Andoni Iraola spoke to the media for the first time since becoming Liverpool's new head coach on Monday, with the Spaniard getting the chance to make a good first impression on fans
14:32, 13 Jul 2026
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JULY 13: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Andoni Iraola head coach of Liverpool during a press conference at AXA Training Centre on July 13, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola speaking during his first press conference as Liverpool boss(Image: Getty Images)
The Andoni Iraola era is officially underway at Liverpool, with fans getting to hear from their new head coach for the first time since being appointed earlier in the summer.
Having been tasked with replacing Arne Slot, Iraola sat down with reporters at his first press conference as the Reds’ new boss, discussing a number of topics in what is a busy summer for him and his new club.
The former Bournemouth boss will meet the majority of his squad over the coming days as pre-season gets started this week, having already got an early glimpse of what he will be working with last week.
Before welcoming his players back to training, Iraola got the chance to speak openly about becoming Liverpool’s new head coach, and his plans going forward. Here’s what we learned about Iraola from his first press conference…
He knows how to connect with the fans
Any manager worth their salt knows how to tick all the right boxes upon their unveiling. Hearing Iraola acknowledge how big a job he’s walking into is good, but it’s also not unexpected - whoever Liverpool appointed would have almost certainly said the same.
But in a world where players and managers feel like they’re distancing themselves further and further away from the towns and cities they’re actually representing, what is encouraging is hearing Iraola speak excitedly about Liverpool itself - not just the club.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JULY 13: New Liverpool Manager Andoni Iraola poses at AXA Training Centre on July 13, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola is relishing the move to Liverpool
"Everything I say is scrutinized but I would like to act quite normal. I want to go the city, I want pictures but it's part of the magic, no?” he said.
As harsh as it might sound on his predecessor, it is a nice change from Arne Slot, who often just felt like a visitor as he chose not to live in the area, and left his family back home in the Netherlands.
That was his prerogative, but it didn’t really do him any favors in endearing himself to supporters. Iraola has got off to a good start with them though.
He's on the same page with transfers
If you’re a Liverpool fan right now, you’re no doubt more than a little concerned at how quiet it is at the moment in regards to transfers.
Jeremy Jacquet has arrived, and Victor Munoz will follow in good time, but other than that, there’s very little activity to get supporters excited again after what was a dismal season.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JULY 09: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Academy director Alex Inglethorpe, sporting director Richard Hughes and head coach Andoni Iraola of Liverpool during an U21 training session at AXA Training Centre on July 09, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola will be expecting Richard Hughes to supply him with more new signings(Image: Getty Images)
Having just arrived, and not having had the chance to work with most of his new squad, Iraola might have been forgiven had he tried bat any questions about transfers away, but instead, he faced them head on.
"Obviously we’ve signed two players already, but we need more players, we know this," he admitted.
He’s on the same page as the fans then, and is obviously in no doubt about the improvements needed. Now it’s up to Richard Hughes to respond.
He's wiping the slate clean
Harvey Elliott is clearly eager to make a big impression on his new boss. After a wasted year at Aston Villa, this is his opportunity to get back in contention at the club he’s always supported.
And Iraola is eager to give him that opportunity. “He'll have a chance in preseason; we'll need him, and it's a good sign,” he said on Elliott.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JULY 09: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Harvey Elliott of Liverpool during an U21 training session at AXA Training Centre on July 09, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Harvey Elliott in training with Liverpool's U21s ahead of the start of pre-season(Image: Getty Images)
It’s not just the 23-year-old who could be eyeing up a fresh start. Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa’s futures are up in the air, and this presents a chance for them to finally make their mark.
Iraola has wiped the slate clean, and those players who looked as though they were already heading out of the exit door under Slot can go into the summer with renewed confidence.
He's not changing his style
Perhaps the most damning aspect of Slot’s downfall was the reaction from the supporters to what they were seeing. It takes a lot for an Anfield crowd to start booing their own team, but what they were being delivered last season was clearly a long, long way off what they’d expect.
Even without taking the poor results into consideration, performances by the end of the season had become so stale that it just felt like everyone was just waiting for the campaign to finish. That malaise had set in so early on that it became clear - even to those higher up who had consistently backed Slot during the season - that a change was needed.
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And in Iraola, fans should get the style that they’ve been craving. Anyone who saw Bournemouth over the last few years will know that the Cherries were more often than not an entertaining watch, and the new Liverpool boss doesn’t want to move away from what has brought him success so far.
“I don't want to change the DNA of my teams on the pitch. I try to be as natural as possible,” Iraola said.
It remains to be seen whether the glory days will be back at Liverpool after last season’s nightmare, but Iraola has at least given fans something to get behind again.