Arne Slot sacked: Steven Gerrard 'gutted' for Liverpool departing boss, backs Andoni Iraola to be successor - ‘He should be in the conversation’
Updated 30/05/2026 at 16:38 GMT+1
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Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard says he is "gutted" that Arne Slot has parted ways with the club but backed Andoni Iraola to be the Dutchman's successor at Anfield.
'Who knows?' - Gerrard on returning to management
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Liverpool announced that Slot will be leaving the club just a season after he guided them to their second Premier League title.
The Reds have suffered an underwhelming season this time around, which prompted a parting of ways with the Dutchman.
Speaking to TNT Sports before the UEFA Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, Gerrard reacted to the news and said: "I'm not surprised.
"I'm gutted for Arne Slot because in his first year, he did an incredible job.
"Taking the reins from the great Jurgen Klopp, that was a tough task and big shoes to fill. I think he did it seamlessly. It's very difficult to win the Premier League, and I know that more than most."
When asked about Iraola, Gerrard replied: "I think potentially yes [Iraola is the right man]. He did a terrific job at Bournemouth, and his style would suit Liverpool, but let's not beat around the bush.
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Gerrard ‘gutted’ for Slot but admits Liverpool departure ‘not a surprise’
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Liverpool Football Club is an attractive job for a lot of elite managers around the world, so I don't think he'll be the only name on the table, but because of the link to Bournemouth and the guys who have come to Liverpool from that club in terms of at board level, they will know him very well.
"There's other names out there that I'm sure would want that Liverpool job. It's a huge job in world football, but to answer your question, I think he should be in the conversation, yes."
Iraola worked wonders during his three years in charge at the Vitality Stadium, culminating in a sixth-placed finish, three points behind Liverpool, in his final season on the south coast.
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The impressive season was enough for The Cherries to wrap up a European finish for the first time in their history as Bournemouth qualified for the UEFA Europa League.
And the 43-year-old's exploits reportedly caught the attention of Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Bayer Leverkusen, AC Milan and Athletic Club.
Slot's exit on Saturday, though, looks to have paved the way for Iraola to succeed the former Feyenoord boss at the Anfield helm.
Should Iraola take over, then he would become the club's second Spanish manager in their history after Rafa Benitez, who won the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup during his six-year reign.
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