Liverpool unveiled Andoni Iraola on Thursday after the firing of Arne Slot last weekend, with the Spaniard making all the right noises during his first interview
04:00, 05 Jun 2026
New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.(Image: Nikki Dyer - Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola went out of his way to point out that soccer is about "emotions" and "passion" as he sent his first messages to Liverpool fans after taking charge at Anfield.
"At the beginning, when you arrive at any club, I think you need to kind of prove a little bit yourself," Iraola said. "You need to earn the right also to belong. I want to do this as quickly as possible so I can also celebrate with them and I can be a part properly of those celebrations."
The 43-year-old brought up the atmosphere inside the stadium when Federico Chiesa netted a late winner against his Bournemouth team on the first day of last season, and made clear that he is "ready for the challenge."
Words, of course, only go so far. Iraola will have to deliver his messages just as well, if not better, to his players over the course of the summer, and there is a lot of work to be done to get Liverpool back where it wants to be.
But as far as opening gambits go, this was a very strong one.
Iraola knows, coming from the Basque region of Spain, about the importance of having an identity. And it would be fair to say that during the course of last season, that was something that Liverpool lost.
New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.(Image: Nikki Dyer - Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
It is understood that moving back towards a more front-footed style of play is a key element of the decision to bring in Iraola to replace Arne Slot, and it was telling that he spoke about energy and excitement during his unveiling.
Iraola's Bournemouth only played once per week, and he did, at times, struggle with large volumes of injuries. He has no experience of managing in the Champions League, either.
But while there are questions that will need to be answered moving forward, it is reasonable to suggest that a fresh injection of energy and buzz was required at Liverpool after a campaign that dragged.
It is possible that Slot could have been the man to oversee the reset with some major changes in the transfer market, but Iraola is the man handed that task and given a clean slate. His opening statements offered plenty to get behind.
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Comparisons to Jurgen Klopp — in terms of his preferred style or anything else — are unhelpful. Iraola has to be his own man and put his own stamp on the role.
Yet at the same time, there is a determination to make Liverpool more exciting to watch than it was last season — and that will only go down very well with those in the stands.
"Obviously, when you arrive at a place, you cannot promise everything," Iraola admitted. "You cannot promise. But it’s true that I understand where I’m coming and what is expected."
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His first job was getting the Liverpool fans onside. While that is only the start of a huge task that lies ahead of him, the first interview will have gone a long way toward achieving it.