Andoni Iraola has taken charge of Liverpool and talked highly of the Anfield atmosphere, which he experienced when his Bournemouth fell 4-2 on the opening day of the Premier League season
20:31, 04 Jun 2026Updated 20:36, 04 Jun 2026
Andoni Iraola has been unveiled as the new Liverpool manager
Andoni Iraola has been unveiled as the new Liverpool manager(Image: Getty Images)
New Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola admitted Federico Chiesa’s late goal against his Bournemouth team showed him the magic of Anfield.
Last week, Liverpool parted ways with Slot in a move that caught many by surprise. However, the Reds lost 19 games across all competitions last term in a staggeringly poor Premier League title defense, and it is understood that the team wants to adopt a faster, more aggressive style of play.
There were plenty of mitigations for Liverpool's underperformance, but the difficult decision was made by the Anfield side's hierarchy, with Iraola quickly identified as a strong fit. He has now been announced as the latest Liverpool manager after enjoying tremendous success on the south coast.
Iraola had been at Bournemouth for three seasons and guided the Cherries to a sixth-place finish this season, ensuring they will be playing in the Europa League. He led the club to Europe even after the January transfer window sale of Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City.
Just a few months ago, Iraola revealed he would be departing Bournemouth at the end of the season. Bayer Leverkusen and Crystal Palace were also interested in his services, but he has landed at Anfield.
As manager of Bournemouth, Iraola faced Liverpool seven times — including a thrilling 4-2 opening match at the start of the 2025-26 Premier League season. Chiesa ’s late go-ahead goal had Anfield rocking before Mohamed Salah added a fourth.
“I’ve been the other side – I still remember the goal [Federico] Chiesa scored at the end of the first game of the season!” Iraola said of the Anfield atmosphere. “We were there with 2-2 thinking that probably we could take something.
“He scored and the place erupted. It was crazy, no? I want now to feel this from the other side.”
Iraoloa's Bournemouth were beaten by Liverpool in a thriller on the opening day of the season
Iraoloa's Bournemouth were beaten by Liverpool in a thriller on the opening day of the season(Image: Getty Images)
Before taking over at Bournemouth, Iraola was in charge of the Spanish side Rayo Vallecano. Before that, he managed for one year in Cyprus and one year in the second tier in Spain.
Now, the 43-year-old is ready to prove himself at the highest level. He added: “At the beginning when you arrive at any club, I think you need to kind of prove a little bit yourself. You need to earn the right also to belong. I want to do this as quickly as possible so I can also celebrate with them and I can be part properly of those celebrations.
“For me, football is about emotions. About passion. I’m quite cool-headed probably, during my life quite rational, I would say. But it’s true that when the game starts, when you have to celebrate a goal, something is inside, no?
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“I think this inner energy, you need it as a player, you need it as a supporter, you need it as a coach. No better place than Anfield.”
Iraola has never managed a team in a European competition before, and he will need to step up to the demands of working at a much bigger club immediately. But for many Liverpool fans, seeing the back of Slot following a dismal second campaign is a welcome change.