Liverpool announce seismic exit as Andoni Iraola faces monumental shake-up

10 Jul 2026 15:59 BST | 4 min read

Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

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New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola is forced to navigate a bizarre situation as the upper management of the club is in the midst of a major shake-up.

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The Basque tactician is preparing for his first pre-season at his new club. Iraola has succeeded Arne Slot, who was sacked at the end of May after a disastrous season that saw Liverpool just about sneak into the Champions League.

Despite the disappointing 2025/26 campaign, Iraola has big shoes to fill as his predecessor did achieve outstanding success during his brief but intense spell at Anfield. Slot won the Premier League in 2025, and the Reds only reluctantly parted ways with him.

This will be Iraola's first job at a club of Liverpool's stature. Given his success at Bournemouth, there is plenty of excitement about the 44-year-old's appointment, but only time will tell if Iraola can adapt his tactical approach to his new environment.

One thing is clear, though, after the shambolic end to last season: Liverpool can't afford to get this summer transfer window and pre-season wrong. So far, only Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz have arrived. More reinforcements are needed.

Edwards quits, Hughes will also leave

Unfortunately for Iraola, the early signs are not particularly auspicious. Through no fault of his own, he is currently forced to contend with major boardroom upheaval that is sure to influence his work.

Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), have announced that their CEO, Michael Edwards, has quit. The former transfer guru, who was so influential during the Jurgen Klopp era, has cut his second spell at the club short despite still having a year left on his contract.

The timing of this is very unfortunate for Iraola and the club, although the fact that Edwards has resigned is not entirely surprising. After all, FSG failed to hold up their end of the bargain.

FSG only managed to convince him to return in 2024 by promising him that he would be able to assemble and oversee a multi-club network. However, after sounding out numerous opportunities, FSG decided earlier this year not to acquire a second club.

This was a frustrating turn of events for Edwards, and it was a deciding factor in convincing him to call time on his second spell with Liverpool and FSG, as he confirmed in his parting statement.

"When I returned, I was excited not only by the opportunity to help guide Liverpool through an important period of transition, but also by the chance to help shape FSG’s wider football ambitions," he said.

"While that broader project ultimately evolved differently to how we had originally envisaged, I am proud of the work our team undertook in presenting ownership with a broad range of thoughtful and well-developed options for the future."

What's more, in addition to Edwards, Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes is also expected to depart, although only after this summer transfer window. The former Bournemouth chief, who had hired Iraola for the South Coast club, is poised to join Saudi giants Al-Hilal.

Reports insist that Hughes is fully focused and committed to having a successful window with Liverpool, but the fact that Iraola is unable to plan ahead because of a lack of a CEO and sporting director doesn't make his already difficult job any easier.

How he navigates this situation could come to define his tenure at the helm of the Reds.

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