Andoni Iraola, Candidate at Anfield, Liverpool Advances in Negotiations for the Basque Coach to Replace Arne Slot.

The club is looking for a coach capable of restoring competitiveness after Arne Slot's departure.

Possible replacement for Arne Slot

Liverpool is moving quickly in the search for a new coach following Arne Slot's departure, and the name that is most prominently mentioned in the halls of Anfield is Andoni Iraola. According to reports from Sky Sports News, The Athletic, and The Times, talks with the Basque coach are already underway and are in an advanced stage, with the intention of finalizing his arrival in the coming days.

A season that did not live up to expectations

Slot was fired last week after a disappointing campaign, the Reds finished fifth in the Premier League, lost the title, and ended up trophyless. Given that scenario, the management led by sporting director Richard Hughes, who had already brought Iraola to Bournemouth in 2023, decided to bet on a profile that guaranties footballing identity and immediate results.

Iraola and Bournemouth

Iraola, free after leaving Bournemouth at the end of last season, became the top target. His time with the Cherries left a mark, an impressive unbeaten streak of 18 matches in the second half of the 2025/26 season that culminated in a historic sixth place and qualification for the Europa League for the first time in the club's history. That performance piqued the interest of teams like AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, and Crystal Palace, although it seems that Liverpool will be the one to secure him.