Liverpool could appoint ‘best coach in the world’ if Iraola doesn’t get the job | Football | Sport

Liverpool are pursuing Andoni Iraola as Arne Slot‘s successor, but also have Sebastian Hoeness on their shortlist. The Stuttgart manager has established an outstanding reputation in Germany. Slot was unexpectedly sacked as manager on Saturday morning, with the club opting to move in a different direction following a disappointing second campaign. Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League, without any silverware, and suffered 20 defeats across all competitions.

Their dramatic downturn in form, following the title triumph in Slot’s inaugural season, proved alarming and ultimately compelled Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards to intervene. They took the ruthless decision to terminate Slot’s reign and have identified Iraola as their primary target following the Spaniard’s impressive three-year stint at Bournemouth, which culminated in a sixth-place finish and qualification for the Europa League.

Alternative options exist, however, with Stuttgart boss Hoeness and Lens manager Pierre Sage also reportedly under consideration. Hoeness guided Stuttgart to fourth place in the Bundesliga to secure Champions League football, while they also reached the DFB-Pokal final, where they lost to Bayern Munich.

Hoeness, 44, has been at Stuttgart since 2023 following spells at Hoffenheim and Bayern’s reserve side. He commands significant respect from his players, with striker Ermedin Demirovic recently praising him and saying there is nobody better.

When questioned by Sky Sports whether Hoeness was the finest German manager in world football, he responded: “I don’t see anyone who is better than him or under whom I would prefer to train. We have a great coach and a great coaching team who push the players and want to help them develop individually.”

Demirovic continued: “We have the fire we need and at the same time the relaxed attitude to play successful football.”

Hoeness assumed control at Stuttgart when they were rooted to the foot of the Bundesliga and has orchestrated their remarkable revival. He secured the DFB-Pokal in 2025 to deliver the club’s first silverware since the 2006/07 Bundesliga championship.

He has triumphed in 83 of his 152 matches at the helm of the club and is presently preparing to compete in the Champions League next campaign. “We’ve achieved our big goal and qualified for the Champions League. That’s something special,” Hoeness, who has two years remaining on his deal, stated recently.

“I’d like to congratulate the team and the whole club: we’ve had a very consistent Bundesliga campaign. With the close battle for the Champions League places, the pressure was really on in the run-in. I take my hat off to the boys for how they stood up to it.”

Whether he emerges as a more serious candidate in Liverpool‘s recruitment process remains uncertain, considering their present focus on Iraola. The former Bournemouth manager is a free agent after departing the Cherries and has attracted interest from Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen.

However, the interest from Liverpool – and his former colleague Hughes – is expected to result in the 43-year-old assuming control at Anfield.