Andoni Iraola‘s first Liverpool FC press conference left a notable impression of a head coach who is ready to embrace the club, its city and supporters.
Over a month after his official announcement, Iraola finally fronted the media for the first time with the world of Liverpool watching his every move and word.
The 44-year-old spoke for 16 minutes at the AXA Training Centre, enough time to form early thoughts on what we can expect with him at the helm.
So, here are six things we noticed.
Iraola is ready to embrace everything at Liverpool
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Thursday, May 14, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola poses for an official photocall ahead of his first press conference at the AXA Training Centre. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
One of the big criticisms of Arne Slot was that he did not embed himself deep enough into the club or the city, and Iraola has already shared his excitement to visit parts of the city of Liverpool.
“I’m not going to live in my bubble, just training ground, home. I would also like to go to the city, experience the city,” he said.
It is exactly what you wanted to hear: a head coach who understands the football club exists beyond Anfield and the AXA.
Whether he was informed of the need to embrace more than LFC or not, his desire to understand the influences across the city came across as genuine and is paramount to establishing connection and sustaining long-term success.
Challenges seen as opportunities
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Thursday, May 14, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola poses for an official photocall ahead of his first press conference at the AXA Training Centre. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It is early days, of course, and we have not seen Iraola oversee a Liverpool match, but he consistently reframed the challenges ahead as opportunities.
The mentality is a cup half full, and that is a lot easier to get behind than leaning into any pessimism.
For example, he will not have his full squad together until just a week before the season opener, but that was met with acknowledging the opportunity to look closer at the U21s.
“The first part of pre-season, basically, it’s going to be with a lot of players from the Academy, players that in another situation, maybe I wouldn’t know as well,” he explained.
“And now I will have the chance to get to know them personally, training every day with them, in some friendlies, and it’s going to be good information for me.”
With no Billy Hogan or Richard Hughes, this was not a grand unveiling
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Thursday, May 14, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during his first press conference at the AXA Training Centre. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
When Jurgen Klopp arrived, he was treated to a grand unveiling at Anfield, with all the bells and whistles, with his appointment matching the grandeur of the moment.
Klopp, in full suit, was unveiled alongside club chairman Tom Werner at Anfield and a photoshoot on the hallowed pitch.
The two unveilings since have been quite the contrast.
Slot’s was a press conference alongside sporting director Richard Hughes at the AXA, and here, Iraola sat on the top table with only the press officer to his right.
Both had a small photo-op for the cameras outside before the cameras started rolling, but Iraola was the only one without any club chiefs present.
Small details, but somehow you expect the live unveiling of a new Liverpool manager to be met with greater emphasis, even if it has come weeks after the initial announcement.
An emphasis on squad depth and utilising it
The number of games in a single season will be a big change for Iraola, but he is aware of the need for a deeper squad that is capable of competing every three days.
“I think there is a 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,” he said.
Liverpool have to make sure they give Iraola the depth he needs so he can rotate effectively, as his willingness to do so must be recognised.
He comes armed with the knowledge of English football’s demands throughout the winter, and with Champions League football added to the mix, his style needs as many fresh legs as possible.
That he did not shy away from saying it out loud was also welcomed: “Obviously we’ve signed two players already but we need more players, we know this.”
A clear idea about identity
Iraola was identified as the club’s next coach due to his style of play, and he reiterated what he expects from the off.
He explained: “We have to be a team that works hard, [is] intense, aggressive, vertical so everyone can be identified, everyone can feel comfortable supporting this team.”
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“I would like to give them a team that they can feel proud of.”
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Andoni IraolaMessage to Liverpool fans during first press conference.
Later, Iraola added: “I’m looking forward to spending as much time as we can in the opposition half, with the ball, without the ball, because I feel we are closer to scoring than the opposition if that is the situation.”
The fan base can easily get behind his coaching ideology, and how he has communicated what he expects will also have impressed and reassured those watching on.
Relaxed and no soundbites
Andoni Iraola, first Liverpool press conference
This is the biggest job of Iraola’s career, but he came across calm and with a quiet confidence. There were no declarations or promises of what could be achieved.
Instead, he anticipates every word and action to be scrutinised, and explained his desire for two-year contracts ensures he has “to earn every year the right to continue.”
And he also refused to talk down his predecessor.
“I talked to the players, I talked to the staff, I talked about the things that were working very well, things that we think we can do differently – I wouldn’t say better, differently,” he said.
He did not come across as a man trying to win anyone over, and as he put it: “I would like to act quite normal… I would not like to change too much.”
Did someone say normal one?