After announcing his intention to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season, Andoni Iraola has shot up the list of managers who could replace Arne Slot at Liverpool.
The Spaniard’s tenure at the Vitality Stadium has been nothing short of extraordinary, and his tactical prowess is among the best in the Premier League. Hailing from the same region in Spain as Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery and Xabi Alonso, his footballing philosophy is one that has taken England by storm.
Liverpool are sticking with Slot unless things unravel even further in the final weeks of the season, in which case Iraola would surely be high on the list of candidates. But former Liverpool player Danny Murphy isn’t convinced.
Is a fifth-place finish enough to warrant Arne Slot remaining Liverpool manager?
Arne Slot during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Manchester City and Liverpool
Credit: Shaun Brooks/CameraSport/Getty Images
Danny Murphy doesn’t believe the Andoni Iraola rumours
After the news of his imminent exit from Bournemouth broke, it emerged that Liverpool’s hierarchy like Iraola and see him as a good fit for Anfield.
He has also been linked with the vacancy at Old Trafford.
Murphy addressed the rumours on talkSPORT on Wednesday, saying: “I’d be surprised with either of those two clubs.”
It’s not for a lack of ability, but Murphy is finding it hard to believe he will end up in one of the two biggest jobs in the country.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
On that ability, though, he says: “From a footballing perspective, the way I’ve seen Bournemouth under him and the way they play, although they’ve had some bad spells, it looks like a system and a way of playing that players really enjoy.
Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth after his side's 2-1 win during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Bournemouth
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
“Most players, apart from your centre-halves of this world, who want you to have protection around them all the time, want to play that way. And I think at a bigger club, it would suit him perfectly. But we’ll have to wait and see. I mean, look, the reality is the expectation of fans and clubs’ hierarchies now is to win.”
You can’t fault the tactics of Iraola, nor the entertainment value that comes with his style of play, but Murphy is suggesting that it’s a big step into a high-pressure role, and maybe a bigger leap than the 43-year-old needs to make at this point in his career.
His talkSPORT co-host, Simon Jordan, has a different view.
He argues: “I’d be surprised if he wasn’t in the thinking.”
UCL Race: Will Man Utd, Chelsea, or Villa finish ahead of Liverpool?
Liverpool's Premier League rivals
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
The pair have no doubts that Iraola can be a top manager if he isn’t already. The sticking point for Murphy seems to centre around the size of the role. From a Liverpool perspective, it does feel like a sideways step from Slot rather than an upgrade.
And if FSG are going to go back on their word to replace Slot, it would surely only be for one of the biggest names in the game.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox