A new era at Anfield dawns: Iraola expected to sign on Thursday
By OnzeActu · · 3 min read
Sky Sports reports that a verbal agreement has been reached between Liverpool and Andoni Iraola; the former Bournemouth coach is expected at Anfield on Thursday to finalize his arrival, following the dismissal of Arne Slot.
Liverpool appear to be heading towards a new chapter with Andoni Iraola, expected on Merseyside on Thursday to sign his contract as the club's next manager. Sky Sports, which revealed the information, specifies that a verbal agreement was reached on Tuesday after the club accelerated procedures following the departure of Arne Slot on Saturday. An official announcement could follow in the coming days.
The speed of the process is important for a club which has gone through a period of uncertainty. Liverpool demanded clarity, authority and clear footballing direction. Iraola appears to be a sought-after profile internally for a while, notably thanks to his work at Bournemouth.
He is not a choice out of nowhere: Iraola had links with the current Liverpool sporting structure, in particular with sporting director Richard Hughes. Hughes had recruited Iraola from Bournemouth in 2023 before joining Anfield, and that relationship weighed in the balance. The club's search was led by Hughes, who aimed for a manager in tune with Liverpool's desired style of play.
Sky Sports adds that Iraola wants to surround himself with Pablo de la Torre, Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper and Tom Webber for his staff at Anfield, although Liverpool have not yet contacted any of these technicians about management positions.
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Iraola's record at Bournemouth during the 2025/26 season made his candidacy difficult to ignore: a run of 18 matches without defeat in the second half of the season, a 6th place qualifying for the Europa League and finishing the championship just three points behind Liverpool. For Bournemouth, this journey was remarkable; For Liverpool, the performance was seen as a demonstration that Iraola knows how to build structure, confidence and consistency without having the same resources as an elite club.
Iraola's teams have been associated with intensity, organization and attacking schemes favoring courageous moves. After a frustrating season, Liverpool need more than just a cosmetic change: the club is crying out for a sharper identity. Slot's departure, only a year after a league title, is a reminder of the severity of the demands at Anfield: results and performances quickly dictate reality.
Iraola will take over a squad which retains qualities but which requires direction, confidence and tactical clarity. The choice will largely fall to Hughes: this appointment would be his choice, his process and, in a way, his footballing message. Supporters are now awaiting official confirmation, but all signs point to Iraola being the man tasked with opening this new chapter.
There is excitement, but also caution: Bournemouth's achievement was impressive, but Anfield represents a different scale of pressure. Iraola does not arrive with the media profile of certain big names, which can be an asset if the club favors conviction, tactical aggressiveness and improvement of the players on a daily basis. It remains for the coach to show, from the first weeks, signs of a clear identity in order to win back the fervor of the supporters.