Andoni Iraola has been confirmed as Liverpool's new head coach on a two-year contract, and former Premier League striker Alan Smith has dismissed concerns over his personality
Ian Doyle Chief Liverpool FC Writer
12:07, 06 Jun 2026
New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola
New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola(Image: Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has been backed to transform Liverpool's playing style, with concerns over whether the Spaniard possesses the "right personality" to manage the Reds firmly dismissed.
Iraola was unveiled as the new head coach at Anfield on Thursday, having signed a two-year contract to succeed the dismissed Arne Slot. The Dutchman was relieved of his duties following a disappointing title defence, which drew widespread criticism of Liverpool's style of play.
The new Liverpool boss delayed his first press conference, and could be faced with an awkward situation with multiple players entering the final year of their contracts. And former Leicester City, Arsenal and England striker Alan Smith, now a seasoned media pundit, is in no doubt that Iraola can make his mark at Anfield.
"I think he can certainly change the style and improve it," said Smith. "And I hope he does well.", reports the Liverpool Echo.
"A lot of people are saying, has he got the right personality? Because he's a little reserved, you might say, but who knows what he's like on the training ground? He can't be that reserved.
"So I'd love to see him do well because he produces such exciting football, or certainly did at Bournemouth."
Smith believes Liverpool felt compelled to part ways with Slot partly due to Iraola's availability, following the Spaniard's departure from Bournemouth at the end of the campaign after three years on the South Coast.
Andoni Iraola new manager of Liverpool Football Club poses at Anfield
Andoni Iraola was appointed as Liverpool head coach this week(Image: Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"You never know what's going on behind the scenes, whether there's a rift between players and manager; certainly there was with him (Slot) and the players," he added.
"Maybe it's the style of football and not only that, the fact that a manager like Iraola was on the market.
"I think if you're the owners, you're thinking somebody's going to get him, and he's going to do well, and if it starts badly at Liverpool we've missed the boat. So, I think there's a big element of that, the fact that somebody like that was available."
Speaking to BestBettingSites.co.uk, Smith added: "I think it surprised everybody how far they fell. You don't often see that with champions.
Article continues below
"They got some good results to start with without playing well, and then things just fell away. So it was surprising, definitely.
"And obviously, Diogo Jota's passing would have hit everybody like a sledgehammer. It really would have. So that must have played a part. And now it's time to bounce back."