Andoni Iraola is closing in on the Liverpool job after a campaign that took AFC Bournemouth into Europe, according to ESPN. The 43-year-old’s rise from second-tier coach to a leading Premier League candidate was underscored by Bournemouth’s sixth-place finish, and Iraola has been linked to Anfield after announcing in April he would leave the Vitality Stadium at season’s end.
Arne Slot was relieved of his duties last weekend after two markedly different seasons at Liverpool, sources told ESPN. Slot won the title in 2024-25 shortly after succeeding Jurgen Klopp, but a turbulent second season left the club’s hierarchy seeking change. ESPN reported that sporting director Richard Hughes informed Slot of the decision less than two hours before the club’s official announcement.
According to ESPN, Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group had been prepared to back Slot through a difficult campaign, but the end of the season allowed a broader assessment of his tenure. Liverpool secured UEFA Champions League qualification on the final day, having collected just two points from their last four league matches, a run that helped persuade Hughes and FSG that a change was in the club’s best interests as it looks to adopt a more aggressive, front-footed style.
Iraola’s high-intensity approach has been credited with transforming Bournemouth from relegation candidates into European competitors over three seasons at the Vitality Stadium, ESPN reports. That record made him the frontrunner to replace Slot, but sources cautioned there is no guarantee of instant success when moving to a club of Liverpool’s size.
Slot’s decline can be traced, in part, to a March 2025 Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle United, which came days after Liverpool were eliminated from the Champions League round of 16 on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain. Slot acknowledged postmatch that Liverpool had been second-best at Wembley, saying a game dominated by aerial duels favoured Newcastle. ESPN noted that loss marked the start of a pattern in which Slot repeatedly lamented difficulties dealing with low blocks, long balls and set pieces.
