Liverpool have found their new coach and, as predicted, it’s Andoni Iraola. He comes to the Reds after spending the last three campaigns at Bournemouth, where he led the Cherries to a sixth-place finish in the EPL last season.
Before embarking on a coaching career, the 43-year-old Spaniard enjoyed a long playing career at left back, making over 500 appearances for Athletic Club before playing two seasons in MLS for New York City (United States) before retiring in 2017.
Iraola quickly rose through the coaching ranks, roaming the touchlines at AEK Larnaca in 2018 before moving to Rayo Vallecano in 2020. In his only season there, Iraola guided Rayo Vallecano to promotion to La Liga, the Spanish first division.
For his part, Iraola is excited to be on Merseyside.
“Really excited, really excited,” he told Liverpoolfc.com, the club’s official website. “Because obviously you know about Liverpool, you know that it’s a big club, a massive club, one of the biggest in the world. But feeling inside and understanding a little bit more of this club, I always thought it’s a special club. You don’t need a lot of things to get attracted by Liverpool. Liverpool is Liverpool. But obviously, the atmosphere, the supporters, the club, the players, the chance for me to coach top-level players, the chance to fight for titles. I think it cannot be more attractive than this. It’s difficult to find it. So, really excited to start.”
LFC Globe Verdict
I like this pick. Iraola is a rising star in the coaching ranks, and he has shown that he can have great success with scant resources. Liverpool have deep pockets, so if that trajectory holds course, the sky is the limit. I’m looking forward to interviewing him in person when Liverpool play Sunderland in Nashville, Tennessee, to kick off the preseason on July 25.
Have Your Say
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