The ECHO opens the floor to the readers in an Andoni Iraola special edition of the weekly Reds' Letter Day feature
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JUNE 04: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Andoni Iraola new manager of Liverpool Football Club at Anfield on June 04, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has taken charge of Liverpool(Image: Andrew Powell, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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A new era is being ushered in at Anfield as Andoni Iraola prepares to really begin life as Liverpool's new head coach.
After being formally unveiled last week as the replacement for Arne Slot, the former Bournemouth boss was given a tour of his new home, with a trip to the £50m AXA Training Centre in Kirkby being followed by a visit to Anfield, where he was paraded out on the pitch for a photoshoot with official club media.
Iraola spoke with warmth and with confidence in his first interview as Reds boss with LFCTV and there is plenty of work to be done behind the scenes as the Basque coach gets set to welcome his non-internationals back for pre-season next month.
The ECHO's readers have been having their say online about the appointment and in our latest Reds' Letter Day feature, we've opened the floor for everyone to give their verdict on the decision to sign Iraola up on a two-year deal at Anfield.
There’s a lot more work that meets the eye. The dressing room needs work. The squad needs work. The relationship with the fans needs work. It’s a huge task at hand. He looks ready for the challenge. And I’m ready to support him.
Devanshan Naidoo, South Africa.
It's very good news since hearing his appointment. Andoni Iraola is a good manager, regarding his ability to train his players the way he wants. Liverpool management should back him up by signing a top-class right winger. He is a good manager, he will challenge for Premier League titles, not right away, maybe when given time to adapt to the top-level challenges. He is a great manager and we shall enjoy his services.
Adut Amuom Dier Buom, Sudan.
Andoni Iraola is an exciting, high-intensity coach who fits Liverpool’s pressing identity, but the step up from Bournemouth to Anfield is huge. He would need time to fully implement his system. Competing for the Premier League in his first season would be tough unless Liverpool back him heavily in the transfer market - especially with a right winger, a strong defensive midfielder, and more defensive depth. Overall, he looks like a promising long-term fit, but immediate title success would be ambitious.
LeBron Jayden, Kenya.
Be patient cos this strikes of when Souness took over from Dalglish and the mess he inherited. Allegedly Souness had issues with senior players. That’s why Salah leaving isn’t a problem at all.
Tommy Cook.
Although I am sad to see Arne Slot go in the fashion he did, I understood why the club have made the decision and I am glad we have secured the service of Andoni Iraola.
He seems a genuinely good guy. From the interviews I have seen with the club and previously during his time at Bournemouth, I can only feel positive about him taking the job at Anfield.
He is what we need. I believe the management has realised the power of Anfield. So, we can't just only get a good football coach, but also need a great human being who will restore the connection with the fans.
Each player understands their role, and play attacking football with intensity, intent & organisation. It bodes well with the Liverpool way, doesn't it? I think, given time, the fans will love him. He spent basically all of his career at the Athletic Club, so he understands the value of the city and of the people. His family is a good grounding for him as well, so I definitely think he will cope with the pressure. He is a down-to-earth guy, living a normal life (or as normal as possible away from football). To be honest, I love him already!
Can he challenge for Premier League in his first season? I definitely think he can and more. I wasn't optimistic when he first moved to Bournemouth and declaring he was going to do high-pressing, attacking football and building from the back. I thought he would be struggling but he came and transformed them from finishing 15th the previous season to 12th, 9th and 6th respectively. Taking the same trajectory, LFC would be there or there about come end of the 26/27 season.
Takki, Thailand.
Liverpool need a reliable right back with a good fitness record, a defensive midfielder, a centre-back and a right forward. I'd also like Jarrod Bowen to cover the front line. Keep everyone apart from Chiesa. Greek Scouser (Kostas Tsimikas) also to return to cover at left-back.
Chris Thompson.
In a season that culminated in utter apathy and disdain for watching my beloved Liverpool, this was certainly a turn-up of the books. As I watched the final four games unfold I found myself predicting the predictable (such as conceding after scoring or making basic mistakes or wasting chances or just being completely devoid of fight or excitement) without any emotion at the same time. I was in a state of acceptance. The five stages of grief were complete.The season ended. All the noise from the reputable journalists, out of Anfield, was that the club fully intended to keep Slot. He was 100% sure himself based off conversations he had, including the summer transfer window. I had convinced myself that maybe he should get another season. Maybe. Time heals all and hope will always shout loud at you in the quiet moments.And then I started receiving messages, while at a stag party. Another one and another one. I had to make sure what I was reading wasn’t me simply being intoxicated. I checked the reputable websites and low and behold it was true. Arne Slot sacked! What? Was this real? Didn’t we just hire him support staff? Where had this come from?
Did Hughes and Edwards buckle to the possibility that if things go bad early next season we would be stuck? Did Arne say something wrong? Just a million questions as to how this happened all so suddenly. Perhaps there was nothing sudden about it or perhaps there was. What now? How did we go from last season being viewed as one of the best run clubs to this utter shambles?Then the news broke, not long after about Andoni Iraola: interesting. Things moved quickly and he was announced. I listed to the first interview. I watched the videos. I analysed his body language, tone, posture everything. That’s the difference right there. That is the difference when you go from a small team (no offence to Bournemouth) to one of the biggest sporting institutions in the world. He entered a different stratosphere.Therein lies my point. Does his football appeal to me? OH YES! Does he speak with calm and passion? DOUBLE YES! Is he obsessed with football and connecting with people deeper? YES! Will he fight every inch and wear his heart on his sleeve, whilst getting caught-up in the raw emotion that Anfield produces? YES YES YES!
Conall Tayler, Australia.
I remember for the past three seasons whenever Liverpool wants to play against Bournemouth I'm always on my toes, I want him to bring the intensity and fear factor to Liverpool. YNWA.
Timilehin James, Nigeria.
Iraola is an interesting appointment especially after Slot. The club have yet again decided to go for a lesser-known manager. Iraola has done well at Bournemouth and plays the type of football we want to get back to. What we won’t know until he starts to pick the team is if he will play around with positions like Slot has done.
He needs to regain confidence in the dressing room. At least we have Kerkez who can help provide confidence to the other players with his experience of Iraola as a manager. Gaining the players trust and confidence is key. He also needs to pick a strong management team. Let’s see Dom Szoboszlai as vice captain as a minimum. We need to make sure we keep him, this is one way to help.
He also needs to get the fans onside. There will be a few sceptics out there. The fans wanted Alonso, he was available but FSG didn’t appear to make a move until it was too late. Time will obviously tell if this is a good move or not, but the fans need to get behind him and support him.
Andrea Mars.
Iraola's Bournemouth team caused a lot of problems to Jurgen Klopp and Slot’s Liverpool and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City teams..all these managers have spoken out how good he sets up his team. Plus he’s the only manager available who I would place as first choice.
Kennedy Duke Nsefu, Zambia.