The 2025/26 Premier League campaign is now over, with Liverpool having beaten Bournemouth to a Champions League place in gameweek 38.
The Reds drew with Brentford, while the Cherries managed to secure a Europa League spot in what was Andoni Iraola’s final game in charge.
Now, the Bournemouth boss has been asked what is next for him after already being linked to Liverpool, and he said he’s going to take some time ‘to recover a little bit, think with my family’ about his future.
That’s how it all ends, Reds. What are your biggest concerns about this season?
And are there any positives to be found?
Andoni Iraola taking time to decide his future
Earlier this week, Fabrizio Romano suggested Liverpool had yet to fully decide on Slot’s future and would hold an end-of-season meeting.
Crucially, he added that should the Merseyside outfit make a change, Iraola could be looked at.
He said: “In case Liverpool decide to change their mind and decide to part ways with the manager after the end of season review, eventually Andoni Iraola could be a candidate.
“He used to work with Richard Hughes at Bournemouth, he is one of the most appreciated managers in England right now. For sure, Iraola would be a candidate. He’s going to leave the club, we know that.”
Is Andoni Iraola the right man to replace Arne Slot this summer? 🤔
It remains to be seen where Iraola will end up, though, and speaking on Sunday evening, as per BBC Sport, he gave little away about his next steps.
The manager said: “Now is going to be the time to take decisions. I didn’t want to focus on other things before the season ended. For me it was massive to get this team in Europe. Now I will have to take decisions and I suppose it will not take long.
“It is a matter of feeling, feeling the team, the players, the correct place, more than if it is a bigger club. Sometimes they are not rational decisions, you don’t know why but you see it clearly. I don’t really know what I am going to do. I know there are some options but it is time now to recover a little bit, think with my family and let’s see where the future is.”
Despite the clear gulf in the two clubs’ finances, Bournemouth only finished three points behind Liverpool this season.
The manager obviously had a key role in that happening, and he is expected to be a man in demand this summer.
Away from Liverpool, it has already been reported this week that Bayer Leverkusen and Crystal Palace are interested in appointing the Cherries coach.
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