Andoni Iraola has touched down on Merseyside ahead of being confirmed as Liverpool's new head coach following the dismissal of Arne Slot last weekend.
The Spaniard's flight from San Sebastian landed at Liverpool John Lennon Airport on Thursday morning, with Iraola expected to formally sign a two-year deal having already reached a verbal agreement with the club.
Liverpool identified the 43-year-old as their top target after deciding to part ways with Premier League title winner Slot following just two seasons in charge. Iraola, who stepped off the aircraft into a bus on the far side of the plane, is now set to take charge at Anfield.
The former Bournemouth boss is currently without a club after departing the Cherries at the end of the season, having spent three years on the South Coast and most recently guiding them to European football for the first time in their history. Talks over the Liverpool role have been spearheaded by sporting director Richard Hughes, who previously brought Iraola to Bournemouth during his own time at the club.
Immediate Challenges Await Iraola
Iraola will face a huge task as soon as he steps into the AXA Training Centre with Liverpool having lost stalwarts Ibrahima Konate, Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson on free transfers. The latter largely played a secondary role to Milos Kerkez, Iraola's former left-back, this season but will still need replacing as a massive voice in the dressing room.
Jeremy Jacquet can be considered as the replacement for Real Madrid-bound Konate while Liverpool are looking at Yan Diomande to come in for Salah. A right-back during his playing days, Iraola spent the bulk of his career at Athletic Bilbao. As a youngster, he lined up alongside Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and incoming Chelsea boss and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso in San Sebastian.
Iraola's Background and Style
He embarked on his managerial journey with a short spell at AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, before taking charge at Mirandes in Spain's second tier and then spending three years at Rayo Vallecano, whom he steered into La Liga and to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.
While Iraola has never claimed a major trophy as either a player or boss, his offensive, high-energy approach to football has built him a rising profile in the Premier League.
And while Liverpool also considered Sebastian Hoeness of Stuttgart and Pierre Sage of Lens as possible replacements for Slot, they're convinced Iraola represents the ideal match for their squad following a deeply underwhelming campaign.
