

His playing philosophy was shaped profoundly by time spent under Marcelo Bielsa, the Argentine coaching visionary renowned for his extreme pressing, man-oriented defensive systems, and obsessive footballing intensity. Bielsa’s influence on Iraola was total — the seeds of the manager he would become were planted during those years at Bilbao.

In 2015, at the age of 33, Iraola ventured abroad for the first time, joining New York City FC in Major League Soccer. He retired from playing in November 2016, having represented Spain’s national team on a handful of occasions, including during the 2012 European Championship qualifying campaign.

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The Manager: From Cyprus to the Premier League

Iraola transitioned into management in 2018, beginning his coaching journey at AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, though his spell there proved difficult — he was dismissed after a poor run of results in January 2019.

His real managerial identity emerged at Mirandés in Spain’s Segunda División, where he took over in July 2019 following the club’s promotion. What followed was extraordinary — Iraola guided the modest club to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, eliminating top-flight sides Celta Vigo, Sevilla, and Villarreal along the way. It was the first time in Mirandés’ 92-year history they had reached the last four of the national cup.

Next came Rayo Vallecano, where he arrived in August 2020. He achieved promotion to La Liga via the play-offs in 2021, extending his contract, and again reached the Copa del Rey semi-finals — only the second time Rayo had achieved that in 40 years.

Bournemouth (2023–2026): Building Something Special

On June 19, 2023, Iraola was appointed manager of AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League on a two-year deal. What he built on the south coast over three seasons was a masterclass in progressive management.

His impact was immediate and cumulative:

• 2023-24: 12th place — 48 points
• 2024-25: 9th place — 56 points
• 2025-26: 6th place — 57 points — Bournemouth’s highest-ever league finish, earning Europa League qualification for the first time in their history

In his final season, he led Bournemouth on an 18-match unbeaten run, and recorded a stunning 2-1 win away at league leaders Arsenal. He departed the club in the summer of 2026, three days after confirming he would leave at the end of the campaign, as a free agent and the most talked-about manager in Europe.

He had turned down Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen before agreeing to join Liverpool.

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His Tactical Identity

Iraola’s football is built on two pillars: intensity and structure. He demands relentless, high-tempo pressing from his players, both in and out of possession, and has been described as a disciplinarian with a “no days off” mentality.

His preferred system is a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, though in possession it morphs into something far more aggressive — both full-backs push high and wide, wingers tuck inside, and the team effectively creates a 3-2-5 attacking shape that overloads the opposition’s defensive structure. It produces width, overloads, and constant forward movement.

Out of possession, he operates a hybrid press — zonal in structure but capable of snapping instantly into aggressive man-to-man pressing when the ball is pinned to one side of the pitch. Opponents find it relentless and exhausting to play against.

He has frequently been compared to Pep Guardiola due to their shared philosophical lineage — both shaped by Bielsa, both demanding high defensive lines, both committed to proactive, possession-based, pressing football.

For Liverpool — a club built under Klopp on the very same principles of “heavy metal football” — the fit feels almost predestined.

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Possible Signings

Iraola has wasted no time identifying the areas of the squad he wants to strengthen. Reports suggest he has demanded five new signings as part of a significant squad reset.

Denzel Dumfries (Right-back, Inter Milan): A primary target. The Dutch international’s contract at Inter contains a €25 million release clause active in July, making him one of the most attainable elite full-backs on the market. His athleticism and attacking output are a natural fit for Iraola’s system.

Yan Diomande (Winger, RB Leipzig): Liverpool’s top attacking target. The explosive wide forward is admired for his pace, pressing instincts, and end product — exactly the Salah-replacement profile the club need.

Bradley Barcola (Winger, PSG): The French winger has also been monitored, offering pace, directness, and Champions League experience.

Adam Wharton (Central Midfielder, Crystal Palace): The young English midfielder has drawn interest as Iraola seeks to add a disciplined, ball-carrying presence to his engine room.

Jarrod Bowen (Winger, West Ham): A more experienced option also in the picture — proven Premier League quality and a high-press profile that suits Iraola’s demands perfectly.

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Possible Outgoings

Liverpool’s squad requires significant reshaping, and Iraola is reportedly pushing for four exits alongside the already-confirmed departures of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson.

Ibrahima Konaté: Already confirmed as leaving on a free transfer when his contract expires.

Alisson Becker: The Brazilian goalkeeper’s future is uncertain, with his place in Iraola’s long-term plans in question.

Federico Chiesa: The Italian winger, who never truly nailed down a regular starting spot at Liverpool, is expected to be moved on.

Curtis Jones: Despite being an academy product and a popular figure at the club, Jones features among those who could depart as Iraola reshapes the midfield.

Joe Gomez: The defender is also named as a potential exit, with Liverpool likely to reinvest his value in their preferred defensive targets.

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A New Chapter for a Fallen Giant

Liverpool finished fifth last season — their worst league campaign in years. The dressing room had grown fractured, key players had departed or were leaving, and the club desperately needed a reset. Iraola offers exactly that.

He is a manager who builds from the ground up, earns results progressively, and creates cultures where players buy into something bigger than themselves. He did it at Mirandés, at Rayo, and most spectacularly at Bournemouth — turning a club with modest resources into European qualifiers.

Now he has the resources of one of the world’s greatest football clubs. The pressing philosophy, the intensity, the relentless standards — all of it comes to Anfield. Liverpool fans who have been calling for their “heavy metal” identity to return may be about to get exactly what they asked for.

The Andoni Iraola era at Liverpool is about to begin.