Liverpool fans got to hear new manager Andoni Iraola speak in his first press conference on Monday morning.
The Basque coach spoke at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby, giving supporters their first real taste of the man tasked with reviving the Reds’ fortunes heading into the 2026/27 campaign.
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The squad is set to fly out to the United States on Monday, July 20.
From there, Liverpool will face three opponents across three iconic American venues: Sunderland at GEODIS Park in Nashville on July 25, Wrexham at the legendary Yankee Stadium in New York on July 29, and Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago on August 2.
With several senior players unavailable for the early stages of pre-season, Iraola has made clear that this tour represents a golden opportunity for fringe players and academy talent.
Meanwhile, when it became clear that Andoni Iraola would be the new Liverpool boss, some eyebrows were raised that he only signed two-year deal.
It’s common-place for managers to get three-year deals, and that’s what Arne Slot got when he arrived at Liverpool in 2024.
But now speaking in first press conference as Liverpool manager, he said that works on a “year-to-year” basis and wants to be the manager on merit and not because he has a contract:
“Two-year deals, coaching, contracts don’t matter a lot. I don’t want to be in a place because of a contract. I sign year to year, basically. A lot of managers have long contracts but sometimes the club doesn’t want it. As a player, it’s important but as a manager, it’s not important. If you are happy, I am happy. I want to stay here a lot more years, it means I have done a good job. I have done it every time like this.”
He added on his message to the Reds fanbase:
“I would like to give them a team to feel proud of. Football, especially LFC, is about connecting with the people. I’ve experienced the other side, the goal that Chiesa scored last season, you could feel the stadium and I would love to have this. It has to come from us. We have to be a team that we know works hard, aggressive, so everyone can be identified. Everyone can feel comfortable supporting this team.”