Andoni Iraola has emerged as the overwhelming betting favourite to take over as Liverpool manager this summer following a dramatic collapse in odds on Thursday morning. As Arne Slot’s tenure at Anfield threatens to completely implode amidst a startling player mutiny, the outgoing Bournemouth boss looks increasingly destined for the Merseyside hot seat.
With nearly half of all bets in the next Liverpool manager market swinging toward Iraola over the last 24 hours, the 43-year-old Spaniard has overtaken former frontrunners Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann.
The Anfield Implosion
Just twelve months into his reign, Arne Slot’s position at Liverpool is teetering on the brink. A disastrous 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa has left the Reds sweating over Champions League qualification ahead of Sunday’s season finale against Brentford.
However, the on-pitch struggles pale in comparison to the reported dressing room revolt. The situation reached boiling point this week when Mohamed Salah issued a public statement to the press that has been widely branded as a “knife in the back” for the Dutch manager, with the Egyptian king reportedly looking to cancel the final year of his contract.
I have witnessed this club go from doubters to believers, and from believers to champions. It took hard work and I always did everything I could to help the club get there. Nothing makes me prouder than that.
Us crumbling to yet another defeat this season was very painful and… pic.twitter.com/xsnD14QLTQ
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) May 16, 2026
In a staggering display of fractured dressing room politics, Slot’s own recent marquee signings, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, actively ‘liked’ Salah’s social media post. The unrest is spreading rapidly: Alisson Becker is reportedly agitating for an exit, captain Virgil van Dijk is allegedly considering tearing up his contract, and homegrown talent Curtis Jones has expressed a desire to leave.
With the dressing room seemingly lost, Liverpool’s hierarchy, led by Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, are reportedly accelerating their succession planning.
The Iraola Appeal
Enter Andoni Iraola. The Spaniard announced he will depart Bournemouth at the end of the 2025/26 campaign and has masterminded a sensational season on the South Coast.
Fresh off a 1-1 draw against Manchester City that ended Pep Guardiola’s title defence and secured European football for the Cherries, Iraola’s stock has never been higher. Heading into a final-day clash with Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth incredibly still have an outside shot at stealing the final Champions League spot.
The connection to Anfield is glaringly obvious: Richard Hughes. The current Liverpool Sporting Director was the man who originally brought Iraola to English football during his tenure at Bournemouth. Given Iraola’s high-pressing, high-energy 4-2-3-1 tactical framework and his track record of significantly overachieving, he perfectly fits the profile required to rebuild a fractured Liverpool squad.
Keeping Cards Close to the Chest
Despite the intense speculation, and fending off interest from a Bundesliga trio, Crystal Palace, and Manchester United, Iraola remains publicly focused on his current squad’s historic push.
“Right now, there is nothing about my future in my head, I just want to celebrate and push it,” Iraola told BBC Sport following Tuesday’s draw with City. “We have Europa League, next let’s maximise our options. Can we take the last Champions League spot? I still don’t know where I will go but I’m in no rush, let’s finish on a high.”
The Shortlist
While Iraola’s odds have plummeted (now sitting at 4/1) to make him the outright frontrunner, he is not the only name under consideration. With Xabi Alonso officially confirmed to be taking over at Chelsea on July 1, Liverpool’s reported four-man shortlist includes:
- Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth)
- Julian Nagelsmann (Germany National Team)
- Sebastian Hoeness (VfB Stuttgart)
- Matthias Jaissle (Al-Ahli)
As the season concludes this Sunday, all eyes will be on Anfield. Whether Slot survives the weekend remains to be seen, but the writing is seemingly on the wall. Liverpool need a massive reset, and the mastermind currently orchestrating miracles on the South Coast appears to be their chosen saviour.
