Andoni Iraola stood on the Anfield touchline last August and felt the stadium erupt as Federico Chiesa scored a late winner against his Bournemouth side. Ten months on, the Spaniard returns to Merseyside as Liverpool's new head coach, tasked with producing those celebrations from the other side.
Iraola has signed a two-year contract that runs until the 2027/28 season, replacing Arne Slot who was sacked on Saturday – a year after guiding the club to the Premier League title. The decision was made by Fenway Sports Group's chief executive of football Michael Edwards and Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, who decided the club required a more front-foot, aggressive style.
“Liverpool appoint Andoni Iraola as head coach on two-year deal after sacking Arne Slot.”
The 43-year-old arrives after delivering Bournemouth's finest top-flight season to date, finishing sixth – one position and three points behind Liverpool – and securing Europa League football. He announced in April he would leave the Cherries, and had been linked with Crystal Palace and AC Milan before moving to a club he described as "one of the biggest in the world".
"Really excited," Iraola said. "You don't need a lot of things to get attracted by Liverpool. Liverpool is Liverpool." He added: "I think Liverpool gives me the chance to coach top players, and top players give you the chance to fight for titles. To win titles."
The new head coach inherits a side that qualified for the Champions League despite finishing with 60 points – their lowest tally since 2015-16 and 25 behind winners Arsenal. Liverpool spent over £450m last summer on marquee signings including Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, plus full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, but failed to replicate the form that won the 2024/25 title.
Iraola is understood to be keen to add his Bournemouth assistants Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper to his coaching staff. And he has already identified his first transfer target: Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, 23, who thrived under his management at the Vitality Stadium. The Cherries have slapped an £80m price tag on the England hopeful, with Chelsea and Manchester United also credited with interest.
Scott, who could become the next big-name departure from the South Coast after Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi, Kerkez and Antoine Semenyo, said of Iraola: "The way we press out of possession is very aggressive, similar to the early Klopp teams. Liverpool fans should definitely be so excited."
Iraola recalled the roar after Chiesa's winner: "It was crazy. I want now to feel this from the other side." He acknowledged the need to prove himself: "At the beginning when you arrive at any club, you need to kind of prove a little bit yourself. You need to earn the right to belong."