Liverpool open formal talks with Andoni Iraola as Arne Slot successor search begins

Liverpool have opened formal talks with Andoni Iraola as the club moves to identify a successor to Arne Slot, who was sacked at the weekend after two seasons in charge at Anfield. The 43-year-old Spaniard is the frontrunner for the position, with sporting director Richard Hughes — who knows Iraola from his time at Bournemouth — leading the search.

Iraola left a strong impression during his tenure at Bournemouth, guiding the Cherries into European competition for the first time in the club’s history and earning widespread recognition for his commitment to attacking, free-flowing football. His contract at the Vitality Stadium expires this summer, making him available without a compensation fee.

Despite the pace of the early discussions, Liverpool’s hierarchy has made clear it will not rush the appointment. The club intends to conduct a full interview process with prospective candidates and has not yet made any approaches regarding backroom staff, with no final decision taken on the managerial position.

A key condition for Liverpool is that any incoming head coach shares the club’s footballing philosophy — a standard that Iraola’s reputation appears to meet. Hughes’s existing relationship with the Spaniard is understood to be a significant factor in Liverpool’s pursuit.

Iraola had also been in discussions with AC Milan, Crystal Palace, and Bayer Leverkusen. Reports emerged last week suggesting he had been holding out for the Liverpool job to become available, a timeline that may have influenced the club’s decision to part ways with Slot when they did.

Slot is said to have been surprised by his dismissal, with planning for the summer transfer window already under way at the time. The Dutchman won the Premier League title in his debut season at the club but oversaw a significant drop in form during the campaign just ended.

In a joint statement, Liverpool’s owners acknowledged the difficulty of the decision: “The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and — most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves — successful. As such, our appreciation for everything he has achieved could not be greater, particularly as it was underpinned by a work ethic, a diligence and a level of expertise which further underlined our view that he is a leader in his field.”