Andoni Iraola addressed the media for the first time as Liverpool head coach, with the Spaniard discussing transfer plans, his vision for the club and expectations at Anfield
12:46, 13 Jul 2026Updated 12:46, 13 Jul 2026
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 held his first press conference as Liverpool manager(Image: Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola faced the media for the first time first time as Liverpool boss on Monday as the new era at Anfield gets underway.
Iraola signed a two-year contract to become the Reds head coach in June, arriving on Merseyside just days after the club made the surprise decision to part ways with Arne Slot. The former Bournemouth boss earned widespread praise for guiding the Cherries to the finest top-flight campaign in their history, securing a sixth-place finish in the Premier League and qualification for next season's Europa League.
Iraola now takes charge of a Liverpool side that qualified for the Champions League despite a disappointing domestic season. The Reds finished with 60 points — their lowest Premier League tally since 2015-16 — and ended the campaign 25 points adrift of champions Arsenal.
Here's the full transcript from the press conference:
On his first message to Liverpool fans...
"I would like to give them a team that they can feel proud of. I think football, and especially Liverpool for me, is about connecting, connecting with the people, connecting with our supporters. I've been on the other side, at Anfield, I've experienced, I always say, the goal that Chiesa scored in the first game of the past season. You can feel the stadium. And I would love to have this every game we play. It has to come from us, from inside the pitch. We have to be a team that works hard, intense, aggressive, vertical, so everyone can be identified, everyone can feel comfortable supporting this team."
On transfers...
"Obviously we've signed two players already but we need more players. We know this. The club is working on this. Me, as a coach, selfishly, you want the players here on day one, ready to train for pre-season. But we understand that football doesn't work like this and I know that the club is working hard to get those signings and I am trying to help also."
On talks with eliminated World Cup players...
"I spoke with the players at the World Cup, especially the ones who are eliminated, enjoying their holidays, I didn't want to disturb them while it was ongoing but I had some good talks. I used these weeks before training to talk with a lot of people who work here every day. They create a good environment so our players can perform to the maximum."
On if he understands what it means to be at Liverpool...
"I want to think I know. Until I go through certain experiences I would not fully know, I understand it is a massive club. Everything I say is scrutinized but I would like to act quite normal, talking to Tony Barrett now, I want to go the city, I want pictures but it's part of the magic, no? Of being the LFC boss, I would like not to change too much."
Andoni Iraola
Andoni Iraola was in good spirits during his first press conference as Liverpool head coach on Monday(Image: YouTube - Liverpool FC)
On his assessment of the squad...
"I talked to the players, the staff, to things we're working well on and what we want to do differently, not better, different. I have the advantage, the players know what we want to demand in terms of style of play. I ask players where they are comfortable, so I can understand it. I see them train, make some tests in pre-season and then take decisions from that. "World Cup's impact? We cannot change it, they deserve a break of three weeks so they can enjoy their time with friends, family. They need a rest after a busy season. And I think I am looking at the positives. I've had one week to see the U21s, first-team players there before too, some of them, so they are in a better shape. I've seen a few here today who are ready for testing tomorrow, so I get in touch with every player and the young players and loan players more minutes on the pitch, Academy players, maybe I wouldn't know them normally but now I get to know them more,"
On if Harvey Elliott has a future at Liverpool...
"Definitely! Harvey is here with us, I have seen him with the eagerness to show up, get super ready, he'll have a chance in pre-season, we'll need him and it's a good sign. I hope we can see him in a good place. I think Harvey comes from last season had to be difficult for him, strange situation, they couldn't even play him and I think he uses this experience - the bad situation - to make himself even more eager to be a Liverpool player."
On if he will be the same coach...
"I will try to be the same coach but you cannot live all the time about that, you have to be yourself and I will try to be. I cannot say everything here, I have to keep some things private with you (media) but I will try not to change with the players."
On how he would describe himself...
"Try to describe myself...I think you have the advantage you saw me 3 years in PL. Everyone, some know me better, but the people involved in football they will know what we try to do. I understand this is LFC, we have to change some things, even tactically but if they sign me it's because they want a lot of things I was doing at other clubs. So I don't want to change the DNA of my teams on the pitch. I try to be as natural as possible."
OPINION
On his expectations...
"I think we have to accept there are difficult situations right now in terms of both sides, a lof of senior players leaving, players who have achieved everything here and also some important players injured. Ekitike, Bradley, Leoni, long injuries. So we have to replace important players making good numbers and thosr three injuries that will miss some time, we have to find a way to replace them. These three, they are long-term solutions but there will be in this case a period where are without them, so we need solutions."
On his style of play...
"I think we have to be our core principles, lots of games, maybe you face low blocks, but I prefer that, we're in control, less chances conceding, these are the scenarios we want. Other teams don't give you that, they want to control, play in your half. I want to be in the oppositions half, creating chances."
On why he prefers a two-year deal...
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"In terms of coaching contracts - they don't matter a lot. I don't want to be in a place because I have a contract. Because, 'well, we are not sure' - you have a contract so you stay there.... I signed for two years, but it's basically year to year when you are a coach. We have seen a lot of managers who have long contracts, and because they club doesn't want, because they don't want, because.. at the end when you are a player the contract is very important. When you are a manager I feel... you know, if they sack you it will be better because they will pay you a little bit more, or if I haven't worked also it's like... if you're happy I am happy don't worry, I hope I'm going to stay here two years or a lot more years, it will mean I have done a very good job. But I feel we have to earn it. Managers, we have to earn every year the right to continue, especially in clubs like Liverpool but I've done it everywhere. I've done it always like this, yes."
On squad depth and workload...
"I think it's a big challenge for me. It's a big change because here, most of the weeks are not going to be clean in terms of we will have a midweek game. It is also a great opportunity for the players because I always love to have this kind of season as a player. You basically don't train a lot, you play, recover, play, recover. I think there is the chance to use more players also, because it's impossible to deal with this kind of season with 13/14/15 players, you need all the squad. There are positives of this, but you have to get ready because in this kind of season, a lot of games, injuries will happen situations will happen, so we have to get ready in terms of squad depth so we can deal with the demands of the competition, and we can go through those months, especially here in England, December, January, February... Those months are really hard and we have to arrive to those months in a situation where we can deal with them, yes."