The signs were hiding in plain sight. As it turns out, Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam has revealed there were clear clues that Andoni Iraola Liverpool was already a done deal, weeks before anyone confirmed it. Looking back now, it all makes perfect sense.
Just days after Arne Slot was relieved of his duties, Liverpool reached a verbal agreement in principle with Iraola. The move ended one of the most dramatic managerial sagas in recent Premier League memory. However, as McAdam explained, those watching closely could have spotted it coming.
How the Andoni Iraola Liverpool Trail Began
Slot was sacked following a 20-defeat season ending in fifth place. Remarkably, this came just a year after he delivered Liverpool the Premier League title. As a result, FSG moved quickly. Within days, Iraola became the clear frontrunner and talks advanced fast.
What made the story compelling, though, wasn’t just the pace of it. It was what happened in the weeks before. Specifically, Iraola had reportedly been in talks with AC Milan and was also admired by Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen. Yet nothing materialised. He kept stalling.He kept saying no. And now we know exactly why.
Andoni Iraola Liverpool: McAdam Spotted the Signs
Speaking on Sky Sports News, McAdam connected the dots clearly. First, he pointed to Iraola’s reluctance to commit anywhere. Crucially, he also flagged the behaviour of assistant Tommy Elphick.
“Look at the clues,” McAdam said. “When you start to hear him turning down Milan, and then stalling on a deal with Leverkusen, and Tommy Elphick saying no to Bristol City, the clues were there that something was bubbling in the background.”
That’s sharp football journalism. After all, when a manager turns down AC Milan, you ask why. Similarly, when his assistant simultaneously declines a promotion, you start to wonder what they both already know.
Beyond that, McAdam also vouched personally for the incoming coach. He described watching Iraola at close quarters over three years and said he’d been hugely impressed with everything the Spaniard had achieved. Consequently, that kind of first-hand endorsement carries real weight.
Why the Move Makes Sense for Both Sides
Sporting director Richard Hughes, who is leading Liverpool’s negotiations, believes Iraola’s high-pressing, aggressive style fits perfectly with the long-term philosophy at Anfield. Importantly, Hughes knows Iraola well. He was the one who originally brought the Spaniard to English football at Bournemouth in 2023.
That existing relationship matters. Iraola isn’t walking blind into boardroom politics. He already has trust built with the man beside him.
On the pitch, Iraola guided Bournemouth to a sixth-place finish and the club’s first-ever European qualification. He did it with a squad that had no business finishing that high. That kind of consistent overachievement gets you noticed by the biggest clubs in the country. As a result, it was only a matter of time before one of them came calling.
What Happens Next for Andoni Iraola Liverpool
According to The Athletic, Iraola will sign a two-year deal, in line with the short-term contracts he has favoured throughout his coaching career. Liverpool will make a formal announcement within days.
Sky Sports News understands Iraola wants Pablo de la Torre, Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper and Tom Webber to join him as part of his coaching staff at Anfield. Bringing his trusted team with him sends a clear message. He’s not coming to adapt to Liverpool. He’s coming to build something on his own terms.
The step up in expectations is enormous. Going from a club that celebrates Europa League qualification to one where a top-four finish is the bare minimum is a completely different challenge. Still, as McAdam pointed out, FSG wouldn’t have made this move if they didn’t believe he was ready.
Iraola clearly believed it too. So he waited. And Liverpool came.
