Liverpool's swift appointment of Andoni Iraola as head coach has sparked whispers about what might have been – had the Merseyside giants not made their move. The 44-year-old mastermind, who traded Bournemouth for Anfield after just three years at the helm on the south coast, has revealed that several other clubs were in talks with him before Liverpool's decisive intervention.
It was a case of 'sod's law' – as soon as the season drew to a close, Iraola found himself on the receiving end of a call from Anfield. And what a decision it proved to be! "It happened quite fast," he admitted. "Yes, it was true that I was talking with some clubs." The writing was on the wall for just one of those clubs – Liverpool's. A quickfire appointment saw Iraola take the reins, bringing an end to Arne Slot's tenure after a disappointing campaign in which the Reds finished fifth and suffered 20 defeats across all competitions.
The man from Bilbao drew parallels between his beloved Athletic Club – with their unique 'Basque-only' policy – and Liverpool. "This creates a connection," he explained, highlighting how the squad's maximised potential was key to success. "You see they win things. They've never been relegated." It's this sense of belonging, of being different, that Iraola believes is a shared trait with his new employers.
Iraola's appointment is seen as Liverpool's attempt to reignite the passion and flair that made them tick in their glory days. And the man himself has expressed his desire to give fans "a team to be proud of." His background and experience are tailor-made for this challenge, and he's part of a growing trend of successful Basque managers – Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery, and Xabi Alonso being just a few names on the list.
Liverpool's preparations for the new season will kick off with a trip to the US, featuring friendlies against Sunderland in Nashville, Wrexham in New York, and Leeds United in Chicago. For Iraola, it's his first chance to put his philosophy into action – and what a baptism of fire awaits!