Andoni Iraola touched down on Merseyside this morning as he prepares to take charge at Liverpool.
The 43-year-old Spaniard flew in from San Sebastian on a private jet, landing at Liverpool John Lennon Airport at around 10.40am.
He stepped off the aircraft on the far side of the plane before being whisked away in a silver Mercedes.
It’s understood Iraola has already shaken hands on a two-year contract with the Reds, though he’s yet to put pen to paper.
Andoni Iraola is set to become the new Liverpool manager
|
GETTY
The deal comes just days after Arne Slot was surprisingly shown the door on Saturday, ending his two-year spell at Anfield.
Liverpool moved quickly to identify their preferred candidate, and negotiations proved straightforward given Iraola’s free agent status.
Iraola left Bournemouth at the end of the season after a brilliant three-year stint on the south coast.
His crowning achievement was guiding the Cherries to sixth place last month, securing European football for the first time in the club’s history.
It’s no coincidence that Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes led the charge to bring him to Anfield.
Andoni Iraola guided Bournemouth to sixth in the Premier League table last season | REUTERS
Hughes knows Iraola well, having been the man who brought him to Bournemouth in the first place during his previous role there.
The club also considered Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and Pierre Sage of Lens for the job, but ultimately felt Iraola was the perfect fit for their squad following a disappointing campaign.
Iraola isn’t planning to arrive alone when it comes to his coaching setup.
It’s understood he wants to bring several trusted colleagues from his Bournemouth days across to Merseyside.
Assistants Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper are expected to make the move, along with analyst Tom Webber and fitness coach Pablo de la Torre.
Arne Slot was axed by Liverpool after the Reds finished fifth in the Premier League table | GETTY
There’s been plenty of chatter linking former Liverpool players Thiago Alcantara and recently-retired James Milner with coaching positions at the club.
However, any decisions about the backroom team will ultimately rest with Iraola himself.
The appointment signals Liverpool’s desire to return to a more aggressive, front-foot style of play that went missing during Slot’s final season.
