Liverpool have confirmed the appointment of Andoni Iraola as the club’s new manager. The announcement comes after the Reds opted to part ways with former head coach Arne Slot over the weekend after two years in charge.
Iraola takes over as Liverpool boss following his decision to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season. The Spanish coach guided the Cherries to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, which is the highest in the club’s history, and also secured qualification to the Europa League.
Until the final day of the season, Bournemouth also had a chance of beating Liverpool to qualify for the Champions League via a fifth-place finish in the Premier League. Iraola will now get to work ahead of a busy summer transfer window where Liverpool will be expected to be in the market for several potential new signings.
Liverpool are already being linked with a host of potential new signings, and one of Iraola’s first jobs will be to improve on the Anfield club’s fifth-place finish in the Premier League. Iraola will take charge of Liverpool’s pre-season schedule, which will see the Reds travel to the United States and take on Wrexham, Leeds United and Sunderland in friendly matches across the Atlantic.
“Because obviously you know about Liverpool, you know that it’s a big club, a massive club, one of the biggest in the world. But feeling inside and understanding a little bit more of this club, I always thought it’s a special club.
“You don’t need a lot of things to get attracted by Liverpool. Liverpool is Liverpool.
“But obviously the atmosphere, the supporters, the club, the players, the chance for me to coach top-level players, the chance to fight for titles. I think it cannot be more attractive than this. It’s difficult to find it. So, really excited to start.”
