Leverkusen's coaching search stalls as Iraola closes on Liverpool

What happened

Bayer Leverkusen's search for a new head coach has been thrown into fresh doubt, with preferred target Andoni Iraola reported by kicker to be on the verge of signing for Liverpool rather than moving to the BayArena. The Spaniard has yet to formally turn Leverkusen down, but the club is said to be bracing for exactly that.

Why it matters

Iraola was lined up as the successor to Kasper Hjulmand, and losing him would be the second knockback in quick succession after Filipe Luís chose AS Monaco. A search that has dragged on without resolution is increasing the scrutiny on chief executive Fernando Carro and sporting director Simon Rolfes, who risk heading into a pivotal summer rebuild without a manager in place to shape it.

Context

Iraola is leaving Bournemouth, and the vacancy at Liverpool — created when the Reds parted with Arne Slot — handed him an opportunity he is unwilling to pass up. Filipe Luís, meanwhile, opted for Monaco, a move kicker reports was eased by the principality club's willingness to overlook his missing UEFA Pro Licence.

That leaves Oliver Glasner, freshly out of Crystal Palace after winning three trophies in two years, as an available name. His coaching credentials are not in question internally, but kicker reports differing views on his personality within the Leverkusen hierarchy and indicates at least one other candidate — an as-yet-unnamed front-runner — is currently rated ahead of him.

What to watch next

The immediate marker is whether Iraola's anticipated rejection is formalised and confirmed by Liverpool, which would force Leverkusen fully onto their alternatives. From there, watch for the identity of kicker's unnamed leading candidate, whether the club ultimately swings back to Glasner despite the reservations, and how quickly any appointment can be made with Hjulmand under contract until 2027 and the summer window bearing down.