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Iraola, Sage or Hoeness: Profiling Liverpool’s options to replace Slot

Updated: 30 May 2026 14:28 BST | 6 min read

Sebastian Hoeness, Andoni Iraola, Pierre Sage, Liverpool

Robin Bairner

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Liverpool have put together a three-man shortlist to replace the sacked Arne Slot, with Andoni Iraola, Pierre Sage and Sebastian Hoeness the leading contenders to become the next manager at Anfield.

Iraola has rapidly emerged as a red-hot favourite to take over from Slot. The former Bournemouth manager will be offered a contract and, according to Fabrizio Romano, looks nailed on to become the next boss at Anfield.

But it’s certainly not a done deal. David Ornstein of The Athletic has acknowledged that the Basque is a hot favourite for the role, but he has equally recognised that there are other options open to Anfield board. He says that Lens head coach Pierre Sage and Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness are admired by the Merseyside giants.

What could each of these potential candidates offer Liverpool? We asked our experts.

Andoni Iraola

PROS:

Premier League proven

High-intensity football

CONS:

Limited European experience

Never worked at a 'big' club

Iraola was regarded as a hot up-and-coming young manager when Bournemouth appointed him in 2023 to replace Eddie Howe. It was a daunting task, but he has enhanced his reputation and led the Cherries into Europe for the first time this season via a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League. Indeed, his side finished within touching distance of Liverpool.

The indications are that Liverpool want a more front-footed and proactive approach for their team next season, and Iraola should certainly provide that.

His Bournemouth side scored an impressive 58 goals – ranking joint-fifth in the Premier League in this regard – and notably offered a high-intensity pressing approach when out of possession.

One major worry with regards the Spaniard is that he is seriously lacking in European football experience. His sole campaign on the continent was in the 2018/19 season with AEK Larnaca. Juggling a squad of the calibre of Liverpool’s will be a far more testing challenge.

However, his Premier League experience should be seen as a big plus.

Andoni Iraola,Bournemouth

Sebastian Hoeness

PROS:

Tactical flexibility

Gets the best out of limited players

CONS:

No Premier League experience

By German football expert Tom Weber

Sebastian Hoeness has become one of the hottest coaching properties in European football, courtesy of his immense success with Stuttgart. A Bundesliga yo-yo club when he arrived, the Swabians are now DFB-Pokal winners and Champions League participants.

Hoeness, who is the nephew of Bayern supremo Uli and previously won the German third division with the Munich club's reserves, saved Stuttgart from relegation when he was appointed in April 2023 as their fourth head coach of the season. He followed that up with a stunning runners-up finish to Bayer Leverkusen in 2023/24.

This remarkably fast rise from relegation-battlers to European challengers meant that Stuttgart did not have the squad depth or quality to cope with Champions League football. They only finished ninth in the Bundesliga but won the Pokal. They again reached the final in the season just gone but were dispatched by Bayern. Nevertheless, they will once again be in Europe - and the Champions League, no less - next season after finishing fourth in the Bundesliga.

Hoeness is quite a flexible coach and always adjusts his approach to his opposition. Sometimes this means favouring possession, at other times his side are happy to back off and counter. Generally, though, Hoeness prefers a progressive, front-foot approach.

He primarily sets his team up in a 4-2-3-1 with very aggressive full-backs. Stuttgart often build up via the left flank so as to open up space on the other side for the right-back to bomb forward. The central midfielders often stay deeper to orchestrate the play. Defensively, Hoeness favours a man-marking high press.

Sebastian Hoeness, Stuttgart

Pierre Sage

PROS:

Powerful, front-footed mindset

Excellent at working with young players

CONS:

Unknown in England

Limited senior managerial experience

By French football expert Robin Bairner

Lens head coach Pierre Sage has just guided the Ligue 1 side to a second-placed finish in France’s top flight, despite having only the 10th biggest budget in the league. Earlier this month, Les Sang et Or also won their first Coupe de France thanks to victory over Nice - sparking celebrations that stretched deep into the night.

His success in France’s north should come as little surprise. In his previous stint as Lyon head coach, he impressed before being sacked after his first truly disappointing run of form. With OL, he had earned a reputation for working with young players and bringing talent from the academy into the first team.

At Lens, it’s been the veterans that he’s got working in harmony, notably former Newcastle duo Florian Thauvin and Allan Saint-Maximin.

From Liverpool’s perspective, though, it’s been the energy with which Lens have played that has been eye-catching. This is a team that has power and dynamism all the way through it. And there’s been no shortage of goals – the 66 Lens have scored this season has only been surpassed by two Ligue 1 clubs (excluding PSG) in the last three campaigns.