ANDONI IRAOLA loves a good detective novel.
And with Liverpool on the verge of naming him as Arne Slot’s successor, the next chapter in his career will be fascinating.
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Andoni Iraola has been tipped to be the next Liverpool manager Credit: Getty
The Basque star could be the boss to united the Reds squad Credit: Getty
For the quiet-but-passionate intellectual to end up at Anfield would be quite the plot twist.
Meanwhile Slot’s epic tale has turned into something with just a few more pages than a novella.
The Dutchman has fallen from grace on Merseyside, having begun with a serenade from Jurgen Klopp, to delivering a 20th Premier League title, before ending up scraping the final Champions League spot.
Liverpool finished fifth in the league with just 60 points, their lowest total for a decade.
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Prem boss huge favourite to replace Arne Slot with Enrique and Gerrard also in mix
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They bowed out of the 2025/26 campaign with a humdrum 1-1 draw against ninth-placed Brentford.
The Reds would not get away with that under 43-year-old Iraola, whose high-energy, high-pressing style is inspired by his days playing under Ernesto Valverde and Marcelo Bielsa at Athletic Bilbao.
The coach and his players clashed throughout the season arguing about a loss of character as they consistently lacked the bite needed to win.
In the statement straight from Anfield, the bosses impressed the need for a “change of direction”, a “need for a different approach”, and explained how “change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward”.
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And the proud Basque is all about identity.
He is a manager with proven Premier League pedigree, who is capable of uniting Liverpool’s character as a team and a club, which is what they are craving.
And Iraola – who will be replaced on the south-coast by Marco Rose – fits that bill perfectly.
In three seasons at Bournemouth, he has established himself as an innovative and successful head coach at the highest level — just like former teammates Xabi Alonso and Mikel Arteta.
The trio played together for the famous Antiguoko youth academy, the pride of the Basque Country.
Former team-mates recall Iraola was always a student of the game and he later tried to combine being a fullback for Athletic with working towards a law degree.
But Alonso and Arteta were always regarded as more likely to go on to be coaches.
Aritz Aduriz was a team-mate of all three at Antiguoko and played with Iraola in Bilbao under Valverde and Bielsa.
Arne Slot and Liverpool parted ways on Saturday morning Credit: Getty
Only 12 months ago Slot helped deliver Liverpool’s 20th Prem title Credit: Getty
Former Spain striker Aduriz, 45, revealed: “As a player, he was always like a coach on the field.
“He was very responsible, like a father, supporting you in difficult moments during the match and knowing when to push and demand.
“But the curious thing is, he always said when he retired as a player that he didn’t want to know anything about football.
“Normally, when a footballer retires, they want to continue their relationship with the game.
“But every time Andoni was asked, he was very blunt in saying when he hung up his boots, that was it. Andoni always told us he was going to buy a bookstore — the only thing he wanted to do was to work in his own business.”
What changed Iraola’s mind seems to have been a 17-month spell at New York City at the end of his playing career.
Former Chelsea star Frank Lampard was among his team-mates and he enjoyed working under head coach Patrick Vieira, the legendary Arsenal and France midfielder.
Iraola also developed a keen interest in American sports, especially the NFL.
Iraola’s Bournemouth qualified for Europe for the first-time ever Credit: Getty
The Prem manager confirmed earlier this year that he would be leaving the Vitality Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
He followed the New York Giants and became fascinated with the specific demands of each position and the set-plays.
His career as a head coach had something of a false start as he was sacked after less than seven months in charge of AEK Larnaca in Cyprus.
But back in Spain, he made his name first with second-tier Mirandes and then Rayo Vallecano, leading both teams to notable victories against the
LaLiga big boys.
It was no coincidence Leeds looked at Iraola in early 2023 as they continued their search for someone capable of following Bielsa at Elland Road.
But few in England knew much about Iraola when Bournemouth appointed him as successor to Gary O’Neil in June that year.
It seemed set to stay that way when the Cherries won only one of his first 11 Prem games in charge, leaving him as the bookies’ favourite to be the next top-flight boss to leave his job.
But Iraola and Bournemouth have not looked back since.
Iraola has been earmarked by several Prem clubs Credit: Alamy
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes hired Iraola at Bournemouth Credit: Getty
The Basque sense of identity is famously strong and so is Bournemouth’s.
Their high-octane, pressing style has won a legion of admirers, including Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
Arteta’s title-chasers Arsenal joined the Cherries’ list of scalps this month following a 2-1 win at the Emirates.
Iraola is a serious, driven individual, who demands a lot from his players and staff.
But he also has a playful side and loves to lead football trivia quizzes at the team hotel.
Bournemouth were tipped to struggle this season after selling three quarters of their defence last summer — Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Illia Zabarnyi — plus forward Dango Ouattara.
The Cherries’ excellent recruitment plays its part.
Iraola’s seaside outfit entered the last day of the season thirsty for the fifth-place Champions League spot – needing a win over Nottingham Forest and for Liverpool to lose.
Despite ending the season on an 18-game unbeaten run, it was not the fairytale end for Iraola to ride off into the sunset as the Reds nipped ahead.
Mo Salah pulled the curtains shut on his Liverpool career Credit: Getty
But it was still a historic campaign that earned the club 57 points and secured European football for the first time in their history.
So it is small wonder bigger clubs at home and abroad were sniffing around Iraola even before it was announced ten days ago that he would leave the South Coast club when his contract expires in June.
England midfielder Alex Scott is just glad to have played under the “amazing” Iraola.
Scott, 22, said: “Our manager wants to win every game possible and go out on a high, as we players do.
“We want to do it for him as well for what he’s done for us and me personally over three years.
“He’s an amazing manager, an amazing person and I’m grateful to have played underneath him.”
Iraola has frequently been linked with a return to Athletic as boss.
But it is understood he is reluctant to go back to a club where he was a legend as a player and the emotional connection would almost be too strong.
The Liverpool legend has previously criticised Slot’s managerial tact Credit: TNT Sports
Alex Scott has lauded Iraola Credit: Reuters
Especially as he would be replacing Valverde, 62, who remains his biggest influence.
In January, Crystal Palace thought Iraola would succeed Oliver Glasner — but he has since rejected their advances twice.
When Newcastle were rumoured to part company with Eddie Howe, St James’ Park would have had some pull for Iraola.
Friends say he has fond memories of taking Vallecano there for a friendly in December 2022 and seeing a Basque flag in the stands.
And there was also Manchester United. But Old Trafford chiefs have confirmed Michael Carrick would be given the manager’s job full-time.
Chelsea was rumoured at one point too, until ex-Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso was confirmed earlier this month.
Then there is Liverpool.
Iraola was hired by Bournemouth’s sporting director Richard Hughes in 2023, before the 46-year-old moved to Merseyside a year later.
Iraola’s managerial style has been likened to Reds icon Jurgen Klopp Credit: AFP or licensors
And now Liverpool fans find themselves in the middle of a page turning managerial saga, with many keen for Iraola to replace Slot.
His playing style is not a million miles away from Kop legend Klopp’s.
A man who once dreamed of being his own boss in a bookstore could now be packing up his things to head 260 miles north.
Stranger things have happened — and not just in the books Iraola reads.
