Liverpool confirm appointment of Andoni Iraola as new head coach

Andoni Iraola has been appointed nan caller caput coach of Liverpool connected a two-year contract. The 43-year-old’s presence was confirmed conscionable six days aft nan sacking of Arne Slot.

Liverpool moved quickly to switch Slot pinch nan erstwhile Bournemouth caput coach aft identifying him arsenic nan perfect campaigner for their preferred playing style and pinch Milan, Bayer Leverkusen and Crystal Palace each vying for nan Basque’s services. Other coaches were considered, including Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and Pierre Sage of Lens, but Iraola was ever Liverpool’s favoured action and nan only 1 spoken to astir nan vacancy.

Speaking to nan club’s media channel, Iraola said: “Really excited, really excited. Because evidently you cognize astir Liverpool, you cognize that it’s a large club, a monolithic club, 1 of nan biggest successful nan world. But emotion wrong and knowing a small spot much of this club, I ever thought it’s a typical club.

“You don’t request a batch of things to get attracted by Liverpool. Liverpool is Liverpool. But evidently nan atmosphere, nan supporters, nan club, nan players, nan chance for maine to coach top-level players, nan chance to conflict for titles. I deliberation it cannot beryllium much charismatic than this. It’s difficult to find it. So, really excited to start.”

Liverpool’s attack for Iraola was led by their sporting director, Richard Hughes, who besides appointed him astatine Bournemouth successful 2023 aft sacking Gary O’Neil. Hughes and Michael Edwards, main executive of shot for Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, had conducted nan reappraisal into nan team’s mediocre title defence nether Slot and concluded a alteration was basal to instrumentality a much aggressive, attacking style.

Andoni Iraola (left) leaves Liverpool’s training guidelines aft talks pinch nan nine hierarchy. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Formal talks pinch Iraola and his agent, Iñaki Ibáñez, opened earlier this week and precocious smoothly. Negotiations were helped by Iraola making it clear from nan outset that Liverpool were nan only nine he wanted to subordinate pursuing nan expiry of his statement pinch Bournemouth. Hughes enjoys a adjacent moving narration pinch Ibanez, who besides represents Xabi Alonso. Liverpool did not make an attack for their erstwhile midfielder, who was appointed Chelsea head connected 17 May.

Iraola arrived connected Merseyside connected Thursday and has signed a statement that ties him to Liverpool until nan extremity of nan 2027/28 season. While short by Liverpool’s erstwhile standards, nan magnitude of nan woody is successful keeping pinch really Iraola liked to negociate his profession astatine Bournemouth and Rayo Vallecano. Iraola intends to bring his assistants astatine Bournemouth, Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper, expert Tom Webber and fittingness coach Pablo de la Torre pinch him to Anfield. Elphick and Cooper stay nether statement pinch nan southbound seashore nine and Liverpool person not finalised immoderate additions to their caller backroom squad arsenic yet.

Liverpool see Iraola 1 of nan champion coaches disposable and perfectly suited to evolving nan team’s style aft nan disappointing extremity to Slot’s Anfield career. They were besides attracted by his proven capacity successful nan Premier League, wherever he improved Bournemouth year-on-year without having nan resources of nan mostly of his competitors and made them an exciting, high-pressing team. His track-record of improving players individually and collectively besides appealed, arsenic did his characteristic and activity skills.