Andoni Iraola Takes Charge as Liverpool's New Head Coach for 2026-27 Season

Iraola's Appointment

Liverpool Football Club has officially announced the appointment of Andoni Iraola as their new head coach for the upcoming 2026-27 season, following the departure of Arne Slot. The announcement was made on the club's official website.

A Successful Tenure at Bournemouth

Iraola joins Liverpool after a successful stint with AFC Bournemouth, where he led the team to a historic sixth-place finish in the Premier League, securing European competition for the first time in the club's history.

Iraola's Enthusiasm

"I am really excited to start this journey," Iraola expressed in an interview with Liverpoolfc.com. "Liverpool is a massive club, one of the biggest globally. The atmosphere, the supporters, and the opportunity to coach top-level players make this an incredibly attractive position for me."

Background and Playing Career

Hailing from the Basque region of Spain, Iraola had a distinguished playing career primarily as a right-back, making over 500 appearances for Athletic Club during his 12 seasons there. He also represented Spain on seven occasions before concluding his playing days with New York City FC from 2015 to 2016.

Management Journey

Iraola began his managerial career in the summer of 2018 with AEK Larnaca, where he guided the team to a Cypriot Super Cup victory. He then managed Mirandes in Spain's second division before moving to Rayo Vallecano in 2020, where he achieved promotion to La Liga in his first season. His impressive work at Bournemouth culminated in a remarkable unbeaten run, leading to European qualification.

Looking Ahead

Now, Iraola is set to prepare Liverpool for the upcoming season, aiming to build on the club's rich history and competitive spirit.