Liverpool sack head coach Slot, approach Bournemouth's Iraola
Liverpool announced on Saturday that they had sacked head coach Arne Slot after two seasons in charge, with BBC Sport reporting that Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is the leading candidate to succeed him. The decision is rooted in Liverpool's drop to sixth in the final Premier League table this season and what the BBC described as 'inconsistent performance' across home and away matches. The Fenway Sports Group ownership is expected to clarify the new appointment in the coming weeks.
Slot had taken over from Jürgen Klopp in the summer of 2024, inheriting one of the most demanding roles in English football. He finished his first season as runners-up to Manchester City but the second season slipped further, with Liverpool finishing behind both Manchester City and Arsenal and qualifying for the Europa League rather than the Champions League. BBC's analysis pointed to a team 'struggling for identity', and the ongoing contract uncertainty around Mohamed Salah added internal pressure.
Iraola has been on Liverpool's shortlist since the start of the calendar year. The Spaniard has taken Bournemouth — one of the Premier League's smaller-budget clubs — into European football in two consecutive seasons, and was nominated for the league's Manager of the Season award. According to BBC Sport, FSG is prepared to pay around €12 million in compensation to Bournemouth to terminate Iraola's existing contract.
Iraola's tactical identity centres on aggressive vertical pressing and rapid attacking transitions, with a high defensive line. ESPN Soccer's analysis framed this as a partial return to the Klopp-era intensity that Liverpool fans long for, but the BBC noted that Iraola's ability to extend his methods to a 50-plus-match season at a big club has not yet been tested. The Spaniard previously coached Rayo Vallecano in La Liga before joining Bournemouth.
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes is leading the search and is reported to have a transfer budget of approximately €280 million for the summer window. In a brief club statement, Hughes said the club's 'forward-looking plan is clear'. BBC reports that formal talks with Bournemouth over Iraola will begin by the end of the weekend. Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso has been considered as an alternative, though his stated preference to remain with Leverkusen has reduced that option's weight.
Slot's departure highlights how quickly Liverpool's post-Klopp transition has come under pressure. Klopp retired in 2024 at the end of a nine-year tenure that delivered a Premier League title, a Champions League crown and a UEFA Super Cup. Slot arrived from Feyenoord with a €16 million release-clause payment and was described by the BBC as taking on 'one of the toughest jobs in football' from day one.
On the squad side, Liverpool faces structural rebuilding needs following Trent Alexander-Arnold's free transfer to Real Madrid. Hughes is reported to be working on a shortlist that suits Iraola's tactical preferences: two full-backs, a defensive midfielder and an attacking forward. Sky Sports has linked Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike as targets currently in active discussion.
Fan reaction on social media was mixed. The Spirit of Shankly supporters' group issued a statement saying they 'respected the work Slot had put in over two years' but that 'the club has made the right decision'. ESPN's Saturday football column from Beth Lindop suggested that Slot 'should be remembered fondly' by the club. Slot has not yet issued a public statement.
The biggest single uncertainty heading into next season is Salah's future. The Egyptian forward's contract expires at the end of the season and extension talks have been ongoing for six months. According to Sky Sports sources, Salah's decision will be clarified once the new manager is in place. The club is giving Salah until mid-July to decide on an extension or to leave on a free transfer.
Next week, following the Premier League final round, Liverpool's ownership is expected to confirm the new appointment. If talks with Iraola progress positively, an announcement could come before mid-June. Liverpool will begin the 2026-27 season in the Champions League group stage, and the reconstruction of the team — both technically and financially — will be closely watched. BBC's closing assessment framed the summer ahead as defining for the club's medium-term direction.