Liverpool have appointed Andoni Iraola as their new manager just one year after securing the Premier League title under Arne Slot, a swift turnover that has already prompted the release of three coaches from the backroom staff. The club confirmed the exits as Iraola begins reshaping the setup at Anfield, following Slot’s departure after a difficult second season.
Slot had been widely expected to build on the club’s 20th top-flight crown, won in May 2025, but his tenure unravelled amid growing fan frustration. Yet it was Jurgen Klopp who set the tone for how supporters should respond to change. In his final game at Anfield in the summer of 2024, after nine years of “brilliantly orchestrated chaos”, Klopp stood in the centre circle and addressed the crowd. “You welcome the new manager like you welcomed me,” he said. “You go all-in from the first day. And you keep believing and you push the team. Change is good. No one tells you to stop believing. This club may be in the best position ever.”
“Liverpool appoint Andoni Iraola as manager, release three coaches, as Jurgen Klopp's plea to back the new boss resonates.”
A chant he initiated – “Arne Slot, la la la” – followed, and fans initially embraced the Dutchman warmly. But at times last season, Anfield voiced disapproval towards Slot’s decision-making, struggling to warm to his detached style. Despite that, Slot’s face was incorporated into a legendary banner on the Kop that showcases six Liverpool legends – Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Rafael Benitez and Klopp – each of whom won the league or European Cup. The banner, displayed since the 2009/10 season, does not include even Gerard Houllier, who claimed a treble in 2000/2001.
Now, with Iraola tasked with returning Liverpool to the top of the table, supporters have turned out in force to welcome the Basque. He has made a promising initial impression, tapping into Anfield’s passion with comments that echo Klopp more than Slot. “I cannot ask them for a lot,” Iraola said, though the full quote was cut short in reports. The club requires a period of stability, and Klopp’s words ring as vital as ever: supporters must rally behind Iraola even during difficult moments.