Within minutes of Liverpool confirming that Arne Slot had been sacked, the favourite to replace him became clear. Andoni Iraola, fresh off guiding Bournemouth to Europa League qualification, was quickly installed as the leading candidate to become the Reds’ new manager.
Like Bournemouth’s Premier League finishes, the Spaniard’s stock has gone up and up since he arrived at the Vitality Stadium. But now his next step looks to be Anfield, tasked with revitalising a team that only looked to be going in one direction last year, only to nosedive.
Slot’s second season at Liverpool was a stark contrast to his title-winning first, and while injuries and tragedy were long seen as mitigating circumstances, owners Fenway Sports Group ultimately couldn’t accept the constant drab performances. But is Iraola the right man to change that?
For this week’s Big Debate, we asked the Mirror Football team for their verdicts.
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Andoni Iraola is a great choice for Liverpool. Here is an exciting young manager who has established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young coaches.
Iraola built a fabulous team at Bournemouth: great to watch, utter chaos (in a good way), who were so attacking and fearless. Honestly, Bournemouth delivered some of the best performances and games that I saw last season.
But here’s the but… I do worry about his persona and profile. People might laugh and say that’s not importan, but it really is – especially at a global superpower like Liverpool.
They had Jurgen Klopp, who was effectively an ambassador because he was so good both as a manager and as a personality. Arne Slot was nowhere near as good but was a nice guy.
Clubs now need more than just a tactician. Manchester City may find the switch hard from Pep Guardiola to Enzo Maresca. And not just because you are losing one of the best coaches of all time.
They need to sell the club, have a personality and persona which boosts the club’s profile and standing. That is the reality.
Let’s see if Iraola can do that because he can certainly do the football bit. And, by the way, his football is way better than Xabi Alonso. Anyone hankering for Alonso’s return clearly haven’t watched his style. Iraola is a much better fit.
Is Andoni Iraola the right man for Liverpool? Have your say in the comments section.
View 4 ImagesThere are questions marks over Andoni Iraola(Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola is taking huge a leap of faith if he swaps Bournemouth for Liverpool. Because Liverpool are on a whole new level to what he’s used to; one of the biggest clubs in the world, steeped in history and tradition.
And this is part of the problem. Failure will not be an option. He will get no grace period. And he will be dealing with egos he’s never encountered before.
Liverpool should move heaven and earth to lure Luis Enrique to Anfield instead. It probably won’t happen. But Liverpool should at least ask the question.
Because the club needs the best active manager on the planet to restore them to their former glories. And while he deserves his crack at the big time, Iraola has no idea what is awaiting him on Merseyside.
View 4 ImagesLuis Enrique is a three-time Champions League-winning manager(Image: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
There’s no doubt that Andoni Iraola is a good enough coach for Liverpool. He worked wonders at Rayo Vallecano and has made a name for himself in England thanks to his stellar work at Bournemouth, despite losing his best players.
But I can’t shake this feeling that his personality isn’t the right fit. For all I admire him, I’m yet to see the requisite steeliness for the Liverpool job.
If I was calling the shots at Anfield, I’d be going for Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness. The 44-year-old’s work in the Bundesliga, I feel, doesn’t get the credit it deserves outside of Germany.
From relegation play-off to Champions League qualification in his first 14 months, to winning the DFB Pokal in 2025 and reaching the final again this season while finishing fourth – he’s done a remarkable job.
Hoeness also plays the ‘heavy metal football’ that some Liverpool fans – and players it seems, going by Mo Salah’s recent dig at Slot – have been crying out for. Yes, Iraola knows the Premier League, but Hoeness would be my pick.
View 4 ImagesSebastian Hoeness has revitalised Stuttgart and won a trophy(Image: Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola certainly feels like an exciting choice to take Liverpool forward after a difficult end to Arne Slot’s tenure. Iraola’s stock has never been higher and for good reason: the job he has done at Bournemouth is nothing short of exceptional.
A sixth-placed finish after losing the likes of Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi and Antoine Semenyo – the latter of whom left mid-season – is a remarkable feat. And the swashbuckling manner Bournemouth achieved it in makes it even more impressive. His football should go down a storm at Anfield and as a coach, his best years are still well ahead of him.
The biggest caveat to Iraola taking charge is the scrutiny that comes with managing a truly elite club. The pressure he will be under is a different world entirely to managing a Premier League club outside of that top, top echelon. In that respect, as it is for all coaches, it will be a case of sink or swim.
Yes, he will have to juggle the demands of a Champions League campaign with domestic obligations, which means many more games. And he’ll be expected to go deep in all competitions.
Coaching more games isn’t the concern – it will be adapting to the pressure that managing a club like Liverpool brings. But based on what we’ve seen of Iraola so far, I wouldn’t bet against him succeeding.
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