Liverpool target Andoni Iraola as new boss for Anfield revival in 2026

Liverpool seek Andoni Iraola to restore their attacking identity at Anfield after Arne Slot's departure.

Hughes-Iraola link explained The bond between Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and Andoni Iraola is well known—Hughes held the technical director role at Bournemouth in 2023 when Iraola began his English football journey. During his time at the Cherries, Iraola completed a streak of 18 unbeaten matches this season, guiding them to a sixth-place finish and securing European competition for the club for the first time. At 43 years old, Iraola has managed teams across multiple leagues, from AEK Larnaca in Cyprus to clubs like Mirandes, Rayo Vallecano in Spain, and Bournemouth in England. His managerial career has produced minimal trophies, with only the Cypriot Super Cup in 2018 to his name. ## Why Liverpool see Iraola as the answer Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, the chief executive of Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group, believe Andoni Iraola is the right leader to restore Liverpool to Europe's elite. This belief follows the dismissal of former head coach Arne Slot, whose tenure ended amid poor performances and fan discontent. One factor behind Slot's exit was the style of play, which failed to energize the Anfield crowd, especially during a lackluster final campaign. Liverpool's home atmosphere grew toxic, as seen during a 1-1 draw against Chelsea in May when Hughes attended. The phrase "Intensity is our identity" was popularized by Pep Lijnders, Klopp's assistant, but by the end of last season and much of this one, Liverpool struggled to resemble that identity. ## Iraola’s high-risk football approach Andoni Iraola is expected to bring a high-intensity, high-risk style of football to Liverpool, focusing on high pressing and quick, direct play. In 2023, he told The Sunday Times he prefers "chaos over organisation" and embraces the concept of gegenpressing. He explained his philosophy bluntly: "It's a matter of how much do you want to risk the ball. I tell players whenever you recover it, your first look has to be not even to the No 9, but the keeper. Can you score?" The challenge for Iraola will be implementing this style consistently, especially with the added demands of European football and the tight turnaround between matches. ## Squad development under Iraola’s watch Liverpool hope Andoni Iraola can maximize the potential of both young academy talents and new signings, an area of growing frustration under Arne Slot’s leadership. Reports indicated frustration among academy players who felt overlooked, while questions arose about training effectiveness amid the club’s inconsistent performances. Club data shows minimal difference in player rest days between Slot’s two seasons (50 days off in 2024–25 and 45 in 2025–26) and Klopp’s final campaign (47 days off in 2023–24). Iraola’s training sessions are expected to be far more intense, with a source from Bournemouth noting his hands-on approach. "Andoni likes to take all of the sessions and be in the thick of it as opposed to leaving it to others," said the source. ## Bringing back Anfield’s intimidating edge Liverpool aim to restore Anfield as a fortress where visiting teams feel unwelcome, a challenge that contributed to the decision to part ways with Arne Slot. Although club sources deny fan discontent as a primary factor in the dismissal, Slot had lost significant support among supporters. In contrast, Andoni Iraola’s family—his wife and two children—are expected to relocate with him to Liverpool. While this may seem trivial to executives, it carries significance for the fans. For Hughes, whose contract ends next summer, Iraola’s appointment could define his time at Liverpool. One source reflected on Iraola’s slow start at Bournemouth, saying, "The first seven or eight games didn't go to plan but as soon as he got the team going, it was unbelievable." ## Iraola’s Liverpool return in August Andoni Iraola made his first appearance at Anfield last season when his Bournemouth side lost 4-2 to Liverpool. Now, as Liverpool’s potential new manager, he is expected to return in the same dugout come August. His leadership at Bournemouth, though on a smaller scale, has impressed those close to the club due to his relentless drive. A source emphasized that Iraola’s success stems from his relentless work ethic: "Of course, Bournemouth is nothing like the scale of the task at Liverpool but Andoni is so driven and that's why he's so successful and why I think it will all work out at Anfield."