Official: Liverpool Announces the Appointment of Iraola as Team Manager

Liverpool Football Club announced on its official website the appointment of Spaniard Andoni Iraola as the new head coach of the first team, following an agreement for him to take over starting from the 2026/2027 season, succeeding coach Arne Slot who has left his position.

The club stated in its official announcement that Iraola, aged 43, will take charge of the team at Anfield following a successful stint in the English Premier League with Bournemouth. He led the team through three remarkable seasons and succeeded in guiding them to qualify for European competitions for the first time in their history after finishing sixth in the league table last season.

Iraola said in a statement to the club's official website: "I am very excited, very excited, because of course you know Liverpool, and you know it's a big club, a huge club, one of the biggest clubs in the world. But the inner feeling and understanding of this club makes me always see it as a special club. You don't need much to be attracted to Liverpool; Liverpool is Liverpool. And of course, the atmosphere, the fans, the club, the players, the opportunity to coach players at the highest level, and the chance to compete for titles. I think there's nothing more attractive than that. It's hard to find something better, so I am very excited to start."

Iraola began his coaching career in the summer of 2018 with the Cypriot team AEK Larnaca, leading them to win the Cypriot Super Cup. He then coached the Spanish second division team Mirandés before taking charge of Rayo Vallecano in 2020, where he led them to promotion to La Liga in his first season.