Journalist claims ex-Liverpool player will join Andoni Iraola's coaching team

Two former Liverpool stars may be open to forming part of Andoni Iraola’s coaching staff if he joins the club, according to a respected journalist.

Following the surprise dismissal of Arne Slot on Saturday (May 30), departing Bournemouth head coach Iraola is the heavy favourite to take up the vacancy at Anfield, having guided the Cherries to a record-high sixth-place finish last term and, in doing so, secured Europa League qualification.

Liverpool are expected to open formal talks with the Spaniard this week over a move to Anfield, despite the Reds also considering Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeneß and Lens boss Pierre Sage, although the latter has also been linked with replacing Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace.

Several players have already confirmed they will leave Liverpool, with Andrew Robertson and Mohamed Salah both playing their last game for the club in May, while Ibrahima Konaté’s exit has also been confirmed.

Given Iraola and technical director Richard Hughes’ links with Bournemouth, a number of Cherries players are expected to be linked with a move to Merseyside as the summer progresses, with Alex Scott, Rayan, Junior Kroupi and Adrian Truffert all enjoying life under the Spaniard’s coaching style last season.

While new signings are to be expected, Iraola will also introduce his own staff to the club, as Slot’s coaching team of Sipke Hulshoff, Ruben Peeters and Giovanni van Bronckhorst will likely depart with the Dutchman.

This Is Anfield suggests Iraola will only be permitted to bring assistant Tommy Elphick and fitness coach Pablo de la Torre from Bournemouth to the Anfield dugout.

Who could join Iraola at Liverpool?

This creates an opportunity for Liverpool to build a fresh staffing team around the playing squad, with journalist David Lynch suggesting that the now-retired James Milner could be open to a role.

“I do expect there to be someone with a Liverpool background to come in and be part of that coaching staff,” he told Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast.

“I did have a conversation yesterday regarding the possibility, and I expect there will be someone who has played for Liverpool previously on that staff.

“We’ll wait to see who it is. I mean, James Milner’s just retired! I don’t know if he’s looking to go directly into coaching, but we’ll keep an eye on that one.”

Milner, who left Liverpool to join Brighton in 2023, announced his retirement from professional football on Monday (June 1), having made a record 658 Premier League appearances across spells at Leeds United, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton.

Thiago Alcântara, who also previously played for the Reds before retiring in 2024, has also been linked with a coaching role after stepping down as an assistant to Hansi Flick at Barcelona earlier this month.

“Thiago makes an awful lot of sense, so I wouldn’t rule out that possibility at all,” Lynch added.

“The fact he’s Spanish, he’s got that link with Liverpool, he’s played in the Premier League before and you’re bringing in a Spanish coach.

“That just makes a lot of sense, so maybe he’s one to keep an eye on.”