Why Liverpool want Andoni Iraola and what he will bring to Anfield

Andoni Iraola is expected to replace Arne Slot as Liverpool boss The connection between Richard Hughes, Liverpool's sporting director, and Andoni Iraola is well documented. The Spaniard was appointed as Bournemouth head coach - his first break in English football - in 2023 on the advice of Hughes, then technical director at the Cherries. Three years later, Iraola finished the job - having confirmed in April he would leave the club at the end of the season - with an 18-game unbeaten run that saw Bournemouth finish sixth and achieve European football for the first time. The 43-year-old's managerial path has taken him from AEK Larnaca in Cyprus to Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano in Spain, then Bournemouth. And while his career is, understandably, light on silverware - the Cypriot Super Cup in 2018 remains his only trophy to date - he has often overachieved, with Bournemouth securing a club-record finish in each of his three campaigns. Now Hughes and Michael Edwards, chief executive of Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG), believe Iraola is the man to re-establish the Reds as one of Europe's top clubs. Slot sacking completes a remarkable fall from grace Liverpool sack head coach Slot