Liverpool is poised to confirm Andoni Iraola as its next head coach after parting ways with Arne Slot last weekend, with Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott full of praise for him
19:02, 04 Jun 2026
Alex Scott worked with Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth.
Alex Scott worked with Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth. (Image: Charlotte Wilson/Offside via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola will restore Jurgen Klopp's heavy metal football to Anfield. That is the assessment from Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, who believes Iraola's thrilling brand of football echoes Klopp's approach.
Former Bournemouth manager Iraola is taking the reins at Liverpool with a brief to reintroduce exciting and attacking football to win back the supporters, many of whom felt Arne Slot's team was too passive last term.
Ex-Liverpool manager Klopp — who famously dubbed his approach "heavy metal football" — secured silverware with exhilarating soccer, and Iraola built a reputation at Bournemouth for producing attractive sides.
Scott is convinced that Iraola will prove a major success at Liverpool — particularly as the supporters crave stylish football, which was one primary grievance under the previous regime.
"What can Liverpool expect from Iraola? He is obviously a great manager, you see what we have done as a club at Bournemouth and how we have progressed over the three seasons he was with us," Scott said, via the Daily Mirror.
"I think the way we press out of possession is very aggressive, maybe similar to the early Klopp teams Liverpool had, that fierce aggressiveness and pressing with the wingers.
Alex Scott has been linked with a summer transfer from Bournemouth to Liverpool
Alex Scott has been linked with a summer transfer from Bournemouth to Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images))
"I would say he is similar to that. Liverpool fans should definitely be so excited; he has done a lot for me personally."
Scott also believes Iraola will enhance other players just as he did for his own development at Bournemouth.
He continued: "I have improved loads this season, out of possession and in possession. I feel like I have had his trust.
"Defensively, maybe in my first two seasons, I wasn't at the level to be playing in the Premier League and that is something I had to learn on and learn from the players ahead of me in the team.
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"But he put his trust in me from the first game of the season and I started and played 34 full games this year, so that is something to be really proud of. Injury-free as well, which I was happy with.
"The manager has been amazing for me, working with me going forward, defensively, being more aggressive, and that is the reason I played most games this season."
Liverpool.com says: Iraola definitely has a style of play that is exciting. The question is whether or not he can translate that to Liverpool, which is a much bigger club that Bournemouth. Clearly, the Reds have full confidence that he will.