Liverpool supporters hoping for a change in manager this summer should forget about Xabi Alonso’s return and focus on Andoni Iraola instead.
Although there have been recent claims that Arne Slot will be safe at Anfield no matter how the season ends up, nobody should be under any illusions that the Dutchman’s future is still very much in the balance.
One of those reporting that Slot will remain at Liverpool, however, is journalist David Ornstein, who has claimed that Alonso will not be the next Reds’ manager even if Slot does depart.
This opens the question of who exactly would be, then? And as he prepares to leave Bournemouth, Iraola is quite clearly the one for supporters to watch.
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
Iraola is the right man to follow Slot at Liverpool
Part of the reason Liverpool fans are clamouring for Slot to be sacked is that they do not want to miss out on the potential of seeing Alonso return to the club after 17 years away.
The Spaniard is extremely likely to be back in work at the end of the current season, and if Liverpool do not get him now, it could be years – or perhaps never again – when things could line up for him to take over.
While that may be true, and it is disappointing to hear reliable suggestions that Alonso will not arrive, the same could also be said of Iraola.
AFC Bournemouth Training Session
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
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It has been confirmed this week that Alonso’s fellow Basque will also be free of a club this summer after bringing a close to three excellent years with Bournemouth.
There are links there to Liverpool, with Richard Hughes having been the man who hired Iraola at the Vitality Stadium. Despite rumours he could leave, Hughes is set to stay at Liverpool, and if he and Michael Edwards decide to make a change from Slot, it is not a big leap to surmise that Iraola would be on the list.
He is not the only one, of course, but in lieu of Liverpool taking the obvious option and going for Alonso, the 43-year-old feels like being the best of the rest.
Are there any others who could be considered?
Plenty of Liverpool fans may not have even considered the possibility of a different manager other than Alonso arriving next if Slot were to leave. For them, it should be their former No. 14 and nobody else.
However, with that dream looking further and further from becoming reality, supporters must start to widen their lenses.
Which was your favourite Merseyside Derby winner?
Origi, McAllister or maybe someone else?
Divock Origi heads in to score during Liverpool's Premier League match against Everton at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC).
Gary McAllister raises his fist to the Liverpool fans after scoring during the Premier League match against Everton at Goodison Park (Credit: Getty Images/Clive Brunskill/Allsport).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Nick Taylor/Clive Brunskill/Allsport
Iraola appears a fairly straightforward first choice, but there are other up and coming managers out there such as Sebastian Hoeness at Stuttgart or Como’s Cesc Fabregas who could make for interesting choices.
Nevertheless, neither have Premier League pedigree and both would be making steps up from much smaller clubs. Although the second point would also be true of Iraola, he has proven himself in English football and has previously convinced Hughes of his qualities.
Away from Alonso, Luis Enrique would perhaps be the best possible choice, but as he nears a contract extension with PSG, that does not look likely at all.
When moving on from Jurgen Klopp in 2024, Liverpool did not go for the obvious choice in Alonso and instead plumped for Slot. If they need to provide his successor two years on, then they now look likely to do something similarly left-field. Iraola has to be the one.
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