Liverpool's managerial reset is already showing up behind the scenes. Liverpool have confirmed the departures of Sipke Hulshoff, Ruben Peeters and Giovanni van Bronckhorst from Arne Slot's coaching staff, and Iraola is moving quickly to shape the backroom around his own ideas. The three exits follow Slot's departure as head coach last month, so this is not a cosmetic change.
Liverpool are remaking the staff, not just changing the name on the door
The clearest detail is who Liverpool want next. They are understood to be targeting Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper, Tom Webber and Pablo de la Torre with Iraola from Bournemouth, which tells you plenty about how serious the reset is. This is the new manager taking control of the working environment as well as the tactics board.
There is a sensible logic to that. If a coach is being brought in to move a team on, then bringing in familiar staff is one of the fastest ways to make the change stick. Liverpool have not just let three people go, they have signalled that the whole structure around the dugout is being rebuilt.
Iraola has also leaned into the mood around the job. "You don't need a lot of things to get attracted by Liverpool. Liverpool is Liverpool," he told mirror.co.uk, before pointing to the atmosphere, supporters, club and players. He added: "I want to become one more of you. I want to earn the right to be one of you, so we can enjoy it together." That is a fairly direct way of saying he wants to be part of the place, not just manage it.
The wider picture explains why Liverpool are moving fast
The staff move sits inside a season that has gone sideways in the league. Liverpool are fifth after 37 matches with 59 points and a goal difference of plus 10. Their last five Premier League matches read LDLWW, which is not the sort of run that encourages a club to leave anything untouched. The European numbers were better, with 18 points from eight Champions League matches and a 6W-0D-2L record, but the league slide still dictated the mood.
That is why the backroom overhaul matters. Liverpool are not waiting around to see whether the old structure can be patched up. They are giving Iraola the chance to build something in his own image straight away, and the reporting around Bournemouth names makes that obvious. Jürgen Klopp also urged supporters to back the next manager from day one, while Jamie Carragher has argued that the real test is whether Iraola can reproduce Slot's first-season success rather than chase Klopp comparisons.
The one caveat is timing. Reporting on when the appointment is fully finalised has not been perfectly consistent, but the direction of travel is clear enough. Liverpool have already started clearing out Slot's staff, and the next visible step is which Bournemouth figures arrive with Iraola. That is the story to watch now, because the first signs of this era are being written in the staff room, not just on the pitch.
FAQ
Why is Andoni Iraola bringing his own staff to Liverpool?
Liverpool have confirmed the departures of Sipke Hulshoff, Ruben Peeters and Giovanni van Bronckhorst from Arne Slot's coaching staff. The club are understood to want Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper, Tom Webber and Pablo de la Torre with Iraola from Bournemouth, which points to a quick reset around his own ideas.
Has Liverpool's backroom change been completed yet?
The staffing shake-up is well under way, but the timing is still being handled carefully in the reporting. Liverpool have already confirmed three departures after Arne Slot's exit last month, while the move for Iraola is being presented with some inconsistency over formal finalisation.
What did Andoni Iraola say about joining Liverpool?
Iraola said Liverpool is already attractive because of the atmosphere, supporters, club and players. He also said he wants to become 'one more of you' and described Anfield as the best place for that inner energy.
Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →