Get to know Andoni Iraola, the leading candidate for Liverpool manager after the departure of Klopp.
On 31 May 2026 GMT+7, Liverpool decided to part ways with Jürgen Klopp after a disappointing season in which the team failed to maintain consistency and did not meet the standards expected by the club and its supporters.
According to renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool has identified Andoni Iraola, former Bournemouth manager, as their top choice for the next head coach.
- Who is Iraola?
Andoni Iraola Sagarna was born on 22 June 1982 GMT+7 in Spain. He played as a right-back for Athletic Bilbao for over 12 years.
Iraola took over as Bournemouth manager in 2023 and gained recognition during his tenure. At that time, Richard Hughes, now Liverpool's sporting director, was responsible for bringing him to Bournemouth. Iraola led the team to a 6th place finish in the 2025/26 Premier League season, marking Bournemouth's first-ever qualification for European competition.
He managed Bournemouth in a total of 127 matches, achieving 48 wins, 38 draws, and 41 losses.
- An interesting playing style
At 43 years old, Iraola is known for employing a “hybrid press,” focusing on attacking play, high pressing, and swift ball recovery. While it is not exactly the same as Jürgen Klopp's “gegenpressing,” it retains many fundamental principles familiar to Liverpool fans.
- Why might Liverpool choose him?
The relationship between Iraola and Richard Hughes is a crucial factor since they previously worked together at Bournemouth, giving Liverpool strong confidence in Iraola.
Earlier reports indicated Iraola was also a managerial candidate for AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, and Crystal Palace, but he seems to be waiting for a better opportunity.
There has been no official confirmation from Liverpool yet, but leading news outlets agree that Iraola is the top candidate and negotiations are expected to proceed quickly.