Liverpool part ways with Arne Slot after two seasons; Iraola emerges as top candidate
"Change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward."
– Fenway Sports Group
Liverpool FC announced the departure of head coach Arne Slot on Saturday following an end-of-season review. The decision comes after two seasons at the club, which included a Premier League title win in his first campaign and a fifth-place finish in his second.
Club owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) stated that a change in direction was necessary for the club to move forward. Reports indicate that Andoni Iraola, who recently left Bournemouth, is the leading candidate to fill the vacancy.
Arne Slot's Tenure
Arne Slot joined Liverpool in 2024 as the successor to Jürgen Klopp. In his debut season (2024-2025), he led the club to the Premier League title. Multiple sources noted that this success was driven in part by Mohamed Salah, who recorded 29 goals and 18 assists.
In his second season (2025-2026), the team's performance declined significantly.
Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League with 60 points, marking the club's lowest points total since the 2015-2016 season and placing them 25 points behind league champions Arsenal. The team lost 20 matches across all competitions and did not win any domestic cup. While the club secured qualification for the UEFA Champions League (attributed to the expansion of qualification places to five), the season represented a notable downturn.
The club reported that several high-profile signings, including a record £125 million fee for striker Alexander Isak and £116 million for Florian Wirtz, underperformed. Reports also indicated tensions between Slot and forward Mohamed Salah, with Salah publicly questioning the manager's tactics and team selection during the season. The club was also affected by the death of forward Diogo Jota in a car crash during the summer of 2024.
Slot was entering the final year of his contract. The club's statement, attributed to Fenway Sports Group, thanked Slot for his contributions and acknowledged his Premier League title win but concluded that "change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward."
Succession Plan
Following the announcement, media reports identified Andoni Iraola as the leading candidate to replace Slot. Iraola recently left his position as head coach of AFC Bournemouth, where he led the club to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League and qualification for the UEFA Europa League for the first time in club history.
The connection between Iraola and Liverpool is facilitated by Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, who previously worked with Iraola at Bournemouth. Iraola's departure from Bournemouth was announced in April, with former Borussia Dortmund head coach Marco Rose named as his replacement. Other candidates reportedly under consideration for the Liverpool role include Stuttgart's Sebastian Hoeness and Lens's Pierre Sage.
Summary of Key Facts
- Event: Liverpool FC and head coach Arne Slot part ways.
- Reason cited: FSG stated the decision was made after an end-of-season review and is intended to facilitate a "change of direction" for the club.
- Record: Slot managed Liverpool for two seasons, winning the Premier League in 2024-2025 and finishing fifth in 2025-2026.
- Contract status: Slot had one year remaining on his contract.
- Leading candidate: Reports indicate Andoni Iraola is the favorite to succeed Slot.
- Other news: PSG won the 2026 UEFA Champions League final, defeating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.