Richard Hughes makes irresistible contract offer to Andoni Iraola
· Yahoo Sports
Arne Slot is OUT as Liverpool head coach.
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Liverpool decision-makers had been steadfast in their messaging about Slot's future up to now.
The Dutchman, 47, agreed a contract until 2027 and up until the moments before his departure the club looked set to honour it.
But Slot could not survive a poor sophomore season.
Arne Slot mounts poor title defence
He got off to a dream start as Liverpool head coach after his signing was okayed by sporting director Richard Hughes. The Anfield club won the 2024/25 Premier League title at a canter.
And after a summer spend of £450m it looked certain that Slot would reign for a long time on Merseyside. But the 2025/26 season was anything but straightforward. Liverpool's style of play degraded badly and results soon followed.
There were two domestic cup humiliations - against Crystal Palace and Manchester City - while Paris Saint-Germain took Liverpool apart in the Champions League.
And far from mounting a title defence Liverpool slipped to fifth place - only confirming their place in next season's Champions League on the final day of the season.
Slot could not survive an end-of-season review by Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes - with the axe swinging on Liverpool's title-winning head coach.
Andoni Iraola to usher in new era
Focus immediately turns to which manager can come to replace the former Feyenoord boss. And the early accounts show that Andoni Iraola will be the man to step into the breach.
Iraola, 43, is leaving Bournemouth after three successful seasons in charge. The Spaniard has worked wonders in every campaign while having to deal with a large turnover of his best players.
He has kept the Cherries competitive - and has led them into Europe for the first time ever.
Now Nicolo Schira is claiming that Richard Hughes has slid an offer across Iraola's desk - offering him terms until 2029.
"Liverpool have offered a contract until 2029 to Andoni Iraola, who is LFC’s main target as new manager," he writes on X.
Richard Hughes reunited with Andoni Iraola
It wouldn't be the first time Hughes has played a role in appointing the former defender.
He headhunted the former Rayo Vallecano supremo back in 2023 - convincing Bournemouth club owner Bill Foley that Iraola was the man to lead the south coast club forward.
That appointment has more than paid off - with Bournemouth saddened by the head coach's decision to depart this summer. He has already knocked back interest from AC Milan - leaving him free to take over at Anfield.
Pierre Sage - who worked wonders at RC Lens last season - as well as Stuttgart's Sebastian Hoeness are also names in the frame.
But we can expect events to move quickly and for Liverpool to have Iraola installed as head coach before preseason begins.